Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2003-14. Apr. 4, 2003

Berna Cruz, the Canadian Goan who was humiliated at Chicago airport and deported, has written to the Canadian Prime Minister. The US authorities have responded. In the special supplement you will find:
1. World Net Daily. 21 Mar. 2003. US Government officials deny wrongdoing.
2. US Congressman Joseph Crowley writes Secretary Ridge expresses outrage. 11 Mar. 2003.
3 Text of letter written by Berna Cruz to the Canadian Prime Minister. 10 Feb., 2003.
4. Some recent Press reports currently archived.
5.Other Press Reports.
Click here for the supplement.

From Melvyn Fernandes, Welfare Director, G.O.A.(UK): On 4 Feb. 2003, the Daily Mail published an article about three members of our Community being held on remand, see
http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/newsletter/2003/Feb/issue1/supp1/Girl_raped_on_cruise_ship.html
Melvyn Fernandes and Morris Collaco have visited these Goans who have been held in Brixton Prison for the last seven months. The Goan Association has been given authority to make any necessary representations on their behalf and will be working with their respective solicitors to obtain their release on bail at the hearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court on 15 April at 11.00 am. If any member of our Community would like to help, please get in touch with: Melvyn Fernandes, Mobile 07970 668879 GOAWELFARE1@activemail,co.uk

Habari Group: This group of Goans from East Africa and elsewhere meets in Wetherspoon Pubs (Non smoking area ) from midday to 3.30 p.m.
Thu. 10 Apr. Colindale "Moon Under Water" Pub, 10 Varley Parade, NW9. vContact Raul Monteiro 020 8958 5820 (ev. 6-9 p.m.)
Fri. 25 Apr. Southgate "New Crown" Pub, 80 Chase Side, N14. Contact Joe Mendes 020 8368 6165 (ev. 6-9 p.m.).

1 Mar: Santa Cruz, Goa: DEODITA DIAS DO ROSARIO E ARAUJO, wife of Timoteo, Sister of Lazarus /Valery (London), Basil (USA), Crocifissa, Rev Fr Socorro (USA), Mario/Angela, Bhushan & Frank (USA)/Gracy.

26 Mar: Miramar, Goa: LIRA NAZARETH, wife of Julius, mother of late Dr Melwyn/Dr Marilyn, Fr Oscar (Dominican), Frederick/Patricia (Canada), Dr Brenda/Cosme Menezes, Dr Sarita.

31 Mar. South River, New Jersey. MARGARIDA P. COLACO (90). Born in Goa, India, she came to South River seven years ago. Surviving are daughters, Wanda Gomes and Wilma DMelio; sons, Vasco, Randy and Jose, and seven grandchildren. A Mass for Mrs. Margarida P. Colaco will be at 9 a.m. 3 Apr. in St. Marys Church, South River. Source: Star-Ledger Newark, NJ, 02 April 2003.

1 Apr. Calangute, Goa. CARLOTA NAZARE MASCARENHAS. Wife of the late Miguel Mascarenhas (Ex-Bombo. Uganda). Mother of Dr. Ricardo/Dr. Otilia, Rev. Fr. Cirilo S.F.X., Marieta/Alvaro, Antonio/Ruby (Canada), Morgano. Grand-mother of Dr. Rochelle/Richard, Ryan, Dr. Joe, Indira/Arvin, Dr.
Michelle, Maria-Renata & Roberto. Condolences to fatimavi@goatelecom.com or
villa.fatima@sympatico.ca

29 Mar. The Guardian, 14 nights self-catering in Goa, £289, a saving of £296, from Manchester dep.Apr. 5 (Thomas Cook)

GOA NEWS HEADLINES
mainly from Joel D'Souza in Goa, courtesy of GOACOM

28 Mar. Goa to introduce VAT from July 1 2003.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=41554552

28 Mar. Yachts and Yachting (UK). The OK Worlds Yachting Championship is being held in Goa this week. http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/default2.asp?section=11&article=9198

30 Mar. Herald. Three British nationals, Norton Leigh, Lamos Nadine and Shelly James, were arrested on March 28 at Dabolim Airport, for possession of 7.4 kgs of hashish.
http://www.oherald.com/newherald/newsBRN.asp?qId=2216&qSec=BRN&qNType=R

1 Apr. Herald. On Sunday, Customs officials at Goa airport found 19 kg of assorted drugs (Viagra, sleeping pills and vitamins valued over Rs.2 lakh) on a passenger, Lynch Peter Thomas. On the same day officials seized 200 cartons of cigarettes in three suitcases belonging to an unidentified English national travelling by another flight.

1 Apr. Deccan Herald. Goa ranked first among the Indian States in quality of life. By Devika Sequeira. Full text at: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr01/n3.asp

2 April. Navhind Times. Domestic violence in Goa: attitudes and prevalence.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=040230

IN THE NEWS

Two Canadian Goans have been in the Canadian limelight this week. Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer of Health has had to take action regarding the outbreak of SARS virus and subsequent deaths in Ontario. There continues to be controversy and even a claim that he is "a sacrificial lamb for the incompetence of the Eves government" A photograph and profile of Dr D'Cunha appeared in the Toronto Star, 23 Mar. Click here
Professor Joseph D'Cruz, an airline specialist at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management is the pundit on the Air Canada problems. His photograph and bio data are at http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/faculty/bios/dcruz.htm

26 Mar. New York Times. Rev. Francis X. Nelson, a RC priest in New York was sentenced to four months imprisonment for molesting a 12-year-old altar girl.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/26/nyregion/26PRIE.html
From: http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/mar/26us.htm Many Indian priests feel the real difference is culture. "In India we touch children without any motive," they argue. "But in the US, such behavior is viewed with suspicion."

27 Mar. The Star-Ledger Newark, New Jersey. Cardiologist Daniel Mascarenhas fills suitcases with medical equipment when he returns to Goa every two years. He has brought more than $500,000 worth of medical equipment to India since he started sending supplies six years ago. His wife, Suzette, said she has never seen anyone do what her husband is doing in her 20 years as a medical doctor. Mascarenhas has invested more than $100,000 toward building a cardiac catheter laboratory in Goa, and he plans to set up a network to make shipping equipment much easier. But he will have to find people willing to make the commitment. Mascarenhas said he could see his project "turning into a service center to help all of the countries in the world." Full text, 858 words at http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1048750517198020.xml?starledger?nwr

28 Mar. The Post-Standard Syracuse, New York. The D'Souza family of India represents the quintessential American dream. Julia D'Souza was born in Goa. Her husband, Victor Luis, was born in Tanzania and their daughter, Anjali Ann, 20, was born in Kuwait…The D'Souzas came to the United States 15 years ago because Julia D'Souza received a fellowship to pursue a master's in business administration. Julia D'Souza, now a professor business school at Cornell University. http://www.syracuse.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1048844278263191.xml?syrneocit

29 Mar. National Post. Toronto. Restaurant Review: Trimurti, 265 Queen W. (416-645-0348) ... And their Goan fish curry is hot, aromatic and delicious…

29 Mar. Toronto Star. Rafael Alfandary, a jeweller, found fame and fortune in Toronto 30 years ago. He tired of the rat race and decided to move to India. In 2000 he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma - a form of blood cancer and given three years to live. He and his wife, Eriko, gave up their idyllic existence in Goa, India's Riviera in the south, to return to Toronto. Photographs and biography at his website, http://www.rafaelcanada.com/home.html Full text of article, 935 words at: Click Here

30 Mar. Sunday Mirror (UK). Scotland Yard's SO5 child unit has uncovered a horrific trade in youngsters imported into Britain as sex slaves. A source said: "We have been shocked at the scale of trafficking. Another shock was the rising number of children being brought in from Goa in India and Jamaica. Text at http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12790740&method=full&siteid=106694

30 Mar. Winnipeg Free Press. Book choice. Celicia Sequeira, Manager personal financial services Royal Bank, Sargent and Sherbrook "I'm almost finished a novel, Tempting Faith Di Napoli by Toronto author Lisa Gabriele. It's a comic take on a Catholic schoolgirl's tumultuous upbringing. What attracted
me to this book were the parallels to my own growing up: Canadian immigrant family, the language barriers, and just how our faith shapes us both as children and adults. It is ironic and funny and sad all at the same time."
Text at http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/books/story/975653p-1166043c.html

31 Mar, Yorkshire Post. Charity night aids African families…One of the highlights was an auction for an African safari, donated by Tom Fernandes, chairman of Wildlife Safari Kenya Ltd, who had asked for some of the proceeds to be donated to the Kilimani children's home. Highest bidder was Kirsty Newton …she will hand over a cheque for £975.

1 Apr. (!) Times of India reported that France is brokering an Iraq peace deal. Saddam Hussein is to be granted asylum in India - Goa is his possible destination. Text at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=42049839

FORTHCOMING
(for a list of events scheduled for the next 12 months, visit: www.goanvoice.org.uk).

See http://www.lanfranc.com/publications/location/directions.htm for help in locating Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon

Sun. 6 Apr. 1.00p.m. ALZIRA ZUZARTE-VAZ: Month's mind Mass for the late Alzira Z-Vaz who died in Nairobi. Location: Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 131 Deptford High Street, Deptford, SE 14. Followed by reception in the Church Hall from 2.00 - 3.30 p.m. For details, click here

Sun. 6 Apr. 5:00pm-5:40pm. BBC Radio 4. The Caste Divide. Report on the growing tension within the British Asian community which many of its members are very reluctant to acknowledge. Asians born
in this country, and wholly adapted to its culture, find themselves increasingly affected. Can the caste tradition merge with a modern British identity? Overseas listeners can receive the programme at 16:00 GMT, 6 Apr. at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/

Sat. 12 Apr. 7pm to midnight. Goan Association (UK) Disco Fever for ages 16 and over. Dynamic Duo playing all your favourites. Bina Banqueting Hall, 4-8 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 (opposite Tooting Bec Station). Licensed bar. Entrance: £5 including snacks. Contact: Lily/Tony D'Souza 020-8644 5310; Wilma/Cedric D'Cruz 020-8954 1596.

Sun. 20 Apr. 7.30pm Goan Association Grand Easter Dance. Lola Jones Suite, Greaves Place off Garratt Lane. Members: £6 Guests £8 Children: 12-15yrs £4. SAY ONE DO ONE in attendance. Advance booking advisable: Contacts: Norma Menezes-Rahim 0208 771 4457 or email normamenezes@aol.com; Bernie Gracias 0208 723 1322 berniegracias@aol.com

Sat 26th Apr.: YLGS (Young London Goans Society) presents "I T ' S A GO A N T H I N G" [18+] Party!! 7pm-3am @ The VIP Room, ZOO BAR, Leicester Square, London. http://www.zoobar.co.uk/ Music by DJ Dooza & Say One Do One. Tickets £8. For more Details & Tickets Contact: Alison 07799 586793 alisonbraganza@hotmail.com For the e-flyer click here.

Sun 4 May: CORTALIM UNION 25th Anniversary. Tickets are now Sold Out -- Tickets will not be available at the door. No Ticket, No Entry.

Sun. 4 May 12noon - 7pm Saligao Association Feast of Mae de Deus. Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, Streatham. Music by Ronnie Victor's band. Tickets Members £9, Guests £12, price reductions for children. Please contact Serge Coelho on 020 8543 4681 or Selina de Sa on 020 8643 9675 or Nathan DeSouza, Desouza1@aol.com or http://www.saligao.co.uk/

Mon. 5 May. The Goan Cultural Society UK presents "TUJEA PASSOT" Written and directed by Goa's award winning writer JOSE I ROD at St Monica's Hall, Green Lanes, Palmers Green, at 3.00pm, For further information contact : - Bella Fernandes 020 8352 0373, Rosy D'Silva 020 8352 9450 and Ida D'Souza 020 8881 2921.

Sat. 10 May. 6.30 - 10pm. The Goan Musical Society presents "A Goan Cultural Evening" of traditional music & dance at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Tickets will be on sale from March 2003. Visit www.geocities.com/g.m.s for more info. Tickets available from Alfred Rebello 020 8337 8022, Kerwin Fernandes 020 8230 6935, Bernadette Menezes 0773 632 7201 or Cornelius Monteiro 020 8681 8716.