With the fast increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the State, the unpreparedness of the Government in bracing this pandemic stands exposed. After running short of safety gear and ambulances to transport COVID patients, we are now frantically looking for more hospital beds. There was a need to have a well thought contingency plan in place instead of taking it for granted that Goa would safely continue in the green zone. With cases surfacing across the state it would be proper to have a well resourced COVID care centre in every taluka and if possible in every constituency.
Very distressing is complaints of bad conditions at the COVID hospital and centers. It was imperative that proper food and other facilities be provided for these patients in distress. The authorities should never have compromised on clean toilets and an overall hygienic environment. The government had over six long months to strategize and have the required infrastruture in place to deal with this deadly virus. But with wrong priorities like Mining and Tourism, we seem to have lost the plot and Goa now finds itself engulfed, overwhelmed and struggling to cope with this crisis. There is no excuse as there was enough warning and successful models globally to emulate on how to plan and successfully contain the virus. There is an urgent need to move swiftly in setting up more COVID hospitals and care centers. As the sprawling and extremely spacious Goa Legislative Assembly complex at Porvorim is idling with the legislators in no mood to legislate, it would be an ideal venue for setting up a temporary COVID hospital or care center. It would put the premises to some constructive use. There is a popular adage by Benjamin Franklin the father of time management “Failing to plan is planning to fail”. Sir Winston Churchill is credited with the saying “those who fail to learn from the past will be doomed to repeat it”. These two famous sayings plague and continually haunt the Goa Government. With misplaced priorities, lack of transparency and accountability, widespread corruption and most importantly ignoring independent expert advice and not spending enough time to debate issues that matter in the Assembly, the seat of democracy is it any wonder that the people are having to pay the price for an incompetent and failing Government? On account of this failure to plan and deal with a destructive pandemic, innocent people are having to pay with their lives, and also financially, economically and having to live in fear and anxiety. 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
