Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2006-30. Jul. 27, 2006

Sydney. Joe Fernandes. Get set to get off the treadmill
23 Jul: Sun Herald (Sydney, Australia). Joe Fernandes had the equivalent of $8 in his pocket when he and his wife arrived here from India 35 years ago. He took his first job in a packing company for $60 a week, studied at night for an accounting degree and has worked as an accountant ever since. In three weeks he plans to retire, hoping that the $150,000 he has managed to accumulate in superannuation will see him through the next 20 years or so. 1058 words.

Canadian companies looking to regain the world lead in diabetes research
23 Jul: Globe & Mail (Canada) … Brian Rodrigues, chairman of the national research council for the Canadian Diabetes Association, said the number of people in Canada with diabetes is expected to almost double to 2.7 million by 2010. Click here.
For a photograph and profile of Brian Rodrigues see GVUK 2005-29

One Law for Them!
23 Jul: The New Criminologist (UK) … Despite whispering the names of his assailants into a policeman’s ear before he died after being set on fire by a racist gang in 1997, an initial police investigation concluded that Michael Menson had set fire to himself. With witness statements altered to fit the theory. After a vociferous campaign which presented new evidence Mario Pereira was jailed for life for murder and Harry Constantinou for 12 years for manslaughter and perverting the course of justice, which one would have hoped would be an appropriate sentence for the officers who deliberately mishandled the inquiry. For full text click here.
For the GVUK Mario Pereira supplement, click here.

Oh no, not again
26 Jul: Northwich Guardian. Ben and Maggie Lowther, of Middlewich Road, have slammed the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office for refusing Sandra Fernandes entry clearance to visit her sister and brother-in-law. The couple, who experienced similar difficulties in 2004, say the system is 'a joke' after they asked the immigration authorities to let Sandra, 24, come to Northwich to give her a much deserved break from caring for her brother who has severe learning difficulties. For full text, 286 words click here.
Maggie came to England six years ago from Goa and works at Valerie's Beauty Salon in Witton Street, Northwich. See GVUK 2004-25 and GVUK 2004-44.

26 Jul: Betim, Goa. YESHWANT RAMNATH SALKAR. Beloved Husband of Sheetal Yeshwant Salkar. Father of Shubhada/Rajesh Bandodkar, Shradha/Vinay Pednekar, Megha, Vardha. Brother of Dr. Digamber Salkar(England).

20 Jul: Nairobi, Kenya. MRS LILY INACIA ABREO. Mother to Antoinette/Lewis De Souza. Granny to Heather-Gail.
Funeral was on Sat 22 Jul. Condolence to padesouza@yahoo.com [Info from Dr. Joyce Shamshudin]

19 Jul: Ont. Canada. HELENE MATILDA DIAS. (Born 1922). Loving wife of Walter Dias for 63 years. Mother of Wendy (the late Leonard) Mascarenhas, Christopher (Ray) Dias, Rick (Rosalie) Dias, Mark (Lorraine) Dias, and Mary Ann (Bruce) Burbank. Dear sister of Bridget Correa of Brampton, Jack Martins of the U.K, John Martins of the U.K, late Julie Braganza and late Augustina Konze. Funeral was on July 24th. For photo and full text click here.

Top five beach shacks. Chosen by Priscilla Carluccio
23 Jul: The Observer (UK). 3. Calamari, Goa. This is slightly more of a restaurant than a shack, but it's not posh in any sense of the word. I particularly remember a very good south Indian seafood curry I had here. The restaurant looks onto the beach, but at the moment is also particularly well known for a large boat that grounded in the shallows, and which has never been removed.
Calamari, near Kingfisher Villa, on Candolim beach, Candolim, Goa

Anti-foreigner feeling in Goa is frightening off tourists. By Sandra Wright
20 Jun: Herald. My husband and I have grown to love the state and its people, who we have always found to be extremely friendly and hospitable. However, we are becoming very worried by the recent upsurge in anti-foreigner feeling in Goa … all of the British people I know who have bought property (legally) do so simply because they love Goa and want to make it their home, just as many Indian people have made Britain theirs. Please do not alienate potential visitors to your state - Goa needs them and we need you. 385 words. http://oheraldo.in/node/16674

Goa govt to crack down on foreigners buying land
21 Jul: Economic Times. The Goa government will come down heavily on foreigners’ illegally purchasing property in Goa, in connivance with locals. Official statistics show that 482 foreigners have purchased land in Goa; while the exact number of violators is yet to be ascertained. 439 words. Click here.

Goans raise alarm over threat of foreign occupation
22 Jul: New Kerala. Once bitten, twice shy. Having suffered Portuguese rule for years, a number of Goans have expressed fears of losing their homeland to foreigners again. This worry has surfaced again in the wake of reports of sale and registration of land to people of non-Indian origin. 438 words. Click here.

Goa to seek details of overseas Goans from Indian ambassadors
23 Jul: Navhind Times. The Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Mr Eduardo Faleiro today informed that he would be writing to the ambassadors and high commissioners of India around the globe, requesting them to provide details of overseas Goans and if possible, persons of Goan origin, in the respective countries. He said that once this data base is ready with the state NRI Cell, the Goans and PGOs in each country would be requested to send their representatives to the next annual overseas Goans conference to be held in the city. Click here.

Freeing foreigners
24 Jul: Financial Express. Attitudes to foreigners are useful benchmarks of how secure a people feel about themselves. Goa, synonymous in India and abroad with jovial hospitality, was a high scorer here. But fear and dislike of the unfamiliar, of change, is a human trait. There have been public protests for quite a while at a rise in the number of foreign nationals who have bought property in the state … However in Europe no one has lost pride in individual languages and cultures … 315 words. Click here.

Don’t tar all foreigners with the same brush
24 Jul: Herald. By John Main. … For Chief Minister Rane to suggest that Visas should be restricted to 3 months to end the abuse and that special enclaves be set aside for tourists, gives me the impression that perhaps what he really wants, is some kind of zoo! … I don’t come to Goa to make a quick buck; I come to Goa because I like the Goan people and their wonderful cuisine and customs … 279 words. http://oheraldo.in/node/16863

Goa plans to scrutinise sales of large plots of land
26 Jul: Asian Age. Chief minister Pratapsing Rane said all large sales over 100,000 square metres would be scrutinised, after the Opposition pointed to the overheated real estate market. It was pointed out that an estimated Rs 2000 crores was transacted in this market segment over the past three months … some 482 cases of sale deeds registered by foreign nationals over the past three years were being scrutinised for FEMA violations … Britons, are one of the largest purchasers accounting for 303 of the 482 cases. Click here.

Minister on purchase of immovable property in Goa
27 Jul: The Hindu. The Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal has said a non-resident Indian (NRI), who is a citizen of India or a person of Indian Origin, can acquire by way of purchase any immovable property in India other than agricultural land/plantation/farmhouse … However, the RBI reported a few cases of foreign nationals of non-Indian origin acquiring immovable property in India to the Union Government, and on receipt of advice from the Government, directed purchasers to either sell the property to a resident in India with a further directive that such sale proceeds would not be repatriated outside India without the approval of the RBI. 193 words. Click here.

Goa Chamber of Commerce delegation visits Portugal
20 July: Herald. A delegation from the Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) led by its Vice President, Cesar Menezes, recently visited Portugal and had meetings with several business organisations. On its return, the delegation met MP Keith Vaz, Rene Barretto and Christopher Fogg of Kingston Incubation Centre at London. 278 words. http://oheraldo.in/node/16657

Francis Xavier's Church Closes to Guided Tours
20 Jul: Zenit (Rome). The administrator of the basilica which houses the remains of St. Francis Xavier has cancelled guided tours there, in an effort to protect the atmosphere of sanctity. Click here.

Roman-Script lobby finds hope in Konkani Bible
20 Jul: Indian Catholic. The popularity of the newly published Konkani- language Bible using Roman script has encouraged people who want it to become the official script for the language. 812 words. Click here.

Survival of Konkani Language Needs Roman Script Too. By Tomazinho Cardozo
22 Jul: Navhind Times. Some Konkani leaders, who were considered as protectors of Konkani language and the Goan identity some years back have today become worst enemies of the Konkani language due to their sheer selfishness on one hand and due to their hidden agenda of destroying Konkani in Roman script on the other hand. They are comfortable with the English language which is in Roman script but they cannot visualise Konkani language in Roman script. Roman script Konkani is not seen as a part of the linguistic mainstream. 860 words. Click here.

Marriages are made in Goa
22 Jul: Daily News & Analysis. It’s a dream that many couples are realising today and the organisers are laughing all the way to the bank. 689 words. Click here.

“5 million migrants to invade Goa”
24 Jul: Herald. Legislator from Cortalim Matanhy Saldanha has warned that the government has a hidden plan to flood the State with about 5 million migrants by mooting various mega projects. Citing the government’s obsession for Expressway, Monorail, Information Technology Park, Food Park, Sky bus, SEZ, International airport, sale of land and indiscriminate construction licenses being granted and the consequent boom in real estate activity, Saldanha asserted these projects are not to Goan interest. 552 words. http://oheraldo.in/node/16810

Sun, sand & A tax holiday
25 Jul: The Economic Times. Tourism and mining have, since ages, been the backbone of the Goan economy. During the last tourist season (October-April), 22 lakh people visited Goa, the highest so far. While there are no studies available to show the actual revenue generated through tourism, researchers estimate that 15% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) comes from trade, hotels and restaurants; all of which depend on tourism … However, Goa also suffers from lack of proper infrastructure and political instability that serve as major deterrents for further investments. 991 words. Click here.

Sell it properly
25 Jul: Herald. Two hundred hectares of evacuee land will be put up for sale as per the new dispensation of the government … There are only a few properties in Goa and the state government has every right to take over these properties considering that the owners have left the state and are residents abroad. 250 words. http://oheraldo.in/node/16874

‘Drive against bribe’ takes on Goa
25 Jul: CNN-IBN. Consumer forums in Goa campaigned under the banner of 'drive against bribe' to spread information on Right to Information Act on Friday. GOA CAN (Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network), the organization heading the campaign has already covered Mapsa, Mazgaon, Vasco and Panjim till date and plans to conduct seven more such awareness camps in the rest of Goa. For photographs and text, 336 words click here.

Goa offers incentives to lure IT companies
27 Jul: Economic Times. The Goa government has offered various incentives to lure Information Technology companies to set up their ventures into the state, the Legislative Assembly was informed on Thursday … The proposed Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat, to be set up at Panaji's outskirts has received a good response … Click here.

Caring couple's bid to help children in Goa
20 Jul: Peterborough Evening Telegraph. A caring couple who could not have children of their own are pouring their heart and soul into a charity appeal to build a children's hospital in Goa. Margaret and Derrick Curling, from Peterborough, fell in love with Goa during their first trip to Calangute in 1999. They are hoping to raise £1,000 by taking part in a sponsored walk across Morecambe Bay to Kents Bank on July 22, where they will join almost 200 other supporters of the appeal from across the country. About £125,000 is needed to build the children's hospital and dental facility, which will be a lifeline for 20 youngsters. For more information, visit www.childrescue.net
Click here.

Canadian musicians release benefit single for Africa's AIDS epidemic
20 Jul: The Canadian Press. Canadian musicians have recorded a benefit single to generate awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. Song for Africa features artists including Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent …

Karachi Christians seek restoration of oldest cemetery
20 Jul: Muslim World News. Karachi's oldest Christian cemetery, popularly known as Gora Qabristan, is crumbling and being encroached upon. The Christian community wants it restored, well maintained and declared a heritage site … Marie D'Souza referred to encroachments coming up at the site "with total impunity" … Click here.

Brazilians help Goan community
21 Jul: Bom Dia. André and Aline Pitta, spent two years in the India developing project providing running water and toilet facilities in Baina. For text in Portuguese click here.

The "Legion of Mary" in Kenya. By Fr. John Correa
21 Jul: Coastweek. Begun in 1936 by Edel Quinn, it was under the care of the Irish Holy Ghost Fathers and a branch was started at the White Sisters School … In the mid seventies, the Legion of Mary began to suffer a decline … 496 words. Click here.

Kenya captures 'terror suspect'
21 Jul: BBC. Kenyan police in Mombasa say they have arrested a man in connection with attacks in India after a five-day hunt.
Abdulkadir Karim Tunda was captured in the Kenyan coastal town in possession of eight fake passports on Thursday. According to Kenyan police sources he has also been connected to the bombing in 2002 of an Israeli hotel in Kenya and was on the FBI's most wanted list. Click here.

Holiday market
22 Jul. 2006 Frankfurter Rundschaus (Germany). Goa has wonderful beaches one can also work here. The Bonn organization "Step in" helps teachers at local schools. The participants live in a camp near Colva Beach. Before working participants take part at a three-day Yoga-course. For info tel. 0228/ 95,69,50. Internet: http://www.stepin.de/

ADHD sufferers to help Indian orphans
22 Jul: Suffolk Evening Star. A Suffolk charity is today launching an ambitious project which will see teams of young people with behavioural problems working with some of the world's most disadvantaged children … The youngsters will be working with a drop-in centre in Goa run by a British charity called Children Walking Tall. Weblink: www.childrenwalking tall.com
If you can help or would like more information on any of the events contact ADHD in Suffolk on 0870 881 0464. For full text, 556 words click here.

Long wait for English priest's burial
23 Jul: BBC. Father Mark Barnes died in Feb. 2005 after spending 40 years working with the poor in northern India. A dispute over whether the 72-year-old priest should have been buried in an official Roman Catholic cemetery or in the grounds of a convent he set up without the Church's authority dragged on in the courts before the Church bowed to his followers' wishes. 867 words. Click here.

Karachi: Catholic Home provides 'family' care for aged people
24 Jul: Indian Catholic. Peace Heaven, a Catholic home for the aged and the homeless can house 32 people and is one of three such Catholic homes in Karachi. 679 words. Click here.

Bullying mother-in-law must pay £35,000
25 Jul: The Guardian. A woman who subjected her daughter-in-law to a four-month campaign of bullying and humiliation was yesterday ordered to pay her £35,000 in compensation, after a landmark court case. Gina Satvir Singh, 26, used the 1997 Protection from Harassment Act - normally employed to deter noisy neighbours or stalkers - to take her mother-in-law, Dalbir Kaur Bhakar, to court. It is believed to be the first time the act has been used in such a way. 678 words. Click here.

Friends Rise to Peaks Challenge
26 Jul: Bath Chronicle (UK). A Group of friends has raised almost £2,000 for charity by conquering the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales … all in just 24 hours … The friends came up with the idea after Josh returned from a two-month trip to India. Alistair said: "While Josh was there he helped out at El-Shaddai orphanage in Goa. It seemed like a really good cause." 488 words. Click here.

Mumbai: Blast claims man, family moves out
26 Jul: Times of India. Francis D'Souza who used to be a senior manager with Datamatics was one of the 200-odd who died on July 11 in Mumbai's serial blasts … Now, however, everything has changed for the "happy" family. Evelyn Lobo, Jacinta's sister and Francis's widow, has become depressed and moody. "She does not talk much but bursts into uncontrollable sobs every now and then," Jacinta says … But, besides the death, something else rankles the family. As her husband died, there were people who filched a gold chain from his neck and Rs 5000 from his pocket. 409 words. Click here.

Our TV screens have shown enormous destruction taking place in the Middle East. The terrified population there is in much fear of the acute danger facing them.To explore and examine the nature of fear, do read a Goanet article by George Menezes, titled 'Let me be honest, I am mortally scared'. The first sentence says, " Fear has many colours, many textures, many shades." Undoubtedly, Goan Voice (UK) readers will be touched by the intensity of emotion within the article.

Taking a rather different stance to the above, and by linking the bombings in Mumbai and those in the Middle East, another article asks "Why is India not ruthless like Israel?" Hopefully, GV(UK) readers will reflect on our contemporary age of intense conflict and uncertainty.

'Racism among Goans' is a Goanet article by Ben Antao-- a prolific Goan author settled in Toronto, Canada. On reading this article, GV (UK) readers will hopefully be encouraged to read more of Ben Antao's many writings. His latest book is titled Penance.
In an article likely to generate much worry, Mathany Saldanha, in Goa, has expressed concern that the Government of Goa has a hidden plan to flood the State with about 5 million migrants by proposing various mega projects aimed at catering for private interests and of those in power. GV(UK) readers really need to find out, if fairly soon, only 5% of the population will constitute those currently resident in Goa. Enormous projects like the Expressway, the Monorail, the Information Technological Park, Food Park, Shy Bus, an International airport and the widespread sale of land would transform Goa to a totally unrecognisable place literally overnight. Is it time for the people of Goa to get galvanized for action against such mega projects?

Is censorship in any form in the media acceptable? A riveting discussion has emerged, on Goanet. Equally riveting is a new debate on whether a ' Christian can be a Communist.

Finally, to ensure early booking, note should be made of a three-day conference between 8-13, February 2007, on National Indology. It will be held at the International Centre, Panjim, Goa. The programme appears to be most interesting. It will range from issues on Indian Philosophical Thought, the nature of knowledge, lifestyle skills, dance, theatre and music. Many more 'weighty' items will also be available within a very promising programme.

More details can be found at the Goanet archives at http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/ Or to subscribe to Goanet, send an email to subscribe@goanet.org

DOCUMENTARY: Trolley Dollies: Goa. LIVINGtv Plus 1.
29th Jul. 08:30 to 09:00. Docusoap following the exploits of the cabin crew on board Excel airlines. The gang is in for a surprise when they visit a Goan market.

DOCUMENTARY: Trolley Dollies: Mombasa. LIVINGtv Plus 1.
30th Jul: 08:30 to 09:00. On: The Dollies are in for an African adventure in Mombasa.

TRAVEL: Zanzibar. Travel Channel.
31 Jul: 23:30 to 24:00. Join Jana and her companions on a tour of Zanzibar.

COOKERY: Cooking in the Danger Zone: Uganda. BBC 4.
1 Aug: 20:30 to 21:00. Food writer Stefan Gates visits refugee camps in war-torn Northern Uganda to find out how people survive on meagre UN food rations.

TRAVEL: Globe Trekker: Tanzania and Zanzibar. Travel Channel.
2 Aug: 15:00 to 16:00. Ian Wright begins his journey on the island of Zanzibar and moves on Arusha.

DOCUMENTARY: Hooligans. BBC1.
2 Aug: 21:00 to 22:00. The shocking untold story of the 2006 World Cup - the mindless violence, the racism, the unseen riots and the running battles in German cities.

COOKERY: UK Food.
2 Aug: 06:00 to 06:30. Reza Mahammad prepares pumpkin in a coconut sauce and Keralan duck roast

COOKERY: UK Food
4 Aug: 06:00 to 06:30. Reza Mahammad discovers how to cook a real Mopillah fish biriani.
4 Aug: 06:30 to 07:00. Sanjeev Bhaskar makes a special home delivery of biriani

Sun. 30 Jul. Tivimnenses Association. Annual Social. Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Commencing with Holy Mass at 12:30pm. Dancing to Maz & Co. Details from Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 8771 4457, Ingrid De Souza 020 8005 3872, Savio Pereira, Helen D’Souza 020 8304 5585, Elu Pires 020 8654, Ronald Fernandes 020 8303 3386, Roland DeSouza 020 7485 7878. Email tivimtickets@hotmail.com

Sun. 30 Jul. 11.30 A.M. Copland Community School, Cecil Avenue, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 7DX. Konkani Dramatic Association proudly presents Tiatr "TUMCHEA MOGA PASSOT" Written and Directed by the King of Tiatr, Rose Ferns. Producer Xavier Soares de Swindon. First European tour, with artistes from Goa. For tickets please telephone Damacian Moniz 02083761609 or 07940501196, Mr. Francis D'Silva on 07908591759 or Mr. Antonio Fernandes 02084529406 or 07976522509.

Sat. 5 Aug. G.O.A. Ruby Senior Citizens Outing – Day Trip to Brighton. Pick up points Greenford, Tooting and Norbury. Contact: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457, Rosy De Souza 020 - 8677 0390 or any member of the Social Committee.

Sun. 13 Aug. South East Goans Summer Sizzler 12-7pm. Hurstmere School, Hurst Road Sidcup, Kent. Food Stalls £30 each. Food, music dancing & sports. Come and enjoy the festival. It was good last year and will be even better this year. Contact Chris 01322 400 732 or Ron 0208 303 3386

Sat 26 Aug South East Goans Day Trip to Dunkirk & De Panne. Family & Friends day out. Shopping and Seaside Tour - picnic at the beach. Closing date- 29-05-06. Contact Chris 01322 400 732 or Ron 0208 303 3386

Sun. 27 Aug. G.O.A. Sports Day at Archbishop Lanfranc School. Contact: Peter Rodrigues 020 - 8399 4883. For stall applications: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457