St Cruz constituency, though just on the outskirts of Goa's capital city Panaji, has remained one of the most neglected constituency of the State. Even villages in Canacona and Pernem have progressed. A drive through Chimbel, Merces and St Cruz and the sight and scent of garbage everywhere is inescapable. The infrastructure is in the doldrums, yet new tall buildings are sprouting all over. The roads cannot cope with the increasing traffic. It is a relief that Ribandar which is now part of the St Cruz constituency will be a part of Panaji constituency from the forthcoming Assembly election.
St Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes has to own up the responsibility for the mess in the constituency. Except for the occasional supervising of hot mixing of roads and plastering of gutters, which anyway is not the job of an MLA she has done little. The constituency did not even benefit when she was a Minister and even the Deputy Speaker in the past. Her fasting and fainting after the last elections carried little weight with Sonia Gandhi who was not moved to make her a Minister, despite her being the lone lady MLA. Let us hope the people of St Cruz now find an educated, mature and competent person as their next MLA. On her part Victoria Fernandes should look beyond her family and support someone more competent and dedicated. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
