With the Goa Government easing the lock-down restrictions it must however ensure that all the State borders remain absolutely safely sealed for now as a matter of abundant caution. At this stage allowing Air, Rail and Road traffic into the State could be disastrous.
Social distancing and compulsory use of masks is here to stay. For the benefit of especially the poor, the government must arrange distribution of free masks across the State. There can be no room for complacency. The government must use whatever breathing space they have to put in place comprehensive and robust plans and urgently take decisive action to be prepared to face and deal with such situations. Making policy on the hoof or trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted with great unnecessary inconvenience to the people is not good governance. On bringing back our seafarers it is anguishing that the slumbering authorities are still in the process of compiling the list of those stranded seafarers. The government is also yet to identify hotels and hostels that could be used as quarantine centers. All this ground work should have been completed by now. The government can use all the land Casinos and those in the Mandovi as they would be ideal to provide quarantine facilities for the COVID-19 patients. Where there is a will there is always a way. On those postponed inconsequential Zilla Panchayat elections the government would be well advised to scrap the entire process as the voters by now have forgotten the candidates who were in the fray and so also the cash and kind that was distributed. The Administrators for the North and South who have already been appointed can carry on overseeing the work of the two Zilla Panchayat bodies while it could be left to the next government to decide in March 2022 after a proper consultative process on whether this extra layer of administration is actually required in a very tiny State. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
