Postponement of polls angers Serula gaonkars - Herald

January 20, 2013 PORVORIM: The government’s decision to postpone elections to the Serula Commundade, which were scheduled for January 20, has angered many gaonkars of the communidade. Addressing a press conference at Guirim on Saturday, Joseph Pinto stated that the collector had issued the order on Friday stating that the Serula Communidade election to be held on Sunday had been cancelled, but had not assigned any reason. “This is the second time the government has postponed the election, after elections were earlier scheduled on December 2, 2012. The state government is playing with the sentiments of the Gaonkars,” said Pinto. He also criticised the government for planning to conduct elections by a raise of hands. “There are about 6,000 gaonkars and 500 shareholders. It is not possible to count the hands. We strongly oppose the conduct of election by a raise of hands and we insisted that election must be held by a secret ballot,” he added. Another gaonkar, Dennis D’Souza, added, “The collector should also give reasons for delaying the elections. The communidade belong to the gaonkars and let gaonkars handle the affairs of the communidade. The government should not interfere in it,” said D’Souza. When contacted, the Administrator of Serula Communidade Irene Sequeira explained that the election had been cancelled because of a court matter. The collector will announce a fresh date for the election as soon as the court matter is resolved,” said Sequeira. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Postponement-of-polls-angers-Serula-gaonkars/69666.html