Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 15.08.2021Hon ble CM of Goa. Sub : National Flag hoisting...at St Jacinto Island. Respected Sir. Your reported outburst calling the villagers as anti nationals for initially not permitting hoisting the national flag on the island by Navy was in the humble opinion of native Goans an impulsive outburst at best...and good that it was corrected by you in time. Fortunately better communucations between the Defence personnel and the villagers of this Island put an end to the controversy. Having had native Goans both as Chief of Army Gen Sunith Rodrigues and Raksha Mantri late Mr Manohar G Parrikar..besides several others in the armed forces to date native Goans can never ever be branded as anti nationals and definitely not after 19.12.1961 having joined the Union of India. But if there is any bitterness or underlying suspicion of the acts of the Defence Forces it stems mainly from the fact that the Navy have not in the past honored the order of Collector South Goa District both dated 43/1/87/Rev/ dt 08.12.1987 and 26.07.1989.on transfer of the 360075 ha land in survey Nos 1.2.3 of Canacona taluka..in Goa to allow on the Anjediva island.... the celebration of customary feast of St Francis de Assisi on 4th Oct and Feast of Our Lady of Speings ..Nossa Senhora de Brotas on 2nd February every year. The last time these celebrations were permitted was on 02.02.2004 and Feast of St Francis de Assis 4th Oct never allowed as the Chapel has been barricaded and declared out of bounds then onwards.. CM late Parrikar had donated towards repairs of the Church on the Island Rs.25000 at the request of this writer. Later as Defence Minister Late Parrikar had got the ASI Hubbali division to repair the Church the Fort a pre Liberation Canon lying there in 2017 .. But till this date the Navy does not permit celebration of the two customary feasts In fact while 4th Dec is celeberated as Navy Day and all Indians are permitted access to the Sea Bird establishment Naval vessels with due security conditions the reason for adopting a dual policy towards these public oriented events viz the customary Feasts celebration not being allowed on the grounds of Naval exercises being carried out at the base is baffling. Govt of Goa should now take up the matter with the Naval authorities forthwith and in right earnest get them to honor these terms to bridge the distrust betweenNaval authorities and Goans at large as ..the religious sentiments have been hurt for far too long since 4 Oct 2004 to date. Trust this will clear the well averted situation on the island and bring out the traditional bonhomie of indigenous Goan natives known worldwide. Warm regards on the 75th Independence Day Sincerely yours. Godfrey JI GonsalvesCyberjourno social activist Borda Margao Goa+91 9822158584 (24 hrs)gonsalvesgodfre...@yahoo.co.in
