LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FOR THE ISSUE DATED APRIL 25, 2026

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FOR THE ISSUE DATED APRIL 25, 2026

GOANS CONTESTING UK LOCAL ELECTIONS!
WE should be very proud that more than a handful of Goans are taking an active part in trying to shape the UK political landscape by contesting the local elections being held on May 7 in the United Kingdom in which millions of people will be voting. Let us wish all the best to our Goan brothers and sisters who are candidates in these elections.
As for England, around 5,000 seats across 136 local councils will be decided, along with six Mayoral elections five of which are in London. Elections are also being held for the devolved Welsh and Scottish
Parliaments. Those aged 16 and over can vote in England whilst in Wales and Scotland those aged 14 and over can exercise their franchise.
Polling day in the United Kingdom is not a public holiday and not subject to any dry days.
However, polling is open from 7am to 10pm enabling all to vote, some before proceeding to work and others after
returning from work. Polling stations are so well organised, and voting is in person by ballot papers. People are also entitled to use a Postal Ballot to vote after prior registration. As soon as polling ends, the counting of votes is immediately initiated at the same venue and the results declared latest by the following day. So, there’s no hassles of transporting and storing ballot boxes.
May the best and brightest be elected to serve the community with a sense of dedication and commitment.
—Aires Rodrigues, London

**AGRITHON 2026, BRIDGING TECHNOLOGY & TRADITION**
In a landmark fusion of artificial intelligence and traditional farming, Agrithon 2026, Goa’s first month-long agriculture innovation hackathon, successfully concluded at the Padre Conceicao College of Engineering (PCCE) on ………. It was organized by Google Developer Group (GDG) Goa in collaboration with Google for Developers and SoFueled. The event was held under the global “Build with AI” initiative. This framework challenged the state’s tech talent to move beyond basic software and develop sophisticated AI-powered solutions specifically engineered to tackle the unique and complex challenges of the agricultural sector. This initiative was launched in early April and drew an unprecedented response of over 520 team registrations from across 10 states in India. In a rigorous selection process top finalist teams advanced to the grand finale to present fully functional prototypes. By leveraging the “Build with AI” mandate, participants utilized advanced machine learning models, predictive analytics, and computer vision to address critical issues such as crop disease detection, yield forecasting, and autonomous resource management. This ensured that the resulting tools were not just digital interfaces, but intelligent, AI-driven systems capable of providing real-time, data-driven insights to the farming community. A core pillar of the event’s success was its association with the Directorate of Agriculture, government of Goa. It demonstrated the government’s commitment to digital transformation. The department extended support by deputing senior domain experts to serve as jury members for the final evaluation. Senior officials, including Saieesh Gandhi, Shiwangi Paidarker and Ryan Stephen Rangel, attended the concluding session and their presence ensured that the AI-powered solutions were grounded in practical feasibility, aligned with real-world field challenges, farmer service gaps, and digital transformation goals. The event was coordinated by Vedant Bandodkar along with Sonal Gaonkar, who along with the other members of the team, spoke passionately about the power of the tech community. This is only the beginning, a series of more hackathons are already under way to keep the momentum of innovation alive. Prajyot Mainkar, founder of Sofueled — a key driving force behind Agrithon 2026, highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration between developers and government bodies to ensure that AI catalyzes rural prosperity. This initiative gains further significance as Goa prepares for its upcoming AI Policy, which aims to create a structured framework for the ethical and impactful adoption of intelligence-driven technologies. Such hackathons add immense value to this policy by providing a sandbox for practical experimentation, ensuring that the state’s AI guidelines are rooted in real-world applications that benefit the common man. After evaluation the top credits were awarded to team Green Synapse from PCCE, followed by team RAID from Goa College of Engineering as second place and team SoloDEV from Chennai as third place. All three AI-driven winning solutions were shortlisted for potential pilot implementation in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. By facilitating this direct engagement between the tech ecosystem and public sector institutions, Agrithon 2026 has laid the groundwork for policy-aligned innovation and long-term digital transformation in Goa’s fields, proving that intelligent execution is the future of India’s agriculture sector.

LONE WOMAN’S COURAGE!
I WRITE to express my deep concern and, at the same time, my admiration, for the courage shown by a lone woman who openly confronted a minister and a crowd that had blocked traffic, displaying shocking insensitivity to the agony and frustration of ordinary citizens, in Mumbai.
At a time when many choose silence, her bold stand deserves to be acknowledged.
This incident raises a serious question about accountability in public life. The minister’s justification — that she should have approached the police — seems misplaced. One must ask: did those who blocked the traffic have prior permission? Or do political groups act with a sense of immunity that places them above the law?
Such incidents reflect a troubling culture where inconvenience to the public is normalized in the name of political expression. When will our politicians learn that public office demands responsibility, not privilege?
It is also worth reflecting that the outcome could have been very different. The fact that she was a woman, and perhaps from a higher social stratum, may have offered her some protection. Had it been a man from a marginalized background, the consequences might have been far more severe.
Enough is enough. The rule of law must apply equally to all, and public spaces cannot be held hostage without accountability. Citizens deserve dignity, safety, and respect.
— Fr Calistus Fernandes, Mahim, Mumbai

LET’S TALK POSITIVE
WITH all this negativity spread around by that fo**icho Khattar, let’s talk something positive. There are four synchronous traditions in Goa we may take note of…

Moharram traditions by Muslims being performed by Dessai of Arabo’s mansion.
Shigmo celebrations by Hindus at Peer of Surla Tar Masjid.
Stopping of `Stations of the Cross.’ processions in front of Hindu homes in Panjim and Aldona, and ritual of aarti by Hindu women of the house.
Bhumika Devi’s kalash welcomed at Hazrat Babal Peer’s dargah in Sanquelim.
Cecil Pinto and Sanjeev V Sardesai Radharao Gracias Jeorge Fernandes may offer some more examples.
— Sudeep Dalvi, Goa