The current meaningless and futile night curfew 'declared' (but not strictly enforced) by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant mocks our intelligence, our dignity and our right to life. And by sarcastically appealing to the people to jointly fight the pandemic, he has exposed the government's careless and shameless lack of will to act sensibly and decisively to protect the health and well being of citizens.
Goans find themselves helpless at this lack of political will to boldly deal with the current deepening crisis. Despite clear warnings of what was coming, the Chief Minister has merrily dragged his feet while taking no precautionary and preventive measures to control the spread of this deadly virus. Pretending to have woken up from the slumber, it is now impossible for him to augment the medical infrastructure overnight. More beds may be laid out, but from where are they going to get the much needed doctors, nurses and support staff, so crucial to save lives. After a grueling year, the entire medical fraternity is mentally and physically exhausted and how are they to cope with this new, aggravated calamity? As the government has positively goofed up in handling this pandemic, it is imperative that decisions and strategy of the battle against COVID-19 be now entrusted solely to the medical experts and scientists with proven knowledge in the field, and their opinions and recommendations be binding on the Government. These experts, and only they, should be competent to decide, as an immediate measure, whether the Casinos and night clubs, which are hot stops for the spread of the virus, should be shut, in order to contain the currently grave situation from escalating further. It should also be examined on priority, whether it would be prudent to make a COVID negative certificate mandatory for all those entering the State. In the current scenario our borders cannot be left wide open in this pandemic for the vicious virus to sneak in, thanks to the irresponsible conduct of the visitors, whether the riff-raff or the celebrity variety. In the last two years, with Pramod Sawant as Chief Minister, the devastation of Goa has escalated and accelerated, the situation only worsening beyond imagination, particularly in the last year despite this epidemic. This government has brazenly and heartlessly been pursuing and pushing needless projects to Goa’s detriment and degradation of our already very fragile environment. Today, patients are struggling to find oxygen to breath. With the vital Mhadei now 'sold' for political greed, the day is nearing when our Mandovi too may dry up, leaving us without a drop to quench our thirst. 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
