| 
COMMUNITY NEWS
| Ashank Desai & the London Congestion
Charge |
 |
CNN-IBN: Fatherless
at the age of two, Ashank Desai and his mother fled
Goa to escape Portuguese persecution to land up at a
place where his education began at a tribal school.
He is the founder of Mastek Software the company that
developed the software for implementing the London Congestion
Charge. |
A three-member group
in 1982, Mastek now employs over 3000 and its 19 worldwide
offices rakes in almost Rs 600 crore a year. Desai today
runs one of the 200 best small companies in the world.
Click
here.
See also Evening Standard (London). Winners with the
congestion charge. Click
here. |
| Nadia Carvalho: 2006 Truman Award
of Leadership and Innovation |
 |
15 Feb: BusinessWire. The Society
for International Development has awarded Constella
Group employee, Nadia Carvalho,
with the Truman Award of Leadership and Innovation …
Carvalho is a regional manager for the Mekong1 in the
company’s Futures Group business unit. She represents
a young professional working in the field of international
development… |
In addition to her
work with Futures Group, Carvalho supported a Nepalese
orphanage … For full text, 625 words click
here.
Our congratulations to Nadia, the oldest daughter of
Anthony and Sylvia Carvalho formally of Uganda, currently
residing in Nepal. [Info from Alpoim Andrade of Toronto]
|
| Eduardo Faleiro appointed Commissioner
for NRIs |
 |
24 Feb: WebIndia123.com.
Goa Governor S C Jamir today appointed former Union
minister and Member of Parliament Eduardo
Faleiro as Commissioner for NRIs with immediate
effect. The office would take care of the Goan NRIs
interests by building a network, so that they could
participate in the all-round development of the state.
For a brief profile of Faleiro click
here. |
Florida: Goan cuisine blends Indian, Portuguese
flavors
24 Feb: Florida Today. It's been five years since Tudor
Mazarelo opened Taste of Goa and introduced Cape
Canaveral to the many pleasures of the dishes from the vacation
capital of India … "Goa is very much a beach
place like Cape Canaveral … He says, I was born in
Kenya in Africa. My parents are from Goa My sister helps
me out here … his signature dishes are Chicken Vindaloo
and kingfish cooked in spicy masala sauce … 667 words.
Click
here.
Tudor and his sister Marlene are ex-Mombasa, their parents
are Escolastico and Matilda Mazarelo. Tudor left Mombasa
for Florida in 1979. You can contact him at tudormaze200@hotmail.com
UK: Hockey: Goan 5 Sanderstead 2
24 Feb: Croydon Advertiser. Sanderstead paid for their poor
first-half display as they slumped to defeat at Goan. Gaps
in the Sanderstead defence gifted Goan the opener, which
was soon followed by a second goal for the home side …
the hosts extended their lead through fast breaks that enabled
their skilful youngsters to exploit a thin Sanderstead backline
…Click
here.
Hobart: Dr Melwyn D'Mello: Top medico quits RHH
obstetrics
24 Feb. Hobart Mercury. Eminent obstetrician Melwyn
D'Mello, the head of obstetrics and gynaecology has
resigned from the Royal Hobart Hospital … It is understood
Dr D'Mello rejected more than a dozen jobs. They included
a position at a major women's hospital that would have paid
more than double his salary at the Royal. Dr D'Mello is
among the country's best-qualified obstetricians and gynaecologists
in a dwindling field. Several staff said Dr D'Mello was
a dedicated man who had agonised over the decision to move
his family. Trained in the UK, Dr D'Mello moved from Ireland
to take the RHH job. He was also a senior lecturer in the
School of Medicine … Dr D'Mello has previously confirmed
problems in the obstetrics and gynaecology department, saying
calls for funding increases had gone unheeded for two years.
For full text, 403 words, click
here.
Dr Melwyn D'Mello was born and brought up Mumbai. He did
most of his training in the UK & Ireland and migrated
to Australia four years ago.
Canada: Father Raymond de Souza: This Week in Letters
25 Feb: National Post (Canada). Father
Raymond de Souza stirred up days of debate this week
with his suggestion that women's hockey be withdrawn from
the Olympics, after commenting that Canada's dominance in
the event is akin to "poor sportsmanship."
Fr Raymond D'Souza is the son of Greta (ex-Mombasa) and
Cedric D'Souza (ex-Uganda and Nairobi).
UK: Amancio D'Silva: Konkan Dance. By Chris May
25 Feb: All About Jazz. After decades of neglect, the work
of Goan-born guitarist Amancio D'Silva
(1936-96) edged back towards the mic … Konkan Dance
and Dream Sequence/Cosmic Eye retained the raga-meets-jazz
essence of D'Silva's music … It comes with well researched
and informative liner notes by D'Silva's guitarist son,
Stephano (who has also put together a great website covering
his father's life and music) … For full text, 446
words, click
here.
To visit Amancio D'Silva on the web go to http://www.amanciodsilva.com/
Victor Menezes’ $2.5 million fine.
27 Feb: Mercado (Argentina). Article in Spanish which details
the $2.5 million fine imposed by the US on Citibanks’s
Victor Menezes (described as
“Jewish Portuguese born in Goa”) for insider
trading. For text in Spanish click
here.
For a machine translation in English click
here.
Toronto: Poor John's Cafe could have a rich future
The previous issue of this weekly newsletter referred to
an article in the 23 Feb issue of Now (Toronto) on Poor
John's Café and carried a photo of John Silva and
Denise Moraes.
Click here. After the issue was published contact was
made with them and the following additional information
is available: John Silva is Portuguese from Brazil. Denise
(nee Remedios) was born in Kampala and is the daughter of
Ruth & Osbert Remedios.
DEATHS
27 Feb: Verna, Goa. CAETANO GONSALVES.
(Born 1918, ex-Dar-es-Salaam). Beloved husband of Felicidade(Filsu).
Father of Socorrin/Salvador. Brother of late Pulquere/late
Rosario Braganza, Manuel/Jasmelia Gonsalves.
26 Feb: Scarborough, Ont., Canada. STANLEY
NUNES (aged 82, ex- Eldoret, Kenya). Beloved husband
of Lina. Devoted step-father of Iris ( Bernard) and Bel (Melba)
. Loving step-grandfather of William, Millicent, Maya (Valentine)
and Nolan. Stanley will be missed by his brother, sisters,
nieces, nephews, in-laws and his many friends.
Family and friends will be received at the Highland Funeral
Home ‘Scarborough Chapel’ ( 3280 Sheppard Ave,
East) on Thur, Mar 2nd, 2006 from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m and on Fri,
Mar 3rd, from 6-9 p.m.
Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, March 4th , 2006 at
11.15 a.m. at St Aidan's Roman Catholic Church, 3501 Finch
Avenue E. Interment to follow at Highland Memory Gardens.
Donations to ShareLife would be greatly appreciated by the
family. Condolences to iris.lynch@sympatico.com
22 Feb. Carshalton, Surrey, (UK). VERONICA
MENDONSA, (aged 77 years, ex-Mombasa, Kenya, ex-Panjim,
Goa. Widow of late Gorgon Mendonsa (ex Barclays Bank, Mombasa).
Mother of Valerie, Ida, Pat (Carshalton) and Susie/Joe Pinto
(Goa). Grandmother of Ian, Karen and Shaun.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00am on Tue. 7 March, 2006
at Holy Cross Church,Carshalton, SM5 2JD followed by a Graveside
Service at Bandon Hill Cemetery, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8JQ
at 11:30am.
HOLIDAY INFORMATION
Real Estate Boom in Panaji
24 Feb: Daily News & Analysis. By Pushpa Iyengar.
Enamoured by Goa's beaches, Indian and foreign tourists
are buying property in Panaji, Miramar, Caranzalem,
Bambolim, Porvorim, Dona Paula and other areas near
the state capital … In Panaji, Miramar and Caranzalem,
apartment prices are Rs30,000 per sq m. In Miramar,
an unobstructed view of the sea could cost Rs40,000
per sq m … In Dona Paula, one has to shell out
Rs35,000 per sq m for an unobstructed sea view. 433
words. Click
here.
Feature article: Jewish Women
Relocate to Goa
20 Feb: The Jerusalem Report. An Israeli immigrant,
Maxine Zaritsky Todres from New York, is now living
grandly in India is one of many Jewish women relocating
to Goa, a beautiful place to grow old … Before
moving to India four years ago, Todres was living
on her yacht and practicing psychotherapy in the Herzliyah
marina … there seem to be more 50-plus-year-old
women like Todres, on their own, many of them Jewish
and/or Israeli, every day … many, like Todres,
are retired professionals, who are looking for a good
solution for their golden years … "I talk
to two or three older Western women every day,"
says Mario Lobo, a Goa real-estate agent. "They
are looking for nice places, places to grow old."
So too are hand-holding retired couples and single
men, who are also pouring into Goa in astonishing
numbers, helping to push up real-estate prices. 1594
words. Click
here.
|
Goa: Turtles lose out in tourism battle. By Jo
Johnson
28 Feb: Financial Times (UK). From the tracks they discovered
on the sands of Morjim Bay later that morning, forestry
officials in Goa knew the endangered turtle had a traumatic
nocturnal homecoming … Just six Olive Ridleys returned
to nest at Morjim this season, down from 31 in 2001 …
The only species that now arrives en masse at Morjim in
the September-March nesting season is the sun-starved northern
European tourist. With the tourism season coinciding with
the nesting season, Goa no longer provides a safe habitat
for turtles. 837 words. Click
here.
Carolyn Fry picks the best eco-friendly escapes
25 Feb: The Guardian (UK). Far removed from the international
five-stars and the tacky all-inclusives, lies Elsewhere
resort on a private spit of land in the far north of Goa.
The beach house (sleeps six) and three tents are accessed
by a bamboo bridge. Otters nest a few metres upstream from
the tents, and if you time your visit right you'll see marine
turtle hatchlings making their way down the beach. Elsewhere
Beach House from £735 for the whole house per week,
tents from £182 per week. http://www.aseascape.com/
For the text of the Guardian article click
here.
Videoclip: Goa's Flea Market
25 Feb: CNN-IBN: How to strike a bargain. 2.20mins. Click
here.
Goa Does Not Want to Continue to be a Drug Paradise
for Tourists
25 Feb: Stuttgarter Zeitung (Germany) … the Goans
feel increasingly disturbed by the sounds of the parties,
which often last into the early morning hours. 937 words.
http://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de
Feature Travel Article: Give It A Goa
25 Feb: Sunday Mirror (UK). … In India, nothing quite
happens when, where and how you would expect. You have to
take a deep breath and relax in the knowledge that everything
will eventually work out perfectly, with delightful - and
sometimes spectacular – results … Although he
died in 1552, the remains of St Francis Xavier has been
strangely (and some say miraculously) preserved without
mummification … 1120 words. Click
here.
Feeling the pinch?
1 Mar: The Herald (Scotland). Opportunists of the week are
the chaps at travel firm Goa Way who sent out a press release
stating: "Britain's biggest cash robbery is thought
to have cleared £50m from a security depot in Kent
… The good news, however, is that you don't have to
rob anything or anyone to enjoy a luxury break …"
Click
here.
PRIZE COMPETITION
Win A Week In Goa Worth £1,500
26 Feb: Sunday Mirror (UK. Seven nights at the Intercontinental
Grand Resort on Palolem Beach. For a chance to win this fantastic
holiday to Goa, answer this question: What is the currency
of Goa? Visit www.sundaymirror.co.uk/
competitions and enter online by Mar 4. Click
here.
Democratic Management of Common Property
in Goa
4 Feb: Economic & Political Weekly. From 'Gaonkarias'
and 'Communidades' to Gram Sabhas. By Sharon D'Cruz, Avinash
V Raikar. [info from Gabe Menezes via GoaNet]. Click
here.
Goa Annual Plan Finalized
24 Feb: Press Information Bureau. The Annual Plan of Goa for
the year 2006-07 was approved … the size for Goa was
agreed at Rs.1200 crores … initiatives include setting
up of modern convention center, cruise terminal mono-rail
project, up-gradation of minor ports and improvement in river
navigation. Click
here.
IT firms queue to Goa, new hi-tech
centre inaugurated
24 Feb: Business Standard. Goa has now joined the information
technology (IT) arena with a vengeance as many leading IT
companies have decided to set up their base in the state.
IT giants such as Infosys, Microsoft, Gold Shield, ICICI OneSource,
3G (Hutch), GE, Convergies and many more will be opening their
call centres in the state by mid-2007, according to Dayanand
Narvekar, IT minister of the state. The state opened a new
hi-tech IT centre, Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat, situated at Dona
Paula. 427 words. Click
here.
| Goa carnival takes off to colourful
start |
 |
25 Feb: Zee News. The
four-day traditional Goan carnival today took-off to
a colourful start with floats and people in exquisite
costumes and dazzling masks, accompanied by domestic
and foreign tourists … There were performances
by various popular bands, Corredinho and Dekni dances,
fashion shows and belly dancing. Click
here. |
Goa: Italian murders Swede
25 Feb: Aftonbladet. A 46 year old Italian is accused of stabbing
a Swede, aged 26. Text in Swedish. Click
here.
Goan sleaze just a click away
26 Feb. Herald The Goa police are investigating an internet
scam, by a gang of international crooks originating from the
United States, which on various websites provide names and
addresses of prominent hotels and Goan celebrities which offer
escort services, sex massages, company of exotic girls and
where to get drugs … Cost for a Goan girl, on these
websites, range between Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000. A “good”
choice would cost about Rs 10,000 for a single day and for
“premium girls” Rs 25,000 and above. 499 words.
http://oheraldo.in/node/10309
Extradited foreigner to face trial
in Goa
26 Feb: Asian Age. A special judge on Thursday ordered framing
of charges against a suspected Australian paedophile, Werner
Wolf Ingo, who was extradited by Interpol to face trial in
Goa. Click
here.
Goa seeks international help to check
drug trade
1 Mar: New Kerala.com. Goa police had requested the US, Latin
American countries and Israel to check the flow of drugs to
the tourist state. "We have noticed that international
drug trade in Goa is executed from Latin America, Brazil,
Columbia and Bangkok,” said State Director General of
Police, Neeraj Kumar. Click
here.
India: Catholic Youth Survey Reveals
Hope, Challenge For Church
1 Mar: Indian Catholic. The first nationwide survey of Catholic
youth in India indicates that generally they are comfortable
with their religion but have not made their faith "their
own." The Salesians' Mumbai province interviewed Catholics
aged 12-25 across India about their faith and beliefs as part
of the congregation's celebration of its 100 years in the
country. Click
here.
Goa: Steps to prevent entry of paedophiles
2 Mar: The Hindu. Goa is taking steps to strengthen vigil
against the entry of paedophiles. Recently delegations from
Scotland Yard and the German police visited Goa to advise
the local police in tackling paedophile cases. India’s
international airports will be equipped with a centralised
computer system with the track record of paedophiles. Click
here.
British ‘paedophile’
falls into fake passport trap
2 Mar: Deccan Herald. British citizen Douglas Rankin may not
face charges of paedophilia but of trying to travel on fake
passports. Rankin (62), who is alleged to be one of the key
players in a worldwide child sex trafficking ring, was arrested
on December 24 by Immigration Authorities at the Bangalore
airport, when he was trying to take two 16-year-old boys illegally
to London on fake Mexican passports … Rankin is alleged
to have overstayed illegally in Goa for 10 years, before his
arrest. He is also alleged to have smuggled children to the
UK on more than three occasions in recent years. Click
here.
Maternal psychological morbidity
and low birth weight in India
Feb 2006. The British Journal of Psychiatry vol.188: pages
284-285. By Vikram Patel, London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine and Martin Prince, Institute of Psychiatry, London.
Depression following childbirth is associated with poor child
growth in developing countries. This study was based on 270
mothers a district hospital in Goa. Click
here.
IN THE NEWS
UK: Aids funds
23 Feb: Cornish Guardian. Saltash.net Community School student
Matthew Coot, 16, travelled to Goa this month to pass on the
£2,000 he collected by instigating a variety of charitable
activities to support orphans affected by Aids.
Couple turn waste bags into fashion
23 Feb: BBC News. A couple in India have found a solution
to the problem of plastic bags littering the streets of the
country's capital, Delhi - by turning them into fashionable
handbags. Click
here.
“Goan Youth are Rude, Arrogant
and Sex-Crazed”
24 Feb: Hampstead & Highgate Express (London). Clinton
Vaz from Benaulim, Goa writes: … the Goan youth in the
coastal villages are currupted [sic] by easy money and are
rude, arrogant and sex-crazed. Not all Goans are like that.
To see the real Goa you have to meet people away from the
beach. Maybe it's better that the tourists don't. We 'real
Goans' are already an endangered species! For text of the
letter, click
here.
On 25 Feb. I received an email from Clinton Vaz which stated:
“I still stand by my statement. Most Goan youth in the
costal villages are corrupted by easy money and are rude,
arrogant and sex-crazed.”
Hours later I received a message from him entitled: “Apologies
and request to take the post off the website.” To read
that message in full click
here.
I have spoken to Mr Forrest and I have seen his reply to Clinton
Vaz's letter. I will post it to this site next week.
To read the original article by Peter Forrest click
here.
| Bill Clinton in Goa |
 |
24 Feb: Wimbledon
Guardian. An Indian beach holiday turned even sunnier
for a Wimbledon couple when they bumped into Bill Clinton.
Jacky Crompton-Meehan, who runs the Curtain Lady and
the Sofa Shop on Revelstoke Road with her husband, met
the former US president while on the beach in Goa. She
said, "He was so informal and natural, and still
very handsome for his age. It was the last day of our
holiday and it really made our trip." Click
here. |
Lady Hamlyn to Restore Goa Fort.
By Pamela D’Mello.
24 Feb: Asian Age. Lady Hamlyn Trust and Intach taking up
restoration of the Reis Magos fort. In 2002, the trust had
offered £300,000 to restore the crumbling fort but the
previous Goa government had turned it down. "Hurt over
the controversy generated at the time, Lady Hamlyn —
who has since set up a home in Goa — was unwilling to
get involved in the project again. A meeting with Goa chief
minister Pratapsing Rane during her recent vacation here,
however revived the proposal," Mario Miranda told this
newspaper. As a regular Goa visitor, the widow of publishing
tycoon Paul Hamlyn is keen to take up the fort’s restoration
as a goodwill gesture, says the representative. For full text
319 words, click
here.
Everyone loves a good fight... Click
here.
The Reis Magos Fort. - Part 1. Click
here.
The Reis Magos Fort. - Part 2. Click
here.
| Portugal: RTPi: TV Series: Goa Contacto |
 |
24 Feb: Correio de
Manha. Lisel Britto presents a TV series entitled Goa
Contacto which will appeal to the 60,000 Goans resident
in Portugal. The biweekly programme is shown on alternate
Sundays at 14:45 Lisbon time.
The next episode will be screened on 12 Mar. and the
13 part series will run till July 2006. RTPi as also
available in Goa and across the world via cable and
satellite. Click
here. |
Videoclip: Mumbai's ethnic modern
hub a facade
25 Feb: CNN-IBN Correspondent Hindol Sengupta pretended to
be a house-hunter and found apartments where Christians are
not allowed. 2.20mins. Click
here.
Sydney: Art Exhibition: A crowd of
faces
25 Feb: The Sydney Morning Herald. Self Portrait: Renaissance
to Contemporary. Art Gallery of NSW. Until May 14 …
The curators have tried to include horribly tokenistic inclusions
of one artist born in Goa, Francis Newton Souza.
All's knot right for Non Reliable
Indians
27 Feb: Times of India. The initiative of the National Women's
Commission together with Supreme Court’s verdict for
compulsory registration of foreign marriages, will be a boon
for harassed women. Click
here.
Lisbon choir to perform in Goa. By
Pamela D’Mello
1 Mar: Asian Age. Lisbon based choir Ensemble Peregrinacao
(pilgrimage ensemble) will sing at a restored chapel at the
world heritage Old Goa site on March 5th. Click
here.
'Police' raids closes East African
Standard
2 Mar: BBC News. Masked gunmen believed to be police have
stormed East African Standard, one of Kenya's major media
groups, disabling printing presses and shutting its TV station.
For photograph and full text click
here.
For the latest reports, click
here.
RECENT ITEMS OF PARTICULAR
INTEREST ON GOANET. BY CORNEL DACOSTA
For an excellent and detailed account of the village khell
(theatricals and plays with music and singing) performed
by troupes of entertainers on the move from house to house
at Carnival time, do read a superb article by Edward Verdes
on Goanet.
Details of Carnival celebrations from several contributors,
who also provided stunning photographs, indicate that just
prior to the Lenten phase, Goa had its fill of carnival
joviality and merriment.
From a very informative article titled India's Sea Turtles
lose out in Tourist Battle, we learn of the plight of the
short-sighted Olive Ridley when in search of a suitable
place to lay its eggs on the sands of Morjim Bay. Unfortunately,
too many sightseers congregate in the dead of night armed
with cameras to see the creatures come out of the water,
lay their eggs and then try to make their way back to the
sea. Sadly, human presence in large numbers and bright lights
in the vicinity disorient the endangered creatures and if
something protective is not done about this soon, the turtles
will become a distant memory.
The perceptive Thalmann Pereira provides a discussion on
"Goans." It addresses issues like "Who is
a Goan? What is the defining characteristic of a Goan? What
is the Goan identity?" Some Goan Voice (UK) readers
may not find these questions particularly original but it
is the new perspective to these questions which makes this
material particularly compelling.
Finally, do read "GIVE IT A GOA." This article
has a rather unusual take on the theme of Goa by a recent
visitor to Goa. The vivid description of the area around
the Dudhsagar Falls, elephant rides, searches for crocodiles
and other animals provides a wonderful contrast to the urban
areas of Goa including details of churches, markets and
the best places to obtain bargains.
More details can be found at the Goanet archives at http://www.goanet.org
Or to subscribe to Goanet, send an email to subscribe@goanet.org
UK: TV & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS
Documentary: A Very British Bollywood
2 Mar: 9:00 – 10:00 pm. BBC 2. Documentary looking at
how the Indian movie industry has begun to make films in the
UK and a look at the making of Private Moments, an erotic
comedy that revolves around the sex lives of four young women
in London.
Film: Bollywood/Hollywood
3 Mar: 01:55 – 03:45 am. Channel 4 Canadian-Indian director
Deepa Mehta’s Bollywood comedy/love story.
Film: British Asian: Anita &
Me
4 Mar: 9:10 - 10:40 pm. BBC2. Meera Syal’s coming of
age comedy.
Film: Romantic Comedy: The Guru
4 Mar: 10:25 pm – 12:15 am. ITV2.
Documentary: Wedding Stories
5 Mar: 9:00 – 10:00 pm. BBC3. Can Al and Asha cope with
two weddings – in a Welsh chapel and Hindu temple?
Documentary: Arthur's Trip to India:
Kerala
5 Mar. Channel Five. 11:30 to 11:55 am
Entertainment: Desi DNA
8 Mar: 11:20 – 11:50 pm. BBC 2. Asian arts and lifestyle
magazine. Includes a look at the Arts Council's multi-cultural
initiatives.
Documentary: Born into Brothels
9 Mat: 10:00 – 11:25 pm. BBC4. Calcutta’s Red
Light Kids.
Cookery: Floyd's India: Goa
9 Mar. 4:00 to 4:30 pm. Sky Travel Extra. On the seafront
at Panjim, Keith Floyd rustles up crayfish curry and mackerel
masala before visiting a local distillery for a few shots
of 30% proof cashew nut liquor. Strong stuff. [Repeat]
FORTHCOMING
See http://www.lanfranc.com/lanfranc_location_2000.pdf
for help in locating Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon
Sun. 9 Apr. (Provisional). Ruby
Hockey Tournament at HSBC Club. Contact: Richard Fernandes
020 – 8300 5347, Glyn Albuquerque 020 – 8680 2401
Sun. 30 Apr. G.O.A. Ruby
Singles Snooker Tournament. Entries by email to: malawifelix@hotmail.com
Sun. 7 May. G.O.A.
Ruby Goan Nostalgia - Cultural Show at Archbishop Lanfranc
School. Contact: Alfred Rebello 020 – 8337 8022
FOR LATER EVENTS SEE http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/
|
