Greetings from Goa. Please continue to send your contributions to eddie@fernandes.u-net.com and I shall endeavour to maintain as near normal service as possible. Eddie Fernandes.

COMMUNITY NEWS

From the Newsletter of the Kenya Administration Club:- "Among a number of new members of the Club, or first time attenders of the lunch, John(Sir) Johnson particularly welcomed Mervyn Maciel, known to many as the author of "Bwana Karani". Speaking as Chairman, and on behalf of the Club, he recalled the major contribution made by Goan Officers to the Colonial Administration, and welcomed the Goan members present."

Ben Da Costa, bendacosta106@hotmail.com (Ex: Goan High School, Mombasa) and now at Purley, Surrey, England, wish his family and friends all the many joys of the Christmas Festive Season and a very Happy New Year.

From Jerome Mendes: All Goans visiting Goa during Christmas and New will be well come and enjoy a Christmas Dance at Leonoras on 25th December and 31st December to bring the New Year in. Leonoras address opp. Agnel Ashram, Matol, Verna Goa Tel 2791290

DEATHS

02 Dec: Curtorim, Goa: MARIA GRACIAS E MENEZES, wife of late Theodorio, mother of Dr Simon (UK)/Celine.

8 Dec: Mapusa, Goa: LAWRENCE N FERNANDES (prop. Café Aurora), husband of Agnes, father of Freeda/Moses (Canada), Peter, Fay and Fainna, brother of Filsu.

10 Dec: Velim, (Goa): ANTONIETA LOPES D'SILVA, (ex-Tanga), relict of late Dr Inacio Jose, mother of late Dr Huby/Dr Lira Martins (USA), Greta/Joe Simoes (USA), Dr Soter/Allison (Dar-es-Salam), Sipa/Bashir Khanbai (UK), sister/sister-in-law of Assiz/Lita (Canada).

11 Dec. Navelim, Goa. LUIS BENEDITO PIRES. Husband of Amelina Pereira. Father of Laurentina/John, Anthony /Fatima, John/Clara, Luis Caetano/Flora (U.K.), late Agnelo, Rosario/Cynthia, Sofia/Eustaquio, Nercy.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Birmingham Post, Dec. 7. Goa: Travelpack (0870 128 8000) offers 14-nights' B&B at three star resort for pounds 1,153, ex-Gatwick with Monarch Dec 23 and returning Jan 7.

The Guardian. 7 Dec. Goa: Departing December 23,14 nights' B&B at the five-star Cidade de Goa Hotel costs pounds 2,190pp (two sharing). Travelpack (0870 1288000).

Mirror 7 Dec. You could chill out by the swimming pool in Goa on Christmas morning for just pounds 899pp (based on two sharing). A 14-night, all-inclusive package departing December 13 includes flights, accommodation at the Dona Sylvia Hotel, all meals and drinks, daily entertainment plus a gala dinner on Christmas night. Call Somak on 020 8423 3000 www.somak.co.uk

Independent on Sunday. 8 Dec. Top 10 places around the world to see in the New Year. Benaulim. Escape to sun-drenched Goa and see in 2003 on the beach. Bring in the new: Dance the night away under the stars on this 8km, palm-fringed beach. Feel warm and smug while quaffing champagne and feasting on a barbecue by candlelight. Savour fresh seafood, look out over the Arabian Sea and think of your friends back home in freezing Britain. New Year's Day: Soak up the rays and get an enviable winter tan, or head for the spa and clear your head after a night of revelry. You will be massaged back to life (choose from aromatherapy, ayurvedic and shiatsu), then wash away the excesses with a biomarine salt scrub. Getting there: Abercrombie & Kent 0845 0700616; www.abercrombiekent.co.uk offers a seven-night b&b break over New Year at the Taj Exotic Goa from £1,995 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights and transfers.
http://travel.independent.co.uk/news_and_advice/story.jsp?story=359964

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

Goa emerging as major IT market. Times of India 11 Dec.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=30894517

Recently Patricia Pinto, a municipal councilor from Panjim, Goa, India, visited Canada. She gave a talk in Ottawa on "Making Democracy Work in Goa, India: Promoting partnerships between NGOs and local government." The report of the presentation http://www.sapcanada.org/pinto.rtf

December is the month of celebration in Goa. Times of India 11 Dec.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=30894844

Identity crisis. A lucrative racket enables bogus applicants to assume identities of deceased Goans to apply for Portuguese citizenship. By Devika Sequeira. Full text at
http://www.goacom.com/news/news2002/dec/msg00021.html

To cater to the burgeoning medical tourists, Apollo has set its sight on a soon-to-be-built specialty resort hospital in Goa. The hospital is expected to come up in early 2003 on a 10-acre plot with cottages to give the medical tourists a “feel” of India along with a cost-effective treatment. It will have special focus on cosmetic and knee surgery, kidney transplants and some specific categories of high-end heart surgeries Financial Express 7 Dec.
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=23280

After the terrorist attack in a packed nightclub in Bali, Goa is taking no chances with tourists. Financial Express 11 Dec. http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=23601

Everyone loves a good fight. Delightful account in the Indian Express of the tussle between Mario Miranda and Mario Cabral e Sa in Goa over the Lady Hamlyn proposal to restore Reis Magos fort. Indian Express 8 Dec. Full text at: http://www.goacom.com/news/news2002/dec/msg00025.html Forwarded by Frederick Noronha

Goa’s Tourism Minister Micky Pacheco who is planning an extravaganza on his birthday today, refuses to divulge the cost of 10,000 guests. That, says the Congress, is because the minister will not be footing the bill, but will pass on the tab to the hotel industry here. KeralaNet 12 Dec. http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=4710

Goa weather: Max temp: 31.6 deg C, Humidity: 91%

IN THE NEWS

8 Dec. The Observer. This Christmas Day Chutney Mary, a glossy upmarket Indian restaurant in London's Chelsea, will be serving, among other things, pot-roasted duck and a coconut pudding called Bibinca. Both are from Goa, a region of India with, appropriately enough, a pronounced Christian population. It is a mark of how far we have come. 'I think people finally have got an understanding that there are various regional cuisines,' says Camellia Panjabi of Chutney Mary. 'And it's all to do with travel. They have visited places like Goa and Kerala.' The lowdown: Number of Indian restaurants in Britain. . .8,000. Annual turnover. . . pounds 2 billion. Number of Indian meals consumed annually . . .70.3 million http://www.observer.co.uk/foodmonthly/story/0,9950,853814,00.html

7 Dec. The Hamilton Spectator. (Canada). A new report on Hamilton seniors paints a dismal picture of high poverty, inadequate housing, poor health care and increasing isolation fodr this city's fastest growing population. Carolann Fernandes was one of just two or three women of colour among 50 people at a press conference on the report. "There's a whole group who are not being addressed. There's a real need to get to them," said the 62-year-old. "I know this community is in danger. We have to have this same kind of dialogue with immigrants and it's not happening." Full text at: http://www.goanvoice.ca/2002/issue4/newslinecanada.htm

7 Dec. Canada NewsWire. The Investment Dealers Association of Canada announced that a hearing date has been set regarding Jayanth Noronha and relates to matters for which the Association may discipline him. The conduct of Mr. Noronha, that is the subject of the hearing, occurred during the period between January and May 2000 when Mr. Noronha was a registered representative at the office of Berkshire Securities Inc. located in North York, Ontario. The proceeding is open to the public and is scheduled to commence on December 18th, 2002.
For full details, http://www.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/inquiry.cgi?OKEY=32728

7 Dec. Bristol Evening Post. The Gold Star Awards are given to honour local people who have shown exceptional bravery and courage in the most testing times. One of the 11 winners this year was Ted Moreman who has raised more than £30,000 to buy a new home for 45 orphans in Goa, India. He said: "When I heard that a group of children were having to sleep on dried cow dung because they were being evicted from their house, I just knew I had to do something.” For text, click here....

7 Dec. The East African Standard. , Mr Raila Odinga of the National Rainbow Coalition said there have been lots of injustices beginning with the death of Pio Gama Pinto and Tom Mboya among others, "which are as old as Kenya". He further said that Kenya has had its own dark history and there was need for transitional justice.

8 Dec. Hindustan Times. In Bombay ‘Mac’ was the one-slur-fits-all term for any Christian, whether East Indian, Goan, Manglorean or pure Bandra. They were called ‘Macs’ not because they hungered after the global burger (of which more anon), but because they preferred their local bun. ‘Mac’ was the abbreviation of ‘Maka-pao’, a reference to the maska-ed loaf that the frock-wearers preferred to roti. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_115956,00300004.htm

9 Dec. Maclean's. Canada is blessed with many superb writers and illustrators of books for younger children. Maclean's writers and editors take a crack at choosing 12 of the best. Robert Louis Stevenson is combined with illustrations by Kim Fernandes in The Little Land (Kids Can, $ 14.95). Fernandes's vibrant, 3-D artwork is a perfect match for Stevenson's rhyming couplets

11 Dec. Express and Echo. Thornton Streeter specialises in complementary therapies. He has three clinics - in New North Road, Exeter, Pune and in Goa, where he lives for most of the time with his wife, Andree, and their daughter, Isabelle. The clinic in Goa is an absolute Mecca for British tourists, but it treats local people too. Thornton said: "The labourer who earns £10 a month comes in and I'll treat him for 20p, while if a tourist comes in I will charge them about £10. For text, click here....

12 Dec. Living Abroad Magazine, UK. (LAM). Headline: You just gotta go to GOA! By Mathew Court. Tips: Learn to niddle noddle your head it means yes, no and maybe. Hang around at weddings you'll get invited in and have a ball.
Full text at: http://www.lam-online.com/travel/mid_east_asia/story.jsp?story=360744

12 Dec. Gold Coast Bulletin (Australia). Goa Indian Restaurant in Surf Parade, Broadbeach is offering a four-course Christmas Day banquet for $40 per person. A four-course New Year's Eve Dinner costs $45.

12 Dec. Townsville Bulletin (Australia). Father Gino Henriques. a priest originating from the Catholic area of Goa in South India, visited Townsville last month, imparting his passion for life, love and God to all who saw him. 422 words.

13 Dec. Herald-Sun (Melbourne). Local businesses are falling foul of tough new food-safety laws. Larry Mendonca, owner Rajah Sahib Tandoori Grill in Queen St, could be the first to feel the full brunt of the law. Twice charged, and closed down once for food safety breaches, Mendonca's case was adjourned yesterday in Melbourne Magistrates' Court. He was fined $8600 last year after inspectors found mould-encrusted chutney jars, slimy green chicken meat and food items three years out of date at the restaurant. It was later closed down when an inspection found rat droppings on the premises and food stored in toilets. It reopened after a month, but Mendonca, who could face prison, is now listed for a further hearing on February 10.

16 Dec. Time. The bombs in Mombasa and Bali threaten the best example of global community. The tens of thousands of young Australians, Germans, Britons, Americans and others who wander the globe, flitting from Goa to Costa Rica, from Thailand to Tasmania, are building what may be the only example of a truly global community.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101021216-397505,00.html

FORTHCOMING

Sat. 14 Dec. SOLD OUT! Young London Goans Society (YLGS). XMAS PARTY: Thames River Cruise & Disco.

Sat. 14 Dec. 4.30p.m. Goan Association (UK). EGM/AGM Archbishop Lanfranc School. Open to fully paid-up members only.

14 Dec. 6.00 - 11.00p.m. Croydon Goans Annual Christmas Dance at Our Lady of Annunciation Church Hall, Addiscombe, Croydon Contact Raymond Lobo 020 8654 0268

Sat.14 Dec. 7-11.30pm Goan Community Centre, Keston Rd. N17. Christmas Party dedicated for the 13-19's. £2 inc. Chicken 'n' chips/veg.& a drink. No Alcohol. Music by DJDEX (sound system provided by Say One Do One). Contact: Dexter: 0208-376-1068/07986-658-046, Sarita: 07961-044-079 email: djdex_sosolidcrew@hotmail.com

Sat 14 Dec. 7.00pm to 12.30am. Xmas Dance at Jasmin’s Club. 202 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7TG. Music by Zodiac. Tickets, inc. meal, £10 adults & £5 for children (aged 2-12). Contact Tony Lobo 020 8542 0528; Reg Da Cunha 020 7732 2659; Joaquim Rodrigues 020 8767 6942; Anthony Lobo 020 8764 1856.

Sat. 14 Dec. Chorao UK. Christmas Fun night at the Wandsworth Bengali Association, 57-59 Trinity Road, Tooting Bec, SW 17 7SD. The night will be comprise of games, dance and bingo. For further details contact Claver 020 8672 4562 or Mervyn 020 8689 2970

Sat 14 Dec. 2pm. Saligao Assoc. Panto at the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon. Tickets £6/£10. Contact Nathan DeSouza at DeSouza1@aol.com

Sun. 15 Dec. Goan Association (UK) Children's Christmas Party at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon from 1pm to 6pm. Tickets - Members £4, Non-members £6 to include a meal and entertainment. Tickets and further details available from Bernie Gracias 020-8723 1322, Norma Menezes-Rahim 020-8771 4457, Illona Fernandes 020-8300 5347.

Sun. 15 Dec. 1:30pm- 4pm. The South East Goans Sports & Social Club: Children's Christmas Party. St. Stephen's Parish Hall, 26 Deepdene Road, Welling, Kent. Includes Food and Drink, Entertainer, Competitions, Prizes, Games and Nativity Play. Members at £3.50 and Guests at £4.50. Contacts: Eusebio: 020 8304 9089; Alex: 020 8306 0974 Tatayana: 020 8316 1473; Sheila: 020 8310 9921; Damaciano: 020 8316 1473

Sat. 21 Dec. HELP A POOR CHILD Christmas Cracker at Greenford Hall, Ruislip Road, Greenford Broadway, Greenford, Middlesex from 7pm to 12.30am. Music by Break Thru' and Say One Do One. Tickets: Members £8, Non-Members £10, Children 5-11 years £5. Contact: Bernie Gracias 020-8723 1322, Norma Menezes-Rahim 020-8771 4457. DRESS CODE FORMAL - No Jeans, T-Shirts or Trainers.

Thu 26 Dec. 7pm till 1am. SLOUGH GOANS CHRISTMAS DANCE at the Polish Association Club, Stoke Poges Lane. (Voted the best do of last year). Music by 'Say One Do One'. Tickets £10 before 8th Dec. and £12 after. Tony/Suzy Rodrigues 01753 675072, Edwin 01753 531383, Paul 07956 496 190. Say1do1@hotmail.com Limited Tickets

Tue. 31 Dec. 8pm-1.30am. New Year Eve's Dance at BINA Banqueting Hall, 4-8 Tooting Bec High Road, opposite Tooting Bec Tube Station. Doors open from 7.30pm. Music by NITE LIFE. Tickets: under 12 years FREE. All other tickets £10 or £15 on the night, at the door. Call Maria:0208-803-5146, Maria:0208-672-1628, Conrad:0208-883-2394; Mike: 0208-803-9752.

Tue. 31 Dec. 6.30pm to 3.00am. New Year Gala Ball. Harrow Leisure Centre. Music by Breakthru and Dark Star. Tickets : £12 before 9th Dec, £15 after. Buffet. Free party hats, novelties and poppers. Tickets and further information e-mail: dssclub@aol.com or call Derrick Pereira 020 8952 8899; Flavio Gracias 020 8723 1322 (Greenford); Hazel Rodrigues 020 8357 6776

Tue. 31Dec. 7pm Saligao Assoc. New Years Eve Ball at Battersea Arts Centre (Formally Battersea Town Hall) For tickets please contact Serge Coelho on 020 8543 4681 or Nathan DeSouza at DeSouza1@aol.com

Tue. 31 Dec. Simba Football Club presents their New Years Eve Dance, from 7pm till 2am. Northumberland Park Community School, Worcester Avenue, Tottenham, London, N17. Music by Say One Do One. Adult tickets b4 22nd Dec £10 for members, £12 for non. But, >22 Dec. = £15 all. Felix 020 8482 3277 Frank 020 8888 1400

Tue. 31st Dec. (7pm till 1am). The South East Goans Sports & Social Club: “New Year’s Eve Ball” at the Woolwich Town Hall, Market Street, London, SE18. Music and Disco by “Eclipse”. Entry inc. snacks: Members £12; Guests £15. Contacts: Eusebio: 020 8304 9089; Alex: 020 8306 0974 Tatayana: 020 8316 1473; Sheila: 020 8310 9921; Damaciano: 020 8316 1473 Paul: 020 8304 6970

Sat. 4 Jan. Goan Association (UK) 2003 Extravaganza at Wandsworth Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street from 7 pm to 1 am. In attendance Maz & Co and Dark Star Disco. Tickets: Members £8 (special offer for Member and Spouse/Partner £12), Guests £10, Children 10-15 years £4. Contact Norma Menezes-Rahim 020-8771 4457 or Bernie Gracias 020-8723 1322.