Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2005-02. Jan 13, 2005

6 Jan: Lloyd's List. Mavis D'Souza, who has died at the age of 57, was, for almost three decades, the editor of Lloyd's Law Reports and a contributor to Lloyd's List and other publications. Under her editorship, Lloyd's Law Reports became the premier reference source for shipping and maritime industry professionals worldwide. Mavis D'Souza joined Lloyd's of London Press in 1973, and was appointed editor of Lloyd's Law Reports in February 1976. Her illness was diagnosed in 2003 but typically she continued to work closely with the reports.
[The funeral was on 7 Jan. Mavis Mathilda Ursula D'Souza was born on 14 March 1947, the daughter of John Paul Martin D'Souza (d 1982), of London, and Mildred Amelia, nee Fernandes (d 1994). She was educated at St Joseph's Convent Sch Dar-Es-Salaam Tanzania and Univ of London (LLB).

Musician from Bath in India for tsunami relief
8 Jan: India Abroad News Service. A musician from Bath has flown to India with plans to organise a Live Aid-style fund-raising drive to provide continued support to the people affected by the tsunami. Joel Almeida, of Trowbridge, trained as a doctor in India but is now a full-time musician. http://www.eians.net/2005/01/08/08in.html

6 Jan: GoaNet. Goan Dance Bands of Yesteryear. By Cornel D’Costa. Excerpt: In the little town of Mombasa, where I was brought up, I recall Goan amateur bands from Abel Correa and his Toe Ticklers, Neves Pereira and his Pieces of Eight, Raul da Costa and his Luar Blues, Edmund Silveira and his jazz trio, and Nelson Pereira and his Gay Caballeros i.e. before the word gay took on modern connotations! 2482 words.
http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2005-January/022896.html

11 Jan: Sydenham, London, UK. ROSANA LOURDES RODRIGUES (ex Nairobi). Wife of the late Martin. Mother of Dr Peter and Bernie/Flavio Gracias. Grandmother of Martin Gracias. Funeral details will be posted at http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/ Condolence messages to berniegracias@aol.com

10 Jan. Toronto, Canada. FRANCISCO XAVIER RODRIGUES (ex-Dar es Salaam). Husband of Mary. Father of Frederick, Malcolm and Alan. Grandfather to Zachary. Father-in-law to Tania. Uncle to Steve Parado.
Funeral at St. Leonard's Parish, 187 Conestoga Drive, Brampton on Fri. 14 Jan. at 10:30 am. Interment at Assumption Cemetery, Mississauga. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Condolences to fernandesclaude@yahoo.com

9 Jan: Saligao, Goa. LYNN DA GAMA. Husband of Geraldina. Father of Conrad (England) /Sera, Christopher, Clyde/Arlette.

9 Jan. Toronto, Canada. VIRGINIA MARIE (VIRGIE) De SOUZA (aged 89, ex-Uganda). Wife of the late Frank De Souza. Mother of Margaret, Irene/Mark Gracias, Delphine/Errol Francis, Joan/Tom Francis.
Funeral Mass on Thu. 13 Jan. at 10:00 a.m. in St. Clement's Church, 409 Markland Drive, Etobicoke. Interment at Assumption Cemetery. [From Toronto Star 11 Jan] To send condolences click here.

8 Jan. London. JULIA FERNANDES. (ex Dar es Salaam). Wife of the late Sidney Fernandes. Mother of Selwyn, Conleth, Nyree, Serena and the many more whom she allowed in her home as "family". She died after a long fight with lupus.
Funeral at 11.00 am on Thur. Jan 20th at St Mary Magdalen's Church, Mortlake. In place of floral tributes, the family would appreciate donations to "Visually Impaired Society of Richmond" 4 Waldegrave Rd, Teddington Mx TW11 8HT or "Lupus UK," St James House, Eastern Rd, Romford Essex RM1 3 NH. Condolences to selwyn.fernandes@sgcib.com

5 Jan: Hamilton, Ont., Canada. WILLIAM AMARIO XAVIER MASCARENHAS (born 1918, ex-Uganda). Husband of Anne Melwyn. Father of Ruth (Tony), Jude (Brigitte) Merl (Toddy), Mark (Clarerose), Hazel (Bob), Denzil (Yhuela), Nigel (Lysandra). Grandfather to Michelle, Ryan, Darrell, Rachael, Daniel, Michael, Melissa, Tanya, Samantha, Kyle, Tyler, and Emma. William was an accountant for the Ministry of Health, Uganda Government and the family lived in Uganda, England, and Canada where he moved to in 1978. On-line condolences www.pxdermodyfuneral.com. Fuller obituary at
http://www.pxdermodyfuneral.com/fgb/view.php?fid=20053005

Back to the beach in Asia.
8 Jan: Globe & Mail (Toronto). Goa has a number of enchanting beach resorts with intriguing cultural overlays. A staple of the hippie circuit since the sixties, Goa now draws a mix of backpackers, mainland Indians and package tourists from Europe. The sybaritic setting draws the beach-blanket set, but there's much more here. As a former Portuguese colony, with a mix of Catholicism and Hinduism, Goa boasts a more open society than other parts of India. It is colourful, friendly and cheap, with good Indian food and accommodations to suit every taste. For full text click here.

Needed: humane options for orphaned children
8 Jan: Lakehouse Daily News (Sri Lanka). Excerpts: Paedophiles love disasters. It gives them the golden opportunity to pick up abandoned children easily. One of the crucial issues that urgently needs a policy paper and a government regulation is the issue of adoption of children orphaned by the tsunami. Vile perverts are on the beaches of Goa and Kerala and, as recent reports have proved, are on an organised prowl for innocent little children. http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/01/08/fea10.html

Tsunami-hit areas suffer holiday slump
7 Jan: Daily Mail. …A Thomson Holidays spokeswoman said today: "We've only had a handful of bookings to tsunami-hit areas, with many people switching to other regions. Some people due to go to the Maldives are transferring elsewhere, with the Caribbean doing well, as well as Mauritius, Egypt and Goa in India." For full text click here.

The Shifting Travel Map
8 Jan: The Age (Australia). Where tourists will go? Australia and New Zealand, North America, Caribbean, east coast of India (Goa), Seychelles and Mauritius – says John Bell, British travel expert.

Alternative destinations.
8 Jan: The Telegraph (UK). Despite initial fears that the tsunami would hit Goa, this popular package destination on the west coast of India survived intact. Thomson has seen a rise in bookings from people who wish to continue their holidays in Asia but keep away from the affected areas. For full text click here

Velankanni church awaits pilgrims
9 Jan. Hindustan Times. The only tourists who are trickling into Velankanni, made famous by the local incarnation of Mary, are dumbstruck relatives searching for lost ones or relief workers from nearby Nagapattinam. Devouts that used to trek to the majestic church now throng the information centres at the police station staring at photographs of disfigured faces of the dead but unidentified victims struck by the tsunami. "Unless the pilgrims start coming, the economy of this town will be ruined what with 400 shops and 110 lodges solely dependent on the visit of Keralites and Goans, who unlike others spend a couple of days here," said a lodge owner. On an average, the town attracts 1,000 to 2,000 people a day.

Baseline survey to gauge sanitation status in Goa
7 Jan: Herald. As part of the groundwork to achieve the objective of making Goa an ‘open defecation-free society’, a baseline survey will be conducted in the State to know the sanitation status shortly.

Deccan Odyssey: Too opulent for us?
7 Jan: Business Line. The Deccan Odyssey is having trouble getting enough people to fill it. The 21-coach train, with its opulent interiors and gourmet menu, has only made 10 trips since its inaugural run in January last year and that was only at 25 per cent of its total capacity. At $2,500 or Rs 1.1 lakh for a seven-day trip the train finds few takers. Photo and full text at the link below. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/07/stories/2005010701321700.htm

PM announces dual citizenship to all overseas Indians
8 Jan: Financial Express. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced his government’s decision to extend the facility of dual citizenship to all overseas Indians (OIs) who migrated from India after January 26, 1950. As many as 25 million OIs, living in 110 different countries, would be entitled to dual citizenship. Dr Singh called upon OIs to invest in the country in a big way as he said the Indian economy must absorb upto $150 billion of investment in infrastructure over the next decade. Such investment would help India increase its growth rate to 7-8%.
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=79107

Project to improve water supply in Goa
8 Jan: The Hindi. The Goa Government is working on a project to provide round-the-clock water supply on a par with international standards to sustain its position in the international tourist map and to provide comfort to its people. 310 words.
http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/08/stories/2005010803530300.htm

Half truths.
10 Jan. The Statesman. A film on the Liberation of Goa, sent recently to state schools, has outraged a large section of historians, intellectuals and Catholics by making a mockery of the symbols of Christianity. Mario Rodrigues reports. 1340 words.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=30&id=65460&usrsess=1

Making Goa HIV Free
11 Jan: Navhind Times. IT is alarming that the official number of people tested positive for HIV in Goa may exceed a projected 10,000 by the end of this year. HIV needs to be controlled on war footing. By Nandkumar Kamat.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=01114

Book on Blessed Joseph Vaz to be released
12 Jan: Navhind Times. A book on ‘Blessed Joseph Vaz’ written by Fr Romualdo Robin Rodrigues, ex-rector and ex-vice-postulator of the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz will be released by Emeritus Bishop Raul Gonsalves on January 16, http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=011233

India in top five tourist destination list
12 Jan. Indian Express. Chicago based iexplore.com said that India's ranking as a tourist destination shot up from 36 in 2003 to five last year, a sharp rise witnessed by no other nation. http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=40626

Goa police looking for murder suspect
13 Jan: The Asian Age. The Goa police is searching for an Indian gigolo involved in a suspected drug overdose death of a 29-year-old British woman over the weekend. Wendy McHugh went missing after she left a hilltop nightclub with the man, while her British companions went club hopping. Text at http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=59627

Literature, lampoons at Konkan fest
13 Jan. MidDay. Thane played host to the ninth Konkan Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (KMSS) held at Dadoji Konddev stadium from Jan 7-9. As per tradition, the literary flame was brought to Thane from Goa, where the last festival was organised in 2003.
http://web.mid-day.com/metro/thane/2005/january/101433.htm

Discussion on the CD regarding Portuguese atrocities against the Hindus, at the time of mass conversion to Catholicism has simmered on. The 'offending' CD has now been withdrawn but the views expressed by R.G. Naik are particularly intriguing. He (among others) have claimed that, ”The Catholic missionaries did perpetrate atrocities in the 16th Century, but the same Christianity brought the best communal harmony by the 18th Century."

Many questions have been raised relating to the available statistics, in Goa, on income from tourism, foreign exchange, the IFFI and the recent SFX Exposition. The central question however, has been on how much money was earned by the Government, and what proportion went into private pockets?

Some recriminations on the efforts to help the Tsunami victims have surfaced, and particularly, whether foreign victims were priorotised over local victims. A report about Ethel Da Costa's Heart 2 Heart article titled Let's ring in a Change in Mindsets has many pearls of wisdom in it and is definitely worth reading.

An excellent article by Gary Leuff, reported on Goanet, titled Earthquakes and End Times, Past and Present, Meaning and Meaninglessness in the December 26th Tsunami, is definitely not to be missed. A short piece by Teotonio de Souza, History with warts and all, on Goa's Freedom Struggle, is likely to be developed further and therefore much awaited on Goanet.
Please visit the Goanet archives at http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/

Risking it all on TV
6 Jan. Western Gazette. Ricochet South is looking for exciting stories for its next series of Risking It All, the programme that follows people giving up the rat race to set up their own businesses. Ideally your business must be site or premises based, and one that does not include virtual/on-line businesses. For more information, contact Charlotte Rodrigues at Ricochet South on 01273 648396, email charlotte.rodrigues@ricochet.co.uk Alternatively, log onto www.ricochet.co.uk

Saintly history
8 Jan: The News-Press, Florida. In Goa, India, St Francis Xavier preached in the street, worked with the sick and taught children the catechism. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell to call the children to their studies. Some say he converted the entire city. For full text click here

We've ditched race for religion
11 Jan. The Guardian. Asian is a colonial term which was only ever a convenience. Now we want to be Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. Click here.
Based on the 40 min. BBC radio programme. To listen to it click here

UK: Pledge to end NHS discrimination
11 Jan: BBC. The government has pledged to "eradicate discrimination" in NHS mental health care after a damning report into a patient's death. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4161041.stm

Goa: "Drug Parties will be Raided"
12 Jan: Hard Dance (UK). Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar reiterated that if he is given specific information, rave parties dealing in drugs would be raided and admitted that “there is some linkage with the police”. Responding to a statement made by the Opposition Leader Pratapsing Rane that Goa was getting a bad name due to paedophilia and related crimes, the chief minister said the government is determined to clamp down on drugs trafficking and paedophilia. http://www.harddancelondon.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=344

UK: Author facing death threats breaks silence to defend play
13 Jan: The Guardian. The author of the play cancelled last month after violent protests by Sikhs has broken her silence, saying she still wants her work to be staged and telling of the effect death threats had on her and her family. Writing in the Guardian today, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti says it was not fear that kept her silent but "practical issues" about her own safety and that of those closest to her. http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1389255,00.html
The article by Bhatti is at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1389330,00.html

Sat 15/1 BBC 2. 7.10pm (60mins): Abroad Again In Britain. Brighton Pavilion: It was in 1815 that architect John Nash began to remodel the modest villa in lavish style heavily influenced by India and China. “In Xanadu did Kublai khan, a stately pleasure dome decree”. Jonathan Meades presents, capturing the feel of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

Sat: 15/1 UKTV Food 7.00pm-11.00pm: Floyds India. Featuring the cuisines of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Goa, Maharastra, Bombay, Kerala, Chennai, Amritsar Calcutta and Udaipur. A travelogue of culinary delight.

Sun 16/1 Channel 5. 3:35pm (140 mins). Film: Sea Wolves (1980). David Niven, Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, Trevor Howard, etc. Factually based World War II action drama about a mission to knock out a German radio transmitter aboard a ship docked in neutral Goa which is devastating Allied shipping in the Indian Ocean.

Wed 19/1 BBC 2 8.00pm (50mins) Natural World. David Attenborough charts the life of Echo, a venerable old Kenya elephant at the Amboseli National Park.

Wed 19/1 UK Style 8.00pm. (60 mins) Living the Dream. Goan Bonkers. A couple who left the country to open a pub in Goa run into chaos. [repeat – shown March 2004. Details at http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/Goan_bonkers.htm]

Sun. 30 Jan. 5.00pm - The Asian Chaplaincy. Konkani Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady & St Christopher's Catholic Church, 32 High Street, Cranford, Middlesex

Sat. 5th Feb. 4 pm onwards. Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon. Red&Black Evening with live bands and entertainers, spectacular carnival event. Don't miss arrival of King Momo, crowning of Red&Black Queen & more. Prizes to competitions from Cidade de Goa, Marriott Resorts, Goa Tourism & more... Mood setters Joan and Edwin. Dress code strictly Red& Black combination. Hurry up - early bird extended to 15th January. Please contact 020 8932 9375/ 07957206169 or 020 8640 6589. Check flyer at
http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/newsletter/2004/Nov/issue4/red_black.htm

Sat. 5th Feb. 3pm to 10.30 pm. "Goa Goes Rio" Viva Carnival!! Join us to have a swell time on the 5th of Feb 05 from 3 to 10.30pm at St. Sebastian Church Hall Hay Lane, Kingsbury, NW9 0NG.Live band "LOW LEVEL" in attendance, King Momo Procession, Fancy Dress Competition and loads of prizes and surprises. Dress: Fancy and Funky. Adults £10.00 (inclusive of dinner), family discounts available so rush!! For more information contact: Maria - 07782879676, Sabina - 02086214673 or email on tellmaries@yahoo.com Check flyer at http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/newsletter/2005/Jan/issue2/carnival.htm

Sun. 6 Feb. Mungul Union (UK) celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at White Hart Lane School Hall, White Hart Lane, London N22. Live music by "KARIBU" and Disco. Mass at 12.30 pm. For tickets and details, contact Rosy D'Silva 020 8352 9450 and Rosalind Rebello 020 8767 8652.

Sat 12 Feb. YLGS Valentines Party "Goans n' Roses" at The River Suite, Walkabout Temple from 8pm-2am. NEW MEMBERS 18+ WELCOME! Tickets £8. Music by Say One Do One. For more info contact Alison Braganza, Events Manager at events@ylgs.org.uk or on 07799 586793

Sun 20 Feb. GOA Fundraising Function For Tsunami Victims at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Commencing with Mass at 12 noon, followed by a social and cultural programme. Offers of help to Diego Pinto 020 8767 0663, Cornelius Monteiro 020 8681 8716. Donations by cheque payable to 'GOA (UK) Ltd' to 76 Middleton Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 8BS.

Sun. 27 Feb. 5.00pm - The Asian Chaplaincy. Konkani Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady & St Christopher's Catholic Church, 32 High Street, Cranford, Middlesex

Sun. 13 Mar. 5.00pm - The Asian Chaplaincy. Konkani Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady & St Christopher's Catholic Church, 32 High Street, Cranford, Middlesex

Sun. 20 Mar. 4.00pm - The Asian Chaplaincy. Ven. Fr Agnel's Novena Konkani Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady & St Christopher's Catholic Church, 32 High Street, Cranford, Middlesex

Sun. 17 Apr. YLGS El Shaddai Fundraising Dance. at Bishop Thomas Grant School. Starts with Holy Mass at 12.30pm followed by Dancing & Slave Auction. Bands & Discos TBC. Food & Drink will be on Sale. For more info contact Alison Braganza, Events Manager at events@ylgs.org.uk or on 07799 586793. Tickets will go on sale at End of January 2005.