This Newsletter is normally sent out around 21:00 GMT on Thursdays. Contributions must be received by the preceding Tuesday. When providing Death Announcements, please include overseas links, if any. (E.g. ex. Mombasa - Customs & Excise). Provide the e-mail address of a relative or friend for condolence messages to be sent.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Applications are invited from Black and Asian students for the Windsor Fellowships Undergraduate Programme and BBC Customised Programme. The programmes are aimed at equipping Black and Asian high-achievers with personal, managerial and professional skills, in a development programme that lasts for 2 or 3 years. The Programme is SPONSORED by leading public and private sector organisations and includes 1 or 2 PAID internships. You must be a Final Year 'A'-Level student or 1st year Undergraduate and apply by 15 March 2002 (29 March for BBC Customised Programme). Applicants can apply to both programmes and mature students are encouraged to apply. Further details at www.windsorfellowship.org or by contacting Kevin Coutinho at CoutinhoK@windsor-fellowship.org

Please note that tickets for the G.O.A. GRAND EASTER BALL will be £10 each at the door.

The Goan Hockey Team lead by Glyn Albuquerque is going great guns and has 3 fixtures left this season: 1. Sat. 9 Mar. 1:30 p.m. vs NPL / Lensbury at Crystal Palace (Bar Pitch). 2. Sat. 16 Mar. 1:30 p.m. vs Walton & Weybridge (Away) at St. Pauls School, Manor Lane, Sunbury. 3. Sat. 23 Mar. 10:30 a.m. vs Reigate Priory (Home) Crystal Palace (Bar Pitch). The result of the last match was Dulwich 2, Goan 5 (Aggie x 2, Shahid 1, Glyn 1, Mzee 1).

Can you survive on £7.14 a day, every day? Church Action on Poverty first had the idea of the Lent Challenge 10 months ago. Spokesman Oliver Fernandes explained: "They felt it was a good way to highlight the issue of the minimum wage. Six weeks is a long enough period to demonstrate the impact. A couple of MPs have done it for a week, or maybe two, but we considered that quite patronising." Evening Times (Glasgow), 2 Mar.

Watford Borough Councillor Rabi Martins spoke out for the project to improve pedestrian and road safety in Radlett Road. Watford Observer 1 Mar.

From United Press International, 5 Mar. Susie Coelho is an entrepreneurial beauty with a penchant for style, decor, and flair and charismatic panache to spare and is perhaps the best known Indian in the United States. She became a high fashion model acted in movies and became the second wife of Sonny Bono (of Sonny & Cher fame). Susie has two retail stores in L.A. named "A Star is Worn," and just written her first book, "Susie Coelho's Everyday Styling." Full text, 814 words, at http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=05032002-043517-6648r

From Rediff: Susie Coelho was born in England of Goan parents, was one of the hot models in America in the 1980s and had adorned the cover of many mass-circulated magazines. She had wanted to make a film on Phoolan soon after the bandit queen surrendered. But Hollywood felt that the subject wouldn't interest mainstream audiences. She had met the bandit queen in her jail cell but it was left to Shekhar Kapur to bring Phoolan Devi to the big screen, more than a decade later. For full text see: http://www.rediff.com/us/2001/jul/30us3.htm

For more info on Susie Coelho see: http://www.susiecoelho.com/ For a photograph of her parents, see: http://www.susiecoelho.com/scrapbook.htm For some of her magazine covers, see http://www.susiecoelho.com/scrapbook2.htm

DEATHS

27 Feb. London. NOVIDADE FERNANDES (81, ex-Nairobi). Husband of late Mary. Father of Bernard/Corine, Antonetta/Ligori, Felix/Margaret. Grandfather of Nikita, Chanel, Jason, Druston, Serena and Darius. Brother of Late Julio/Joana (\Mungul Grande),Feliciana(Nuvem). Brother-in-law of Rosita/Santan(Milton Keynes ), Antonetta/Joe (Canada). Funeral was on 5th Mar. Condolences to bernard.fernandes@tesco.net Novidade was one of the initiators of the Feast of the Holy Spirit, also known as Margao Feast in Nairobi. A tailor by profession, he played trook in the Tailor Society.

2 Mar. Reis Magos: ALEXANDRE DA COSTA PREGAL, husband of Valeriana, father of Savio/Janelle (Australia), Teja/Kamlesh and Carlos/Eloisa (UK).

4 Mar. Panjim: MARIO VINCENT NORONHA, husband of Audrey, father of Ryan, Tara and Tasha (all in Hong Kong), son of late Sonny/Ruby, brother/brother-in-law of Janet (Malaysia) Joyce/Noel (Canada), Margie/Joe(Canada), son-in-law of Nelson and Dolly, bro-in-law of Glenn and Derrick (both in Kuwait), Deborah (Qatar) Karyn and Bertrand (both in Canada).

4 Mar. Coulsdon, Surrey. TOLENTINO (TINO) CRISTO DE SOUSA (Ex-President Saligao Association) .Father of Ivor, Father-in-law of Sally, Granddad of Daniel. Funeral: Friday 15 March 2002 at 10 a.m. St Mary Help of Christians Church, 372 Coulsdon Road, Old Coulsdon, Surrey. - FLOWERS from immediate family only. Donations: South East Cancer Help Centre (Purley) OR Marie Curie Centre (Caterham) Funeral Directors: WA Truelove & Son Ltd Tel: 01883 345345. Condolence messages to: ivor@desousa81.freeserve.co.uk

5 Mar. Calangute/Chinchinim: MELVILLE FERNANDES, husband of Aspy, father of Mavis, brother of Merlin (Dy SP Security) and Milton (Dar-es-Salam)

FLIGHT CORNER

The great Easter escape There are still a few long-haul bargains around. For example, First Choice (0870 750 0465; www.firstchoice.co.uk) has a week's B&B at the Beira Mar in Goa, flying from Gatwick on March 31, for £499pp, saving £166 on the brochure price. Sunday Times 3 Mar.

NEWS HEADLINES

The volunteers of Goa Sudharop distributed 380 computers to 106 schools in Goa on February 27 and 28, through their computers for schools project. Frederick Noronha lists the Schools getting help and those who sorely need it. http://www.goacom.com/news/news2002/mar/msg00008.html

Jose Philip D'Souza, Goa's Minister for Revenue , resigned from the Government and from the BJP party. membership. He charged the government with supporting the right wing Hindu party against the minorities.

A Seminar organised by Goa Union of Journalists on "Goa Assembly Dissolution--An Analysis" concluded that President's rule was the only immediate solution to the present crisis. http://www.navhindtimes.com/cgi-bin/daily/stories.pl?id=goa&item=03goa_10

Goa will go to the polls early in June, Mr Parrikar said. Reuters 4 Mar.

Marriage is... dirty dishes, confrontations, balancing budgets, teenagers By Frederick Noronha. Vally (Valentine) and Anna Coelho offer marriage guidance counselling services in Goa. Details at: http://www.goacom.com/news/news2002/mar/msg00005.html

The Konkan Railway Corporation has commenced online booking of tickets The service is presently available only to non-resident Indians travelling to Goa. The booking will be available from seven to two days in advance of a journey on KRC's website, www.konkanrailway.com

IN THE NEWS

12 Feb. Hills Shire Times (Sydney). Families make Australia home…Another Hills family who received their citizenship on Australia Day is the Fernandes family from Castle Hill. Savia Fernandes said she and her family had moved from Goa in India to Australia three years ago. "We never doubted that there was a better life for us here, " she said.

15 Feb. Kent & Sussex Courier had a Picture Special feature on the International Animal Rescue. John Hicks, the founder has retired to Goa where they base their activities. In July last year, its work in Goa became the feature of a special Channel 5 documentary, Vets Abroad, which is to be released on Animal Planet worldwide through the Discovery Channel Anyone who would like to make a donation or wants more information can contact IAR, Lime House, Regency Close, Uckfield, TN22 1DS or call 01825 767688.

2 Mar. The Telegraph. Andrew Catchpole recommends wines to accompany curries. 1410 words. Click here...

2 Mar. Financial Express. Locals use innovative tricks to earn a little more from tourists to Goa. Goans offer extra services to increase their income. 827 words. Full text at: http://new.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=3685

2 Mar. The Independent. Spike Milligan died last week. Paul Vallely writes: "The last time I saw Spike Milligan was in a taxi at 2am somewhere in the middle of Birmingham. We had been for a meal in a curry house which ended so late because every time a waiter came to the table Milligan invited them to join us. It had begun when the comedian asked the first member of staff his name and discovered it was Patrick. The restaurant was run by a family from Goa, the one part of the sub-continent where, thanks to Portuguese colonialism, you stood a good chance of meeting Indians who were Catholics. Since Milligan too was a Catholic who had been born in India the opportunity was too good to miss. We ended up with five waiters sitting at the table. Service, as a consequence, was very slow…"

3 Mar. The Hindu. Review of a novel, Elsa's Joint, by Remigio Botelho, Published by Rupa, Rs. 150. Elsa's joint is a tavern which is the meeting place for all the men in the ward and the setting is Goa in the 1990s.

3 Mar. Deccan Herald. Khushwant Singh, the noted author with a very liberal outlook writes: Goa can become the world's most sought after holiday resort if the local administration and politicians stopped imposing their puritanical views…For me Goa is Bogmalo, the same hotel year after year and the D'Cruz family who own the sea cuisine. I got to know them 15 years ago through Sally D'Cruz who was a masseuse in Beach Resorts Health Club. Sally married a Scotsman and migrated to the UK. I continued visiting the D'Cruz family.
Full text at: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar03/sl8.htm

4 Mar. The Independent. In her regular weekly column, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (ex-Kampala), writes re. the Hindu-Muslim violence in Ahmedabad: "As an East African Asian, I find all this incomprehensible. We were racist towards Africans (and still have to acknowledge that) but there was no religious animosity between Asian Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus and Christians…Goan teachers, Sikh carpenters, even Greek orthodox cafe owners were in and out of our doors, which were always open to them. One reason why we East African Asians have succeeded so well and fast in this country is because of this ease with diversity." Read the full text, words at: http://argument.independent.co.uk/regular_columnists/yasmin_alibhai_brown/

*4 Mar. Agência Lusa - Serviço Internacional. Goa - Obras de modernização estão a pôr em risco igrejas históricas. Por Bosco de Sousa Eremita. A modernização está a pôr em risco igrejas dos séculos XVI, XVII e XVIII que fazem parte do património histórico goês, alertou um dos fundadores do capítulo de Goa da Sociedade do Património da Índia. 565 words.

6 Mar. Gulf News. Julio Ribeiro on the Gujarat riots. 765 words. http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=43138

6 Mar. Kalgoorlie Miner (Australia). Postcards by Xan Ashbury… "Hello from a strange land," Andrea wrote to me in 1992, while travelling in India. "If only I could tell of all the things I've seen. Portuguese whitewashed churches amongst coconut palms and rice paddies, motorbikes and huge outdoor raves in Goa…this place is intense, you love it and you hate it at the same time." 6 Mar. BBC Arundhati Roy: a profile. …She left home at 16, and after a stint as a hippy in Goa, she returned to Delhi. Full text at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/arts/newsid_1857000/1857495.stm

6 Mar. New York Times. Headline: Zanzibar Journal. Tourists and Islam Mingle, Not Always Cozily. By Marc Lacey. Excerpt: …as far back as 1939, the government saw fit to limit the consumption of alcohol, prohibited under Islam, to "certain classes of persons, including Europeans, Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Parsee and Goans." Full text, 871 words, see: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/06/international/africa/06ZANZ.html

FORTHCOMING

Sat. 9th Mar.1-8pm Goans celebrating International Women's Day. Goan Community Centre, Keston Rd. N17.Come & air your views, Share your thoughts, join in discussions on health and social matters. Survived terminal illness, Stormy marriage, unpleasant divorce? Can you offer advice? We will end with fun and laughter, Line Dancing...Come & see what else!

Sat. 16th Mar. Join 'SAY ONE DO ONE DISCO' in an evening playing R&B, Garage and latest tunes. All welcome, free entry. Upstairs in the Princess Louise Pub, 208 High Holborn from 7 till 11. For details call Paul on 07956 496190 or Nigel 07956 984532 or email: Say1do1@hotmail.com

Sun. 31 Mar. G.O.A. GRAND EASTER BALL at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. (7.00 pm to midnight). Organise your baby-sitter - dance the night away to the sounds of HeartBeat. Members £6/Non-Members £8 include snacks and a gift for each lady. (TICKETS AT THE DOOR - £10). Contact: Juliette 020 - 8765 0258, Vince 020-8764 8780 or Vicki 020-8698 9678

Wed. 3 Apr. 7.30 - 10.00pm "Impromptu Goan Musical Encounter". Goan folk music, manddes, instrumentals and some dances. Presented jointly by "Movimento Cultural e Ecologico de Goa", Lisbon and the Goan Musical Society Ensemble. Come and enjoy the evening and join in the singing too! More details soon in our website: http://www.geocities.com/g.m.s

Sun. 7 Apr. 12.00pm - 8.00pm. NAKURU DYNAMOS Re-union. Ex-Nakuru Goans and their guests invited to first ever re-union at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Streatham. Music by Maz & Co (Mariano's Band). Ticket inc meal, Adult £10, Children 5-12yrs £5. Please contact: Sal Rodrigues (0116)2689234, (0116)2205003 evenings; Loy Rebello (0207)7380738, (0208)2419246 evenings; George Noronha (01293)511082.