COMMUNITY NEWS:

Melvyn Fernandes, Public Relations Director, Goan Association UK will be LIVE in the "Hot Seat" discussion on the Goan Community this Saturday, 21 Jul. between 09:00 -09:30 on Premier Christian Radio Sky Digital 873/ MW 1305 / 1332 /1413. The UK Goan Community is requested to e-mail melrose@dial.pipex.com or tel. 07970 668879 (mobile) with comments/views to be put forward.

21 July (Sat.)G.O.A. THE FUTURE DIRECTION: All Welcome to an Open Forum Meeting at 3.00 PM at Club Jasmins, 202 Upper Tooting Rd. SW17 (entrance is in Hebden Rd). Nearest tube stations Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway (Northern Line).

To kick-start the discussion, Frank Carvalho, the Welfare Director of the Association, has prepared a paper. This is a summary.

There are two main issues: 1. To maintain good financial checks 2. Develop a harmonious and caring community.

1. It would be ideal to "ring fence" a large part of the capital obtained from the insurance claim and sale of the grounds. The main alternatives are introducing safeguards while retaining the company status or dissolving the company and have a Trust to look after the capital with an executive committee to run the Association.

2. What kind of Association should cater for the future needs of the Goans in the UK? We have to be all embracing and include the young and the old. This can be achieved by networking and maintaining a directory of professionals and volunteer helpers. We should have meaningful links with Goa and other Goan organisations overseas. The UK Goans have the ability to form the focal link for a meaningful Worldwide Goan community if we could get our act together.
However, to further the above, it is essential to have a Goan Centre in London. The preferred location would be an area where many Goans already reside. We need a wide and positive input by all Goans to progress. Please come to the open forum, e-mail your comments to berniegracias@aol.com or write to Bernie Gracias, 76 Middleton Avenue, Greenford, Middx. UB6 8BS. Remember if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.

The Open Meeting above will be followed by a Brainstorming Session and Discussion on the Funding and Donations Appeal of this Newsletter. Send your comments to eddie@fernandes.u-net.com £700 pledged so far. The next issue of the Newsletter will hopefully report the decision regarding the Pledges. Keep them rolling in!

DEATHS:

12 Jul. Porvorim: MARY SANTAMARIA, wife of late Apollinario. Sister of Ernest/Philu (London), Lucy/Vincent, Leonila/Gaspar (London) & Margaret.

16 Jul. Candolim. JOHN COSME D'MELLO (ex.Tanzania -Lands and Mines). Husband of Ana Gracia. Father of Vera, Mariza/Aubrey, Ana/ late Nozer, Anjou (London), Lorraine & Baptist/Olinda. Condolence messages to Baptist D'Mello bapolie@yahoo.com.

NEWS HEADLINES
mainly from Joel D'Souza in Goa, courtesy of GOACOM, e-mail: goanow@goatelecom.com

A free fortnightly, tabloid newspaper, Mapusa Plus has been launched. It covers the surrounding areas such as Anjuna, Calangute, Saligao, Parra, Moira and Aldona. e-mail: infoline@goatelecom.com asking for free electronic access.

Dr Astrid Almeida, veterinary doctor at International Animal Rescue in Assagao, is off to Colorado, for advanced training.

The Statesman, 12 Jul. revealed the medical insurance scam. Foreigners and NRIs are being targeted in Goa in a new scam. Doctors at private hospitals pay a commission to restaurants and hotels to give the victims contaminated food. The doctor is called to attend to the food poisoning and he insists on a prolonged stay at his hospital. The travel insurance firm of the victim is charged an exorbitant rate for the treatment.

Vikram Patel, a Goa-based health researcher and psychiatrist. who is a senior lecturer with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has studied the figures of births in Goa over the last 10 years. There has been a significant reduction in the number of girls born. Pre-natal sex-determination techniques are being used and female foetuses aborted.
http://www.timesofindia.com/today/13mpan1.htm

IN THE NEWS:
(e-mail eddie@fernandes.u-net.com for the full text of items marked *).

*16. Jun. The Express. Lucy d'Abreu (nee D'Souza) aged 109, has become Scotland's oldest living person. She was born in Dharwar and educated at the Belgaum convent. She married a doctor, Abundius Joseph d'Abreu, later to become a cousin-by-marriage to the Queen Mother. They settled in Waterford, Ireland. In all her years, she insists, she has never experienced racism. She said: "Being Indian was a positive advantage for us. We were known the length and breadth of Ireland." She now lives in Annfield Nursing Home, Stirling. 330 words.

July 2001 India Today Plus. Cruising down the Mandovi on the floating Casino Goa is the latest attraction. Cartoonist Mario Miranda, who's never gambled in his life, finds that the Casino is not the den of iniquity it is made out to be and that it is the Goan ladies who are the clients. Full text at: http://www.goacom.com/news/news2001/jul/msg00027.html

13 Jul. The Evening Standard. Walking with the Gods. Kevin Rushby writes from Goa "prolonged exposure to fenny can disconnect some mental faculties." 1044 words. Click here...

14 Jul. The Scotsman …One of India's news magazines recently ran an article on Kerala's new-found status as a destination for foreign tourists, but the reality is many travellers to India, at least the hippy-dippy kind, still stop at Goa. This is good news, as it means heavy-duty hawkers, rip-off merchants and dodgy rickshaw drivers - fixtures in India's seriously touristy areas - have yet to drift further south…

14 Jul. The Ottawa Citizen. Travel article on backpacking. "Most [backpackers] eventually ended up in Goa, where they could enjoy free love, practically free dope and revel in their unwashed hippiedom free from the derogatory denunciations of straight society." 2791 words. Full text at: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/010714/5011277.html

17 Jul. The Sun. Thomas Cook recommend Goa or Cuba as best bets for long haul destination. holidaymakers on a budget.

18 Jul. The Birmingham Post. Even though we've been dressing like we're about to board the Marrakech Express or live barefoot in Goa for a few years (all tie-dyed tops, hippy skirts, rows of beads and floaty dresses), it's always nice to come home to a smart piece of tailoring.

18 Jul. Western Morning News. Carrie Earls, a former Newton Abbot schoolgirl who appears in the Channel Five series Vets Abroad. has now returned to Britain to work for the RSPCA.

18 Jul. Sports Illustrated. Robert Fernandes, Jules Alberto, Mahesh Gowali and Alvito D'Cunha figure among the 22 players, who have been selected for the Indian squad for the forthcoming four-match exposure tour to England. Manager is Agnelo Alcasous. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2001/07/18/india_brentford_reu/ The Programme is: July 24 vs Brentford. July 28 vs Nottingham Forest. July 31 vs Leyton Orient. Aug. 3 vs Walsall

19 Jul. The Nation (Nairobi). More revelations on the Pio Gama Pinto assassination. 1569 words. See:
http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/Today/News/SpecialReport2.html

FORTHCOMING:

20 Jul. 6.00pm - The Metropolitan Bar, 7 Station Approach Baker Street Underground. YLGS (Young London Goans Social - Free Membership 21-40+). Contact marie.pereira@talk21.com

21 July 3.00pm :G.O.A. Open Forum Meeting followed by Discussion on the Future of this Newsletter. Club Jasmins, 202 Upper Tooting Rd. SW17 (entrance is in Hebden Rd). Nearest tube station Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway.

22 Jul. Tivimnenses Annual Social at the Bishop Thomas Grant School Hall, Streatham Contact :Helen De Souza 0208 304 5585

22 Jul. Guirim-Sangolda will be hosting their annual BBQ at Ewell Sports & Social Club, Banstead Road, Ewell, Surrey, from 12.00 onwards. Promises to be a fun filled day for young and old. For tickets please contact Joe Figuera 020 86537611, Jane Gracias 020 85435454 or Milo Mendonsa 0118 9574937.

29 Jul. Goan Festival in conjunction with Goan Organisations. THE UK GOAN EVENT OF THE YEAR! Archbishop Lanfranc School. Mitcham Road, Croydon. Diego Pinto 020-8767 0663 or Cornelius Monteiro 020-8681 8716. For stalls contact Bernie Gracias 020-8723 1322. South East Goans. Coach Sharon ~ 0208 301 5242 / southeastgoans.d-souza@virgin.net

29 Jul. Pilgrimage to Aylesford to celebrate the 2nd HEALING CONVENTION OF OUR LADY OF HEALTH, VAILANKANNI There will be coaches leaving from various parts of London. For further information please contact Fr. Arthur Moraes on 020 8977 5682. E-mail : frmoraes81@hotmail.com Web: www.vailankanni.co.uk

4 Aug. 7pm till late. Party!! Party!!, White Hart Lane, Wood-Green, London. Come and enjoy music for everyone including R&B, Garage, Soca, and Konkani played by 'Say One Do One Disco' Snacks available, tickets £8 in advance. Paul Mendes 020-8888 1400. South East Goans. Coach Sharon ~ 0208 301 5242 / southeastgoans.d-souza@virgin.net

4 Aug. Cruise Dinner Dance. Five hours of dancing to live music while cruising on the River Thames. Watch the bright lights of London in the background and enjoy a scrumptious buffet dinner. Tickets £18 each until 31st July. Edna 020 8672 1973 emoraes@Talk21.com or Francisco, 01689 870234 franciscodesouza@hotmail.com

19 Aug. G.O.A. Sports Day. Archbishop Lanfranc School. Offers of help to Peter Rodrigues 020-8399 4883. For stalls contact Norma Menezes-Rahim at 020-8771 4457.

19 Aug. Chorao UK. Feast of St Bartholomew. Merton Hall, 76 Kingston Road SW19. Mass at 12.00 p.m. followed by a Social. Music by Breakthru'. Tickets: above 15 years £8.00 with meal. 12-15 years £5.00 with meal. Below 12 years free. For further details contact Claver, claver@fatima2.freeserve.co.uk 020 8672 4562 or Mervyn 020 8689 2970.