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Thursday, 13 August 2015
Thursday, 21 July 2011
PEACOCK INVASION CAUSES SNAKE MENACE by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai
During my younger days we had a lot of toddy tapers in our village and their distilleries consumed a lot of wood to keep the fire burning, in distilling coconut fenni. Mostly the women of the backward class, from Betul us to roam the forests in our area and collect the dead wood and sell it to the toddy tapers, while their men worked in the fields and properties. It took a lot of wood to sustain the good number of toddy tapers and their tedious profession.
GOAN OCCUPATION 1961 AND IRAQ LIBERATION 2003 BY Agnelo Gomes, Combakar
Goa was Invaded and Bombarded during Invasion by Indian military in 1961 destroying Dabolim Airport, Emissora de Goa (radio station of Goa), Government buildings, Bridges, etc and raised Indian flag on Goan territory. Deceived the United Nations and the world community calling that was the Liberation. An aggression uncalled by Goans of the soil.
JMFC TO DECIDE ON JULY 22nd HOW TO PROCEED WITH RIBANDAR CHURCH CASE
PANJIM: Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sarika Faldessai will on July 22nd decide how to proceed with the 2004 Ribandar Church case. Former Parish Priest of Ribandar Father Newton Rodrigues who is the complainant has failed to remain present in Court despite being summoned and a warrant of arrest issued against him.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
VILLAGERS OF ARROSIM-CANSAULIM-CUELIM-VELSAO DEMAND PI JIVBA DALVI’S DISMISSAL
VASCO: The villagers of Arossim and Cansaulim under the banner of Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim-Velsao Villagers Forum, on Wednesday, demanded immediate dismissal of the then Verna PI, Jivba Dalvi and police sub-inspector, Mr Sushant Gawas from the services for the dereliction of duty.
GLOBAL GOANS AND THEIR SUPPORT TO GOA by A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait
I am an Indian citizen not by my own choice but by force imposed on me by the Government of India on 19th December 1961 and thru this force Government of India stationed in New Delhi forced Indian citizenship on me.
GOA’S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER DEFENDS FROG POACHING
PANJIM: Much to the dismay of the environmentalists, Goa Environment Minister Aleixo Sequiera today defended frog-killing in the state, terming it as a `habit'. Sequeira, addressing a convention of youths on environment at Dona Paula near here, said "frogs have been eaten in the state for (the past) several years".
BLACK MONEY HOLDERS INVEST IN REAL ESTATE
PANJIM: Goa's real estate boom is not driven by "people who love the land", but by speculative investment of black money in the state, environmentalist Madhav Gadgil said Wednesday. Speaking at the concluding session of a workshop on environment here, Gadgil, the man behind India's "People Biodiversity Register", also said that a huge influx of black money in Goa in form of real estate investments was severely crunching land resources in one of India's smallest states.
EC ISSUES NOTICES TO VALANKA ALEMAO AND JITESH KAMAT
MARGAO: The elections to the executive committee of the state Youth Congress is turning out to be quite an eventful affair with two contestants - the frontrunner for the president's post, Valanka Alemao, and another candidate Jitesh Kamat - being slapped notices by the election commission of the Indian Youth Congress.
AGAÇAIM POLICE REGISTER A CASE AGAINST TWO PERSONS FOR ORGANISING BULLFIGHTS
PANJIM: Bullfights continue to resurface in the state despite the ban. The Agaçaim police on Monday morning registered a case against two persons for organising a bullfight. The police said that on July 18, between 6am and 7am, Rosario Mascarenhas from Taleigao and Dunjao from Goa Velha organized a bullfight at an open public place in Siridao but escaped from the scene with their bulls.
CUNCOLIM POLICE ARREST TWO MORE INVOLVED IN GANG RAPE
MARGAO: The Cuncolim police on Tuesday arrested two more persons in connection with the alleged gang rape of a Cuncolim woman last week. The police disclosed the names of the arrested as Gangesh Pagi, 26, and Ramakant Velip, 26, both from Cola, near Betul.
The police had earlier arrested three persons and are on the lookout for the sixth accused. Police sources said that the victim was a resident of Cuncolim and that the six accused took turns in raping her after she was confined in a room at Betul.
RAIL TRACKS WORK WILL BE COMPLETED BY 21ST JULY: KONKAN RAILWAY
HIGH COURT TO HEAR ON 16TH AUGUST GOA GOVERNOR’S PLEA AGAINST RTI
PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed that the hearing on Goa Raj Bhavan’s petition against the RTI Act will continue on August 16th. With Dr. S.S.Sidhu being the only Governor to challenge the RTI Act, the issue whether the Governor is a “Public Authority” is being raised before a High Court for the first time.
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
WAR OF NERVES BETWEEN DGP ADITYA ARYA AND HOME MINISTER RAVI NAIK
ZUARI BRIDGE ABOUT TO EXPIRE: NEW BRIDGE REQUIRED
EC SERVES NOTICE TO VALANKA ALEMAO
PANJIM: The Election Commission (Youth Congress elections) has served a notice to Valanka Alemao, the daughter of PWD Minister Churchill Alemao for using her father’s position to influence voters for the youth Congress elections.
It has been learnt that Valanka has been personally using her father’s position to threaten the voters to vote for her by force. She has been threatening the voters if they do now vote for her then the consequences will be dire.
In the meantime it has also been learnt that Churchill Alemao has sent his goondas out to threaten the voters and to force them to vote for valanka. At the same time he has promised a huge amount of money if they vote for Valanka.
Valanka is vying for the top post along with GPYC former vice-president Pratima Coutinho. The elections are scheduled for July 23 and 24.
Prakash Joshi, Chief Election officer - Youth Congress Election Commission also served notices to another candidate Jitesh Kamat for his outbursts against returning officers. In the notice to Valanka, the CEO has asked her to reply as to why she should not be debarred from contesting Youth Congress elections.
The charges against Valanka are
• That she has used her father’s position to influence voters.
• Valanka has taken support of the chief minister, party president and the legislators to win elections.
• Had a meeting with politicians, against rules, at a starred hotel in Margao.
It is reliably learnt that the CEO’s action has come in wake of complaint filed by Jitesh Kamat, who had also mailed a CC to Rahul Gandhi. The CEO has also served notices to Jitesh for his outbursts against the LROs and the ZRO (returning officers).
He has been asked to reply as to why he should also not be debarred from contesting elections. Mr Joshi when contacted confirmed the notices were served but refused to elaborate further. “I can only say we have served the notice but I will be able to comment only tomorrow on the issue after I receive the replies,” he said.
On the deadline for replies, he said, “Still there is time I cannot say now.” Zonal Returning officer Sumit Khanna, however, refused to comment on the matter so did GPCC president Subash Shirodkar, who only said “you ask Valanka, I am not her PA to know this.” Efforts to contact Valanka for her comments on the issue proved futile. Jitesh on the other hand claimed he has not received any notice yet.
MOI CIRCULAR WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FROM THIS YEAR
PANJIM: The advocate general (AG), Subodh Kantak, on Monday informed the high court of Bombay at Goa that the state government would implement the medium of instruction (MoI) circular from this academic year.
On July 12, the high court had directed the state government to take a decision within a week's time on whether the recent cabinet decision on the MoI would be implemented in a phased manner from this academic year onwards or from the next year. On May 25, the cabinet had taken a decision to release grants also to English medium primary schools, along with the Konkani and Marathi medium schools.
When the matter came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Justice S A Bobde and Justice F M Reis, the AG said that the government wants to implement the cabinet decision in a phased manner from this academic year onwards. He sought a day's time to file an affidavit bringing on record the government's decision. The AG also assured the court that the government would not implement the MoI circular until the next date of hearing.
Subsequently, the court directed the government to file the affidavit on July 19.
The petition was filed by educationist Pandurang Nadkarni and others challenging the cabinet decision for providing grants to English medium primary schools in the state. The petitioners have also questioned a circular issued by the department of education (DoE) for implementing the cabinet decision. According to the petitioners, the DoE has issued the circular in violation of the Rules of Business made in accordance with Article 166 of the Constitution of India.
The government had earlier pointed out to the court that the cabinet took the decision after receiving several representations from parents belonging to the economically backward classes, who could not afford to send their children to English medium primary schools.
HIGH COURT DIRECTS A S TO FILE AFFIDAVIT WHY THE OFFICES OF THE PRESIDENT OF INDA, GOVERNOR AND SPEAKER NOT FALL WITHIN RTI
PANJIM: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Monday directed the additional solicitor general of India, Vivek Tankha, to file an affidavit explaining how the offices of the president of India, governor and speaker do not fall within the scope of 'public authority' as defined under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
While arguing on a petition filed by N Radhakrishnan, special secretary to Goa governor S S Sidhu, Tankha questioned the order passed by the Goa state information commission, which held that the governor's office was a public authority.
The commission had passed the order on a plea filed by activist Aires Rodrigues under the RTI Act. The RTI Act states that an applicant has the right to access information which is held by or under the control of any public authority.
Tankha contended, "The 'public authority', as defined under Section 2 (h) (a) of the RTI Act, does not include the offices of the president of India, governor, speaker, chief justice of the Supreme Court as well as the high courts." "The office of the governor does not come within the administrative domain, as it does not have any administrative functions. It's not a ministry," he held. At this point, a division bench comprising Justices S Bobde and F M Reis directed the additional solicitor general to submit an affidavit explaining how the offices are not public authority as defined under the Act.
The court also asked how the offices cannot be said to have any executive powers and duties to comply with. Earlier, Rodrigues, an advocate, argued that even the president of India has complied with the provisions of the RTI Act. "S S Sidhu is the only governor in the country who has not complied with the RTI Act, by claiming that he is not a 'public authority'," Rodrigues alleged.
He prayed that the petition should be disposed of as soon as possible as the RTI Act has remained "grounded" for the last three years as far as the governor's office is concerned. Rodrigues had sought information under RTI from the governor's office about details of the action taken against state advocate general Subodh Kantak on complaints filed by him.
WHILE GOA IS IN CHAOS, GOVERNMENT TO PARTY IN LONDON by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Goa is reeling under a host of serious issues due to a government that has become dysfunctional and apathetic to the people’s concerns. The Aam Aadmi is raging with fury and disgruntled. Almost every decision taken by this government over the last four years has either been kept on hold by the government if not stayed and quashed by the Courts.
DOG DAY AFTERNOON ( AND MORNING AND NIGHT ) by Dr. Oscar Rebello, Goa
Dr. Rosario Menezes, the ever smiling effervescent and genial pediatrician from Vasco has been screaming hoarse about the dangers of Rabies in Goa, for years now. Mostly his advice has been ignored or at times, even ridiculed by the motley bunch of vociferous ‘animal lovers’.
And now, predictably, the chickens or shall we say the dogs have come home to roost.
The number of dog bite cases in our little state has increased so dramatically, that it almost certainly competes with the number of mining leases the Digambar Kamat government dishes out every month. If you do not die of mining pollution, there is a good chance you may die of rabies, in style.
I understand the morally sound and very persuasive arguments put forth by the sincere champions of animal rights and acknowledge the difficulty work put in by two of the most celebrated activists I know, the graceful and elegant Normal Alvares and Angela Kazi. Killing or torturing any form of life is perverse.
However, it is very evidently seems, the strategy is not working on the ground. The dogs are ferociously multiplying. The dogs are ferociously running around, the dogs are ferociously biting and many of the dogs are ferociously rabid.
So, from the human prism, I seek answers to a few of my very serious doubts.
1. How can anyone in our cities be sure that the confirmed rabid dogs have not bitten other stray animals, thus potentially delivering a rabies ‘dog’ – demic on our hands? Surely, strays do not have a complaint register, do they?
2. What if your child, unsupervised, gets licked by a rabid dog playing on the beach? often, kids also do not have a complaint register. Hence, if your child develops and dies of an encephalitis ( a brain infection), the virus could very well be a rabies virus and your pediatrician may be in the dark about it.
3. Any standard textbook mentions that Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) must be given as standard prophylaxis for preventing rabies. RIG is expensive and almost never available in government hospitals. Hence, the standard rabies vaccine may not provide you 100 per cent cover. It is almost akin to using a ruptured condom and then taking yours bets on the pregnancy. Good luck mate!
4. Why is it that despite a great degree of love and compassion for animals in the western world, you never see strays frisking around as tourist attractions on the streets of Paris, London or New York. The only sophisticated stray currently running around there appears to be Rupert Murdoch and they are planning to assassinate him as well.
5. What if a red light minister or sarkari babu gets bitten by a stray dog, when apparently haggling for free fish at the market? Will we then see tangible, concreter action to rid the market of strays? Hell hath no fury like a minister bitten, but not shy.
6. Why is it that despite allegedly successful sterilization campaigns, the stray population multiplies faster than the Indian Mujaheedin?
7. Do we as doctors, consider rabies as a possible differential diagnosis in flaccid paralysis patients (weakness of lower limbs, upper limbs and face ) which ultimately kills. Rabies may not always present itself in its archetypal violent, aggressive neurological manifestation .
8. What is our strict enforcement of vaccination programmes for domesticated animals? Does anyone keep a log? Is there a fine on owners for non compliance? Did we know that even cat bites can lead to rabies? These creatures with ‘green eyes’ always cleverly escape public scrutiny.
9. Do I, as a tax paying or non tax paying citizen, have the inalienable human right to walk the streets of my town freely and fearlessly, not having to look over my shoulder as to when that crazy adorable son of a **** is going to bite my pants off or should is surrender that right to this nebulous and dangerous animal love?
10. Who pays compensation and costs of health care in case of rabies or should I even die in penury for this worthy cause. Statistics say that every dog bite leads to a negligible number of fatal rabies, but what if I am the fortunate one called to sacrifice my life? Am I prepared to be the hero? Has anyone even asked my permission if I was to be that hero? Has a memorial been erected to rabies victims in our country?
Let me confess. I abhor dogs!!Period ! Yeah, yeah! I know familiarargument goes, a dog is a man’s best friend and they have fluffy ears and they are loyal and all that jazz. But they also bite unprovoked.
I still recall fondly how, when on a home visit to see a patient, the domestic dog thought my tibia was fair game and sunk his bloody teeth into my leg. I had to take my shots, got paid a measly fee for my house call and had to endure the jolly guffaw of the pot-bellied owner when boomed,”Oh, Figo does that to only people he likes,” Heavens, what does he do to guys he hates?
So okay, maybe do not shoot them, torture them or position them. We all want our place in heaven after all. THE STRAYS MUST NECESSARILY GET OFF OUR STREETS and the animal lovers must show us the way, work out the solution. Now and pronto!
We, as Goans, have enough amount of misery inflicted on us by animals in our political arena. We do not need any further suffering of the whimsical, salivating teeth of our friendly, neighbor hood super dogs.
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