Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2003-36. September. 12, 2003

10 Sep. Kent Messenger. The Maidstone Mela, on Sun. 14 Sept., between 1pm and 6pm at Mote Park, will feature an arena with traditional dance and music from across the world. It is the brainchild of the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Morel D'Souza, who is from Goa, India. Cllr D'Souza will be involved with a stall of Goan treats. He said: "Goa is in India but it belonged to the Portuguese so it is a mixture of east and west. We still have rice and curries but the preparation of the food is completely different.
Full text at http://www.kent-online.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=11290
For a profile of Morel see: http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/newsletter/supp/Morel.html

22 Jul. Evening Advertiser (Swindon). Prisca DaCunha arrived in England from Kenya in 1964 to finish her teacher-training and 39 years later she has retired after working in Swindon as head of Gorse Hill Infant School. She said, “My husband Bill and I moved to Swindon on the recommendation of a friend and bought a house here. I don't want to move now because we have always been happy in Swindon.” She has two grown up daughters, Nichola and Sharon. She took over at Gorse Hill Infant School in 1992. Text at: http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire/archive/2003/07/22/swindon_news5ZM.html

5 Sep. The Guardian. Abortion protesters cleared of 'insult'. Two anti-abortion campaigners accused of insulting passersby by displaying a large poster of an aborted foetus were cleared of all charges yesterday by Abergavenny magistrates. Fiona Pinto, 23, - described as "the darling of the pro-life movement" - and Joseph Biddulph, 52, plan to sue Gwent police for false imprisonment. They were arrested in Newport in April during a Welsh assembly election campaign. For full text click here.

6 Sep. The Guardian. Headline: The Road To No. 10: "I've never felt I've had to struggle," says 23-year-old Suella Fernandes of being young, Asian and female in the Conservative Party. "I've just had to be myself and haven't felt that anything's entitled to me because I'm an Asian female. I just have to do my best and work hard for the party in any way that a white man would have to do." Suella, Sorbonne-educated trainee barrister, was president of Cambridge University's Conservative Association. Her mother is contesting the Brent East seat for the Tories in the upcoming by-election and Suella is also on the candidates list. Text at: http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/rise/story/0,13013,1036492,00.html

8 Sep. The Guardian. The Conservative leader, Mr Iain Duncan Smith was meeting the Conservative candidate Uma Fernandes, a community nurse, who has lived in Brent for 30 years and served as a councillor on Brent council for nine. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/byelections/story/0,11043,1037811,00.html [Christie Fernandes, Assagao and Nairobi (Dr Ribeiro School - Class of '63) is husband of Uma and father of Suella]

8 Sep. The Guardian. Patricia Rozario. This acclaimed soprano came to fame as the chosen voice of composer John Tavener. As part of the Ripon Festival, however, Rozario seems to have found an entirely different voice in a programme of Greek popular music. Appropriately enough it's all washed down by a Greek supper afterwards in the Bistro. The festival closes on Saturday.

9 Sep. South London Press. James Pinto, 52, an accountant, gave a chilling prediction of his own death just hours before dying of heart failure, an inquest heard. On July 12, he told his flatmate he was unwell and "might not be here at Christmas". Later that day his body was found sprawled on his bed in their flat at Wandsworth Common Westside. Post-mortem tests showed he was free from alcohol, and had died of heart failure. Coroner Dr Paul Knapman recorded a verdict of death by natural causes. [James Pinto, ex-Mombasa and a former President of the Goan Association (UK)]. For full text click here.

10 Sep. Leicester Mercury. Keith Vaz has won cross-party support for justice in the Edgar Fernandes murder case. He has submitted a Parliamentary Early Day Motion - signed by 15 MPs from all parties. For more text click here .For background to the case see:
http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/EdgarFernandes.html

At the adjourned hearing on 10 Sept. of the three Goan crewmen originally charged with raping a minor girl on a cruise ship, the charges were reduced to "unlawful sex with an under-age girl". Most of the afternoon was spent on legal arguments relating to the statements made by the 3 crewmen to the Security Officer on board the ship on the night of the alleged incident. The next hearing will be on Thursday 25th September at Bow Street Magistrates Court, London. Original Press reports on the case are at http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/cruise_rape.html

From Shirley Gonsalves: Join Amche Historr, the Goan Oral History Group in making and preserving our cultural heritage. Croydon Heritage Awards have granted the Goans in London funding for a COMMUNITY AWARENESS DAY. Workshops in our oral tradition will be held on Sat. Oct. 25th from 12noon to 5pm at Archbishop LanFranc School. FREE workshops for all the family in music, dance, art, and story telling. Exhibitions and displays on Goan history, culture and language. Lunch and materials included. Places are limited. e-mail: Goanhistory@aol.com to reserve your place. No entrance without a valid ticket.

ROSIE D’SOUZA (aged 74, ex-Kiambu. Kenya). Funeral 2.30 p.m. on Fri. 12 Sept. at the Holy Family Church, Parkwood, Maidstone, Kent. Condolences to GregLee616@msn.com

From Mervyn Maciel: A friend of mine, Prof, Colin Baker, is writing the biography on Sir Richard Turnbull (Atg. Governor of Kenya, later Governor of Tanganyika). He would like to hear from any Goan who may have worked with or known Sir Richard Turnbull either officially or socially. If you are able to help, please contact Mervyn Maciel at mervyn@bwana-karani.freeserve.co.uk

From Homebase Ideas magazine: Economy flights to Goa for 2 adults and 2 children on Monarch Airlines from London or Manchester + 7 nights accommodation b&b. To enter call 09001 600 218 leave name, address and answer “ c) Tikka Masala.” Calls cost 50pm and last approx 1 min. closing date 21 Oct.

7 Sept. Navhind Times. A Conference for overseas Goans will be held in Goa from Jan. 9 to 11, 2004. It is planned to have 1000 delegates: 400 residing abroad, 200 from Goa and 400 from within India. The theme for discussions will be development and investment by the NRIs in art, culture, tourism, industry, agriculture and health care. http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=090744

8 Sep. Express Hotelier and Caterer. Ten restaurants in Panjim, may soon have to down their shutters owing to the discontinuation of water supply from all sources including PWD tankers. The Health Department directed private tankers to stop supplying water to hotels and eating houses after a report disclosed that water being extracted from wells by private tankers in Panjim is unfit for human consumption. http://www.expresshotelierandcaterer.com/20030908/newstrack04.shtml

8 Sep. Indian Express. Faced with pressure from child rights activists and foreign governments, the Goa government has decided to crack down on paedophilia and child abuse in the state. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=31128

9 Sep. NDTV.COM. Shane Fernandes, a call centre executive made the starry eyed journey from Goa to Mumbai hoping to boost his career prospects, "Goa is a place where you can have a lot of fun, but there aren’t much career opportunities. So I came down to Mumbai," he said. For more text click here.

10 Sep. Deccan Herald. Goa’s Chief Minister Parrikar compromises the freedom of the Press. Excerpts: … an increasingly incestuous relationship between the media and the politicians in power in this state… Editor of “O Heraldo” Rajan Narayan has become the latest victim. Served with a memo over a report critical of the chief minister's eating habits, written by his journalist wife, Mr Narayan withdrew his popular and somewhat satirical “Stray Thoughts” column last weekend in protest. “It is not possible for an editor to function independently in the Goan context, unless one establishes a newspaper under a public limited company,” he says. Full text, 384 words, at: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep10/n2.asp

10 Sep. Herald. A distinguished group of speakers will address the major issues and concerns that influence Goan society and the Church in Goa at a two-day seminar in Goa from Oct. 4.

5 Sep. BBC News. Hippie legacy lingers in Goa. Excerpt: Former English backpacker Nicole Sequeira decided to settle here. She now runs a bar and restaurant. “Hippies are putting money back into the community,” she says. 453 words and photographs at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3083178.stm

6 Sep. Daily Mail. Now Goa says it's hip to be square ; After years as a haven for hippies, India's answer to the Caribbean is ready to welcome Mr and Mrs Average. Excerpts: Many travel experts predict that Goa will be 'the next Bali'. Within a year, there will be no fewer than six major resorts along the beaches of south Goa. The people are gentle, proud, and dignified. There is a calm and a sense of balance to Goa that you don't find in the Caribbean. The weather is better than the Costa del Sol. The state government has also banned nude bathing, and cracked down on the drug problem. 841 words.

	7 Sept. The Peninsular (Quatar). When the BBC wanted to track down a woman photographer captured by David Bailey on film in the 1970’s, they asked for help from GoanVoiceUK, an e-magazine with worldwide distribution. She was soon identified as Palmira Couthino, interviewed by the BBC. For more text click here.
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8 Sep. The Daily Telegraph. The authors Dom Moraes and Sarayu Srivatsa launched their book about Thomas Coryate, a travel writer who walked most of the way from England to India nearly 400 years ago. Moraes, 65 - a well-known author and poet in India is the son of the late Frank Moraes, who took over as the first Indian editor of The Times of India

9 Sep. Catholic World News. The general public will be able to view the relics of St. Francis Xavier in Goa from Nov. 24, 2004 to 2 Jan. 2005. The last Exposition took place ten years ago. Text at http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=24588

	The UK media has been abuzz with the release of a book this week which states that Lord Lucan spent his final years in Goa. It is claimed that he was known as “Barry Halpin”, a long-haired beachbum who ran jungle trips for visitors and liked feni so much that his body was doused in the stuff before being cremated in 1996. Lucan has not been seen since November 7 1974, the day after Sandra Rivett, nanny to his three children, was found bludgeoned to death in the basement of a Belgravia house. His bloodstained car was parked on the coast at Newhaven. Many people in Goa were quoted as saying that Barry was indeed Lucan and even that he lived in a Goan village called “Ximera.”
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The Sunday Telegraph, 7 Sep. was the first off with excerpts of 3302 words and photographs. The rest of the media followed. However, the next day friends of Barry Halpin emerged from far and near to say that such a person did exist in the UK and then in Goa. He was an ex-school teacher and musician who was also fond of the bottle. The comedy scriptwriters are quite contented. Some references:

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

Sun 14 Sep. MAIDSTONE MELA at Mote Park, Maidstone. Celebrating World Food and Music. The Goan Community is requested to support The Worshipful The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Morel D'Souza in this endeavour by taking part and visiting the event. Contact: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 8771 4457 Nina Pinto 020 8767 0663 Charmaine Hacker 01622 602183. The Goan Association (UK) is organising a coach leaving Norbury at 11.00am, Tooting at 11.30am and Bexleyheath at 12 noon. Departure time for the return journey leaving Maidstone at 6.00pm. Cost: £4 return. Advance bookings only. Please contact Bernie on 020 8723 1322, Norma on 020 8771 4457 or Nina on 020 8767 0663.

Mon 15 Sep. 01:00 (Sun night.) TV Programme: Film. Khamoshi (1996). Channel 4. (175 mins). Country: India. Description: Emotional drama set in Goa which traces the life of the daughter of a deaf-mute couple who has a passion for music and singing. In Hindi with English subtitles

Fri. 19 Sep. G.O.A OPEN 2003 - First London Golf Tournament at Hoebridge Golf Centre, Surrey. Entrance fee - Members: £20, Non-Members £35. Contact: Jacinto D'Silva 020 - 8723 1233, Menino Mascarenhas 01784 211832, Orlando Braganza 01932 269476.

Sun 21 Sep. Mapuca Feast at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Rd, Croydon. Contact: Eusebio Pinto 020 - 8304 9089.

Fri. 26 Sep.: YLGS (Young London Goans Society) MONTHLY MEET UP: 6pm till 3am. Free membership [18+] at LOS LOCOS! http://www.los-locos.co.uk Nearest Tube: Covent Garden - NEW MEMBERS WELCOME! For more Info, Contact: Alison 07799 586793 or events@ylgs.org.uk

Sun. 28 Sep. 4 pm. Margao Union UK – Annual General Meeting. The Goan Community Centre, Keston Road, London N17. This meeting is open to all Margonkars . Contact: Gregg Carvalho Off: 020 7753 2086, Hse: 020 8907 0545.

Sat. 4 Oct. Ballroom Dancing - Bow Tie Charity Ball at Polish White Eagle Club, Balham, London SW17. Contact: Jacinto Fernandes 020-8542 5427

Sun 5 Oct. G.O.A. SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCH at the ATC Hall, South Wimbledon at 1.00pm Contacts: Nina Pinto 020 - 8767 0663; Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457; Bernie Gracias 020 - 8723 1322

Sat 11 Oct : YLGS Pub Quiz @ Citte of Yorke Pub, 22 High Holborn, London WC1 : 7 - 10pm. £2 per person. To get your Teams signed up (5 People per Team) Pls Contact: Alison 07799 586793 or events@ylgs.org.uk For more details go to www.ylgs.org.uk/pubquiz.html PLS NOTE : You can either enter a team of 5 people or just put your name forward and we will put you into a team, so don't be afraid to come by yourself!

Sun. 12 Oct. Majorda Union Feast. Holy Mass at 12:45 pm followed by Social. Music by Maz & Co. White Hart Lane School, Wood Green, London N22. Cajie Braganza 020 8888 5093 or Bernadette Dias 020 8361 9417.

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, London, SW16 2HY. 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