COMMUNITY NEWS

Dr Jayant Vaidya of University College London (j.vaidya@ucl.ac.uk) is one of the most distinguished UK Goans and yet has hardly been featured in this newsletter because he has remained elusive. The October 2003 issue of Readers Digest is yet another in the long list of mainstream publications to highlight his pioneering work. A special supplement has been created in an attempt to feature some aspects of his speciality. In the supplement you will find brief biographical details, selected text of a few articles about him, a video link to an operation (not for the faint hearted!) and a link to his website with a host of additional information. For the supplement, click here.

From Christopher D’Souza. 16 photographs of the YLGS Monthly Meetup @ Los Locos - 26th September 2003 are at http://www.ylgs.org.uk/gallery.php The photographs are by Pedro Menezes. The next YLGS event is the Halloween Party on 25 Oct. – for details see http://www.ylgs.org.uk/calendar.php?day=25&month=10&year=2003

Many of you will remember the Pathe (Crowing Cockerel) newsreels that were shown in cinemas. The newsreels are now part of the world's first digital news archive comprising 3500 hours material covering 1896 to 1970. Go to http://www.britishpathe.com Key in Goa for example and you can see and hear coverage of the Freedom Struggle. Repeat the search for your favourite topic. A search for Antao for example will find clips, in colour, of Seraphino Antao striking gold at the Perth 100 metres final.

Three items from Flavio Gracias, President of the UK Goan Association:

1. Goa Six a Side Football Tournament. 24 August 2003.
The annual tournament was a huge success, with fourteen teams taking part. R'n'B Playaz beat Real Siolim in the final. The organisers, Darren Fernandes and Val Nunes would like to thank all the teams for taking part. The Board of Directors would like to thank Val Nunes & Darren Fernandes for organising the event.

2. Sports Day. 31 August 2003
As in previous years, Peter Rodrigues and his team organised this event. It was very heartening to see so many Goan youngsters taking part, especially in the 14-16 age group. The weather was good and it was a perfect day for such an event. Proud parents, grand-parents, husbands, wives and friends added to the thrill of it all, cheering their loved ones to the winning tape!! The tug of war always a fun event, attracted participants of varying heights, weights and measures and pull that rope, they did! Sincere thanks to all the organisers and those involved in ensuring the smooth running of the track events. Special thanks to Seraphino Antao who donated some of his treasured trophies to winners of the track events. Mariano’s disco followed the closure of the games, and a good time was had by all who stayed to party.

3. Extradition Hearing - Monday 13th October
At this latest hearing the judge committed the three Goan crewmen for extradition to the Bahamas. It is likely that the legal teams will appeal against this ruling and the process will be very protracted. The appeal court hearing will probably take place next year, around March or April. The bail conditions remain unchanged and they will not be allowed to leave the UK. Whilst the Goan Association continue to care for them, it would be appreciated if members of the community could provide these three unfortunate crewmen with more support as they are feeling rather downhearted at the present time.

DEATHS

15 Oct. London/Leicester. MERLYN VAZ, Mother of Keith Vaz, Leicester's first Asian woman councillor and champion for pensioners' rights died after a four-year battle with cancer. Wife of late Xavier. Mother of Penny, Valerie and Keith. Grandmother of Dominie, Finn, Neil, Liberty, Luke and Anjali. Condolences to vazk@parliament.uk. For a profile of Mrs Vaz click here.

15 Oct. Utorda, Goa. FRANCISCO XAVIER PACHECO. (born 1934). Husband of late Antoneta. Father of Joseph /Zinnia (Uganda), Jovita/ Victor, Gilbert/Regina (UK). Brother of Fr Johnny Pacheco (USA), late Cosme Damiao/Procia (Australia), late Antonio Rosario, late Jose Francis/late Mary, Santano/Maria S, Damaciano/Virginia, late Joao Menino/Lucy.

13 Oct: Anjuna/Mapusa, Goa: TIMOTIO JJ D'SOUZA (Ex-Nairobi). Husband of late Eugenia Effie (Molly). Father of Hillary/Celine, Judy/Isaac Fernandes, Joan/Cedric D'Souza and Jane/Clifford Pereira. Brother of late Honorato/Amelia, Genevie/late Manuel Britto (UK), Rosario, late Fermino/late Victoria and late Tertuliano/Nester.

10 Oct. Nairobi. “Prof” EDWIN RODRIGUES. (Strathmore class of 66). Son of Albin Rodrigues and the late Caetano Rodrigues (CJ). Brother to Bruno, Joseph, Edmund, Veronica, Grace and Astrid. Uncle to Craig and Eric. He was a member of Opus Dei at Strathmore & was teaching there. [info from Sylvia Pires in Nairobi]

FOR SALE

On Thursday 16 Oct 2003 Bonhams of Knightsbridge, London, is auctioning a Goa Stone and container. The estimated value is UK Pounds 30,000 to 40,000. A description of the item is at http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/wspd_cgi.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?screen=LotDetails&iSaleItemNo=1317382 On 13 Oct. The Daily Telegraph today had a lengthy article on this Goa Stone. Evidently in the 17th century a group of Jesuit monks in Goa began producing this fever remedy. To view the article click here.These is an excellent photograph of a Goa stone at http://www.nmsi.ac.uk/piclib/imagerecord.asp?id=10321081 and a comprehensive article by Hutton in Pharm. J. Vol. 225, pages 710-711, 1980. The article covers the history, composition, formulation and therapeutic applications of Goa Stone.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

11 Oct. The Guardian. The late holiday websites such as teletextholidays.co.uk and bargainholidays.com only sell up to three weeks ahead. Teletext has seven nights' B&B in Goa from pounds 429 (departing November 2).

11 Oct. Daily Star. Forget mince pies and spend Christmas in Goa. The festival is celebrated there by the country's sizeable Catholic population, a remnant of its Portuguese colonists. Jewel In The Crown Holidays has availability on two-week breaks departing Manchester Airport on December 18. You could stay in the five-star Cidade de Goa on white sands at Vainguinim Bay. The price for 14 nights over Christmas is £1,823, based on two sharing accommodation, with breakfast.

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

10 Oct. Times of India. Beach deaths haunt Goa tourism. Goa's holiday image of a splash in the Arabian Sea has put the state government in a tight spot.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=223956

10 Oct. GoaNet: From Frederick Noronha. Download the 112-page e-book titled 'Behind The News: Voices From Goa's Press' from http://www.mediaah.com/Mediaah!DownloadManager.htm

11 Oct. Herald. The Goa government has banned smoking and on beaches, bus stands and railway stations in Goa.

11 Oct. Times of India. US-based Dr William Halvorson an expert in ecological conservation says that his visit to Goa has been quite an experience. "It's a wonderful place with a lovely mix of sea and sand, but there are areas where ecological restoration will definitely need to step in," he points out. Sacred groves across Goa he feels can be saved with a little support from certain agencies in the United States. Bio and photo at:
http://ag.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/srnr/facinfo.pl?LAST=Halvorson&FIRST=William

12 Oct. The first charter flights of the season, two Monarch flights from UK, landed in Goa on 12 Oct.

12 Oct. Herald. Margao police arrested a woman from Chinchinim on charges of assaulting a Mumbai-bound bus conductor and the driver. She suspected the duo of alerting excise personnel that she was carrying liquor so she caught hold of the duo at the bus stand and bashed them up.

12 Oct. Times of India. The Goa Government is to provide computers to 10,000 houses this year and the aim of providing all houses with computers within 5 years. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=230093 See also The Inquirer (UK). 13 Oct. Intel wins huge order in India using ancient Celerons. http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=12084

14 Oct. Indian Express. 23-year-old Swiss tourist raped in Goa. The victim was on her way to Benaulim beach when she was raped. The scene of another rape case involving a BBC staffer in 2000. Thirteen rape cases involving both foreign nationals and locals were recorded in Goa last year. In January 2000, after a British tourist was gang raped, the British foreign office issued a circular warning its nationals to avoid Goan beaches. Later the police had put out circulars warning tourists, especially young women, to avoid walking alone on beaches at odd hours. Areas around fishing hamlets like Baga and Calangute have become infamous for crimes against tourists. Police also claim that incidence of crime sometimes gets exaggerated such as when tourists report theft to claim insurance back home. See: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=33395

IN THE NEWS

10 Oct. Gulf Today. From November, Martinair will operate charter flights to Goa from Amsterdam with a stop in Sharjah. “We have had a very good response to the flights and most of the flights till Christmas are nearly full already, " a representative said. http://www.godubai.com/gulftoday/article.asp?h_id=39

11 Oct. The Independent. Mark Hix writes “Gopal's [12 Bateman Street,] in Soho do an amazing Goan fish curry”

14 Oct. Australian Associated Press General News. Police investigating the bashing of Paul de Souza are confident that new evidence will help secure the extradition of the suspects from the UK For the original account of the assault see: http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/stories/Detail_LinkStory=48710.html

15 Oct. New Zealand Herald. Alexander Gomes, of the Shiva Indian Restaurant in Takapuna has been fined $35,000 for failing to pay the minimum wage to an illegal worker. For more text click here.

15 Oct. Toronto Star. Tara Fernandes field hockey skill won her a $35,000 (U.S.) scholarship at Boston College where she is studying financial management. She has impressed coaches there with two game-winning goals and some nifty stick work. She notched the winner in a 3-1 triumph over Syracuse with her parents among the crowd. She also scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Connecticut. For more text click here. [See photo and profile of Tara at http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/newsletter/2003-35/ ]

15 Oct. BBC. Indian nationals traveling through the UK are now required to hold transit visas costing £27. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3193786.stm

Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Monitoring Vol. 13; Part 3 (2003) pp. 203-210
Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Drinking Water at Velsao, Goa. Gadi, S. D.; Barbuddhe, S. B.; Hazel, D.; Dolly, C. http://zetoc.mimas.ac.uk/zetoc/wzgw?terms=RN138100560&field=zid

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

Click here for help in locating Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon

Sat. 18 Oct. Join 'Say One Do One Disco' in playing R&B, Garage and latest tunes. All welcome, free entry. Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, London WC1 6BS from 7 till late. Nearest tube Chancery Lane or 10mins walk from Holborn tube. For details call Paul on 07956 496190 or Nigel 07956 984532 or email: Say1do1@hotmail.com

Sun. 19 Oct. Colva Feast at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, Streatham. Mass at 12:30 pm - Contact: Fiona Fernandes, 01279 43 23 25 or Rosy De Souza 020 - 8674 2266 or e-mail colvaunion@hotmail.com

Sun 19 Oct. 2.00 pm. Ven. Fr Agnelo's prayers for Beatification. Holy Mass at St Andrew's Church, Thornton Heath followed by refreshments in the Church Hall. Contact Anthony D’Souza 0208 689 6447

Wed. 22 Oct. TV Programme. 19:30 (30 mins). BBC2. Title: The Great British Jobs Takeaway. Major British companies including BT, Prudential and Norwich Union are moving jobs to countries like India where the workforce is highly educated, highly motivated, and cheap.

Wed. 22 Oct. TV Programme. 21:00 (60 mins). BBC2. Indian Dream. Drama. An Indian English teacher's dreams are shattered when the holiday of a lifetime goes horribly wrong. Losing his passport on the plane from India to England, he is mistaken on arrival for an asylum seeker.

ALL PLACES FILLED! Sat. 25 Oct. 12 noon to 5 pm. Join Amche Historr, the Goan Oral History Group.

Sat 25 Oct. 8pm-1am. YLGS presents "GOAN IDOL - THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS..." (A Halloween Karaoke & Disco Party!) at The River Suite (Private Function Room), Walkabout Temple. Nearest Tube: Temple/Embankment. Music & Karaoke by Say One Do One. Tickets £6.00. For Info & Tickets pls contact Alison on 07799 586793 or at events@ylgs.org.uk

Sun. 26 Oct. Goan Association TROOK TOURNAMENT at the ATC Hall, South Wimbledon. Contacts: Jacinto Fernandes 020 - 8542 5427. Diego Pinto 020 - 8767 0663.

SOLD OUT! Sun. 26 Oct. The Uganda Reunion 30th anniversary. SOLD OUT!

Sat. 1 Nov. G.O.A. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TRIP TO FRANCE. Contact: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457 Bernie Gracias 020 - 8723 1322. A FEW SEATS STILL AVAILABLE.

Sun. 9 Nov. G.O.A. MASS FOR DECEASED at 1.00 pm followed by FAMILY DAY at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Free to all members and their guests. Three course meal available at £6.50 per head. ADVANCE BOOKINGS ONLY. Contacts: Bernie Gracias 020 - 8723 1322. Nina Pinto 020 - 8767 0663

Sun. 9 Nov. St Diogo's Association (Guirim / Sangolda) Feast at Bishop Thomas Grant School.

Sun. 9 Nov. Nuvem Feast at White Hart Lane School. For tickets contact: Greg Carvalho 01245 261302 - e-mail: greg@god.co.uk

Sun. 16 Nov. The Union of Navelim. Feast of our Lady of Rosary at Bishop Thomas Grant School.

FOR LATER EVENTS SEE http://www.goanvoice.org.uk