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COMMUNITY NEWS

The Young London Goans Society Committee

Left to right: Myra Silveira, Chris D'Souza, Richard Martyres,
Ruby De Souza, Alison Braganza, James D'Souza & Marie Pereira.

Goan Voice UK announces a new service - a page for each UK Goan Association. YLGS are the first off and you can check their page by going to http://goanvoice.org.uk/organisations.htm and clicking on the link. Send in details of your association to have them mounted to the site. The service is free but donations are solicited to sustain and improve the service. Write to eddie@fernandes.u-net.com but Marilyn Abreu in Goa will be doing the work!

Ashank Desai is a Goan and Chairman and Managing Director of Mastek, the company that created the software brain that will make or break London mayor Ken Livingstone's 200-million-pound plan for London's congestion charge. The project, awarded to Mastek despite strong local competition from a leading British company Logica. Mayor Livingstone says it is "unsurprising" an Indian software company was chosen for his pet project because "Indians are very good technically". Mastek have three offices in the UK, in London, Bristol and Edinburgh. Ashank Desai was a guest at the Goanet meeting, Goa, Dec. 1998. For details of Mastek's involvement in the Congestion Card Scheme see, Times of India, 12 Feb. at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=37190979 For a profile of Mastek, see: http://www.mastek.com/

From George Pinto: Preparations are underway for the 2003 North American Goan Reunion to be held July 3-6 in Los Angeles. We will celebrate Goa Day at the convention and hope Rene Barreto (who has made Goa Day an international celebration) will join us. For more go to http://www.goacom.com/goa-la/

The Goan Community Mombasa Newsletter, Feb, 2003 is just out. For your free copy write to Maureen De Souza, jam@wananchi.com

DEATHS

6 Feb: Siolim, Goa RAFAEL ANTHONY PIRES. Husband of Julie. Father of Christabella/Alwyn Pereira, George/Valerie and Simproza.

7 Feb. Toronto. ARNOLD LOBO. Husband of Muriel. Father of Owen, Aubrey and Clive. Funeral was on 12 Feb.

13 Feb. Arpora-Baga (Goa). CAETANO THOMAS DIAS (ex-Mombasa, Kenya), son of late Pedro Antonio (ex-Manor Hotel, Mombasa)/late Gracy, brother of Julie/Andrew, Lena/Joel, Lydia/John, late Martina (Bonnie), Fatima/Joe and Jude.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Earlier this week Virgin Travelstore. http://www.virgin.com/travelstore/ had Gatwick/Goa. 2 weeks inc. b&b, dep 14 Feb. £249. This offer was flashed on the www.goanvoice.org.uk website. It has been a sell out!

People, 9 Feb.: Gatwick/Goa. 2 weeks inc b&b dep. Feb 22. £419. Hayes & Jarvis.

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

Well-known producer and director, Bonifacio Dias has completed his sixth Konkani film "Konn Zababdar" and will be released soon in Goan theatres. The cast of the film includes Mitsu, Dhiraj, Roshan, Rico Rod, Fatima, Domnic, Anna, Luis, Jyoti Kunkalienkar, Mario de Vasco, Platilda, Peter de Benaulim, Ben Envangelisto, Anil Kumar and authors.

Ignatius Pacheco, a non-resident Indian, was taken for a ride when he got lured into the trap of doubling up his money, by one Remedios Crasto from Benaulim who lured him into parting with Rs.90 lakh on the promise that he would double the money within five years by starting a joint venture.

The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Goa Police arrested a Tanzanian national for possessing cocaine weighing 31 gm valued at Rs 1.24 lakh.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=021032

IN THE NEWS

6 Feb. The Edmonton Sun. Wayne Fernandes of Mississauga, Ont., scored four goals to lead Canada to a 5-4 win over Switzerland at the inaugural indoor field hockey World Cup yesterday in Leipzig, Germany. John De Souza scored the other.
Other matches with names of the Canadian scorers:
Canada vs. Russia: 3-3. Ken Pereira 2; Wayne Fernandes 1.
Canada vs. New Zealand: 7-2. Wayne Fernandes 3; Ken Pereira 2; Wes de Souza 1; Adam Evans 1.
Canada vs. Czech Republic: 5-5. Robin D'Abreo 2; Scott Sandison 2; Wayne Fernandes 1.
Canada vs Germany: 4-11. John De Souza 1; Wes De Souza 1; Robin D'Abreo 1. Wayne Fernandes 1.
Canada vs Netherlands 4-4. Ken Pereira 2; Scott Sandison 1; Wayne Fernandes 1.
[For photographs and biodata of the Canadian team, see:
http://www.fieldhockey.ca/teams/2003iwc/menu.html]

6 Feb. Belfast Telegraph. Headline: Road laws in India say might is right. 769 word article on the Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle tours organised by Blazing Tails of Goa.
Full text at http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/features/story.jsp?story=376059
Blazing Trails is at: http://www.travelingoa.com/blazingtrails/

7 Feb. Florida Today. Headline: Restaurateur hosted astronaut's family. Excerpts: Local restaurateur Ashok "Sid" Sikdar, owner of the recently opened Taste of Goa International Indian Cuisine Restaurant in Cape Canaveral said he was honored Chawla's family and friends chose to dine at his restaurant the evening of the launch of Columbia. They enjoyed dishes like Vindaloo chicken and pork.
Text at http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/indexjose.htm

7 Feb. Retail Week (UK). As Asda/Wal-Mart gears up to go for control of Safeway, word is spreading about the value offered by the retailer. It seems the message has now spread to Goa in India. Retailers ranging from market stall-holders to hagglers push their wares by claiming that their deals are "better than Asda price". Another trader of beach tat, attempting to emphasise the quality of his goods rather than simply price, proclaimed they were "as good as Marks & Spencer".

7 Feb. Daily Record (Scotland). 20 couples have been selected to try a St Valentine Indian Love Feast and determine if Indian food can have sensuous aphrodisiac properties.
Full text, 1050 words at:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/features/page.cfm?objectid=12616222&method=full&siteid=89488
For the menu and results see:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/page.cfm?objectid=12624115&method=full&siteid=89488

8 Feb. Daily Star (UK). Headline: I'm Goan straight to prison.
Text: An Irish holidaymaker got the shock of his life when he appeared to tell gun cops the purpose of his visit to India was "terrorism". But immigration officers at Goa International airport mistook "tourism" for "terrorism" in his Irish accent - and banged him up. Witness Simon Cheetham, 41, from Aylesbury, Bucks, said: "It sounds funny, but he was petrified. It took him hours to get out."

8 Feb. The Times (UK). Jill Crawshaw revisits Goa and discovers why it has retained its appeal for generations of British tourists. Full text, 1184 words, at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/

8 Feb. Toronto Star. Newfoundlanders meet regularly for "kitchen parties" at Eastern Passage bar in Brampton. Mel D'Souza, a reporter for Downhomer is at the bar. He fell in love with Newfoundland on his first visit 13 years ago and returns every year. "I own a house in an outport you can only reach by boat. I'm from Tanzania. My parents are from Goa. I'm not a Newfie!" "Sure y'are!" says someone. For text, click here...

11 Feb. Ottawa Citizen. Enid de Souza, whose husband, Ronald one the victims in the 1985 Air India bombing reacted with outrage after one of the accused was sentenced to five years in prison. "I think it's terrible that he's only in jail for five years, " she said. "If I had anything to say about it, I'd say he should be shot."
At the time of his death, Mr. de Souza was enroute to New Delhi on a business trip. He worked as a senior contracts administrator for Leigh Instruments.

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

For location of Archbishop Lanfranc School see: http://www.lanfranc.com/publications/location/directions.htm

Fri. 14 Feb. 7-11pm. Valentine's Disco at the Goan Community Centre, Keston Rd. N17 for the youth aged 13-19.Dance to the sensational DJDEX, sound system by 'Say One Do One' Just £2 inc. food . Great Fun! For tickets contact Dexter 8376 1068/07986 658 0460/Sarita 07961 044 079 email djdex_sosolidcrew@hotmail.com or tickness_2000@hotmail.com

Sat. 15 Feb. From 7pm.Valentine's Night at the Goan Community Centre. Live band 'Nuvel Vision' playing your old tyme favourites remembering 'them good ole days'. Relive that night! Come & join in the game of Mr & Mrs to reveal how well you know (or don't know) your partner! Tickets £5. No objection to bringing your own food & drink. Contact candyrose2000@hotmail.com or Josephine 8967 7471 or Maria 8376 1609.

Sun. 23 Feb. 2.00p.m. Goan Heritage (U.K), formerly Youth Of Goa (U.K). By public demand, second show of the Tiatr "Asro" (Shelter). At Archbishop Lanfranc School Hall, Mitcham Road, Croydon, Surrey. For tickets please contact Felix Gonsalves on 020 8450 2129, Jimmy Braganza on 020 8450 5623, Fr.Oliver Antao on 020 8563 9102.

Sun 2 Mar. 12.30 pm Mungul Feast. 25th Anniversary Celebrations at White Hart Lane School Hall, White Hart Lane (Opp New River Sports Centre) Wood Green, London N22. Holy Mass followed by a Social, Music by Breakthru and the Sounds Of Nitelife ( Disco). For Tickets and further details please contact: Rosalind - 0208 767 8652, Rosy - 0208 352 9450 or Lucas - 0209 967 7471. Map at http://www.whatsgoingon.demon.co.uk/albion/hls/riverfinal/rivermap.htm

Sun 2 Mar. 12.30 pm. Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Spring Gala Dance in aid of St Michael's Parish Hall, Mitcham. Music Maz and Co. Tickets £12 inc. meal. Contact Norma Rodrigues, 0208 764 3664.

Sat. 8th Mar. 7 pm till 11 pm. Join 'Say One Do One Disco' in an evening playing R&B, Garage and latest tunes. Free entry. Upstairs in the Princess Louise Pub, 208 High Holborn. For details call Paul on 07956 496190, Nigel 07956 984532 or email: say1do1@hotmail.com

Sat. 15 Mar. 7 pm- Saligao Association Rockin' Spring Nite at the David Lloyd Centre, Bushey Road, Raynes Park. (5 mins from Wimbledon Chase Station). Music by 'Life is Good'. Buffet included. Tickets £10 (members and guests) or £15 for tickets plus the use of the David Lloyd Centre all day. Contact Nathan DeSouza, DeSouza1@aol.com, Serge Coelho 0208 543 4681 or Selina de Sa, 10 Penshurst Way, Cheam, Surrey, SM2 6HR. Full details from http://www.saligao.co.uk/

Sun. 16 Mar. 12 noon - 6pm. Saligao Association. White Tie Tea Dance. Irish Centre, Hartfield Road, Wimbledon. £8 for members and £10 for guests. Discounts before 14 Feb. For further information please contact Nathan DeSouza, DeSouza1@aol.com Serge Coelho 0208 543 4681 or Selina de Sa on 0208 643 9675.

Sun 4 May: Cortalim Union celebrates its 25th anniversary at The Haringey Irish Centre, Pretoria Road, Tottenham. London N17 8DX. Doors open at 12noon for Holy Mass at 12.30pm sharp, followed by a Social. Music by Mustang and NiteLife Disco . Tickets (inc. meals and snacks) : Adults £10. 11-16 yrs £6. 10yrs & under £3. No tickets will be sold at the door. Contact: Leocadia - 020 8444 1096, Maria 020 8803 5146 or Luis - 020 8889 2278.