Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2006-10. Mar. 09, 2006

Canada: Immigrant seniors' plight takes to stage
2 Mar: Calgary Herald. A group of seniors in Calgary has put together a play to illustrate the types of problems and situations immigrant seniors experience in Canada. The play is called One Immigrant Senior Couple's Life in Calgary … “None of our actors are professional," says Sybil Braganza, a community social worker with the City of Calgary's Senior Services … Braganza says the play is about raising awareness of some of the difficulties people have. "It's also on a DVD," she says. For more information about hosting a performance by Health Action Theatre or about setting up your own group, call Braganza at 974-3128. For full text click here.
Sybil Braganza immigrated to Canada from Karachi, Pakistan in 1981. She graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelors of Social Work (1997) and Masters in Social Worker (1998). For a photograph and more info about her see GVUK 2005-42 – click here.

UK: Pupils to help deprived in India
3 Mar: Wimbledon Guardian. Wimbledon College students are making a difference to the lives of people in a deprived community in southern India. The College launched its Southern India Project four years ago when Rudy Noronha, a young Indian working at the school, told staff about the mission of the Jesuits. Following a visit to the college from Father Ambrose Pinto, an authority on the plight of the Dalit, it was agreed the school would team up with the newest mission in Pannur. [Forwarded by Gabe Menezes] 425 words. Click here.

Tasmania: Dr Melwyn D'Mello: Prestige Property
4 Mar. The Australian. Last week the GVUK newsletter featured Dr Melvyn D’Mello with the headline “Top medico quits RHH obstetrics.” I was unable to bring you a photograph of him but THE AUSTRALIAN has featured his house which is up for sale now that he is moving. It is in the Prestige Property section with photographs of course. To check it out, see the TAS section after clicking here.

Australia: Bashing Victim Paul De Souza
4 Mar: ABC News. The Western Australian Attorney-General is being asked to grant an ex-gratia payment of $100,000 to Paul De Souza who was bashed severely in Broome in 2002 and left with seven metal plates in his face after the attack. For a photo and brief background check the GVUK archives for issue 2003-2. Click here.

Rebecca Mascarenhas: Just what the customer ordered
8 Mar: Metro (London). Restaurant Review: 11 Abingdon Road, W8. … Rebecca Mascarenhas has built a mini-empire on giving her affluent, suburban (Putney, Barnes) customers what they want: unchallenging surroundings and good, er, unchallenging food. Here, in a more uptown setting, her plan reaches its apogee … Click here.
Rebecca Mascarenhas was born in Mombasa, daughter of the late Sonny and Carmen (nee Freitas). For more information about her click here.

Father Raymond J. de Souza: Dumbing down 'Canadian values'
9 Mar: National Post (Canada). Canadian immigration success stories are rather easily told here on the West coast, where a massive influx of Asians has transformed this city … Racial conflicts are minimal, and the scourge of Toronto violence seems very far away … My parents are immigrants and, like most of the Asian immigrants in this city, they no doubt had more robust ideals in mind when they chose to come here almost 40 years ago … The new Canadians driving the transformation of Vancouver and other cities deserve an account of Canada worthy of their commitment, sacrifice and loyalty. They did not come here to join a car pool. 794 words. Click here.

8 Mar. Borda, Goa. MRS EUFEMIA GONSALVES (aged 83, ex Tanga, Tanzania & Borda, Goa). Wife of the late Caetano Gonsalves. Mother of Doreen (Tanga), Hermes/Sybil (Toronto), Kelly (Seattle), Millie/late Cursino (London), Norman (London), Ramona/Menino (UAE), the late Ancieto, Genny/Libon (Toronto), Roland/Celeste (UAE). She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Condolences to ramenino@yahoo.com [Info from Stephen de Souza in Canada]

2 Mar: South Ealing, London, UK: DOMINIC THOMAS DE SOUZA (ex Nairobi, aged 48). Son of Lizy and late Edviges De Souza. Brother of Victor, Matilda/Abel, Teresa/Graciano, Mabel/Louis, Michael/Carla and late Peter. Uncle of Lisa, Melanie/Steve, Melissa, Marie, Daniel, Nicola, Alexander, Jason, Claire and Great Uncle to Bradley and Dylan.
Funeral service on Tuesday 14 Mar. at St Peter & Paul's RC Church, Camborne Avenue, Northfields, London, W13 9QZ. (Nearest tube Northfields Station). The mass is at 9.30am followed by the cremation at Mortlake Crematorium and then back to the Church Hall for the Wake. In lieu of flowers, donations to the British Heart Foundation may be made in the collection box at the Church/Hall. Condolences to ugcf@yahoo.com

2 Mar: Mississauga, Canada. MALAQUIS SEBASTIAN FERNANDES (aged 75, ex-Zanzibar). Brother of Artie/Anthony (Pop) Mendes and Angelo/Rita Fernandes of Siolim, Goa. He will be sadly missed by his nieces, nephews, their children and grandchildren. The Funeral was on March 04. Condolences to: alwynmendes@cogeco.ca [Info from Stephen de Souza in Canada].

22 Feb: Harrow, Middx. UK. LAWRENCE LOBO (ex-Mombasa). Brother of the late Ireno/Fatima, Vency (Loutolim-Goa), Nacy (Nascimento), Maria, Diana and Merlyn. Deeply missed by his wife Cleta and children Ivan, Hazel and Suella.
Funeral: St. Gabriel's Church, 390B Northolt Road, South Harrow, HA2 8EX on Thurs. 9 Mar at 11 a.m. Condolences to lobo37@tiscali.co.uk

All you needed to know about buying a home in India.
3 Mar: MoneyControl.com. The Indian government now has recognised the demands of the NRI and people of Indian origin to own piece of property in India … The rules have been much simplified and it is become much easier to buy property for the NRIs. Overall things have improved for NRIs. 2031 words. Click here.

Run out fast for Indian cricket holidays
4 Mar: The Times (UK). Tickets are still available to watch the England cricket team play on the tour of India but they're running out fast. Companies including Grandstand Sports, Kuoni Sport and Gullivers still have space on some trips that include the one-day match in Goa (Apr 2). Grandstand has two-week trips from £2,945 -tickets to matches included. Gullivers offers 20-day tours from £3,320. Claire Powell of Gullivers, said: "The India tour has sold incredibly well. Last time we went to India there were 30-40 customers, this time we've got about 170.”

India goes off the rails
4 Mar: The Times (UK). Air-conditioned first-class carriages are being phased out and rail fares are tumbling in India as trains struggle to compete with budget airlines … A train from Bombay to Goa takes about 12 hours, while a flight is one hour and costs little more. Click here.

Five Global Airlines Willing to Fly Foreign Tourists into Goa
4 Mar: Herald. Five international airlines have shown interest in bringing tourists directly from Europe and other countries to Goa, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza said today. The airlines which include Condor, Gulf Air, Emirates, British Midlands, have shown interest. He hoped that the open skies policy would see an increase of direct flights to the tourist destination of Goa. He also disclosed that Australia is interested in Goa as a tourist destination. http://oheraldo.in/node/10541

Goa wants to attract Australian tourists to State
4 Mar: New Kerala. Goa Tourism Department will have special focus on attracting Australian tourists during their representation at International Tourism Mart at Berlin (ITB), Germany. Click here.

Now Foreigners Can Feel at Home in India
5 Mar: Financial Express. Taking a leaf out of the book of countries like Malaysia, Germany, Britain and others, the tourism department in India is popularising the concept of home-stays … The concept of home-stays entails staying with a family as their guest, being part of their daily lives and learning about their culture. The states where the idea is gaining acceptance are Karnataka, Goa and Kerala. Click here.

Violinist Sophie Solomon: My Holidays

5 Mar: Sunday Times (UK). Excerpt: Every Christmas, I try to go on a yoga retreat, and this year I went to Goa, to an eco-village called Yoga Magic. You stay in these amazing tents and eat delicious vegetarian yogic cuisine, before going off on scooters to various deserted beaches to practise poses and meditation. I'm usually there until just after new year, so, while everyone is hungover and jaded, I come home feeling fresh and peaceful.
[For the Sophie Solomon (aged 27) website check the link below] http://www.sophiesolomon.com/

A forgotten world
6 Mar: Gulf News. If Goa is a tourist paradise with its beautiful beaches, historic churches and sumptuous seafood, its rarely visited neighbour, the Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra, equals or even surpasses it by comparison. 405 words. Click here.

Two-day tourism meet from Friday
7 Mar: The Hindu. "Summertime in Goa,” an event aimed at making Goa a "365-day holiday destination," is being held on Friday and Saturday. Though the State advertises Goa as a "365-day holiday destination," the peak season is between October and March when more than 1.5 million tourists visit it. However, when Goa is at its best during summer, the presence of visitors is less, lament hoteliers. Click here.

9 Mar: The Independent (UK). A journey to the subcontinent can be a daunting prospect, but help is available. 599 words. Click here.

Goa Tonight
9 Mar: The Times (UK). Goa Way assures me that early callers this morning will still be able to book a holiday starting from Gatwick or Manchester tonight. Those who need more time can fly on the next four Thursdays. Click here.
[Goaway has Gatwick-Goa 16 Mar. 2weeks. £199. Click here.]

Goan Catholics denied access to celebrate feasts
3 Mar. Indian Catholic. Goa’s Member of Parliament in Upper House Shantaram Naik has demanded that devotees should be allowed to celebrate two annual Catholic feasts on the Anjediva Island, in keeping with the commitment made when the island was donated by the state government to the Indian Navy. Click here.

Goa Govt can deport foreigners sans reason
3 Mar: Herald. The Goa Government has claimed that it can order deportation of any foreigner without assigning any reason. This was stated in connection with the deportation order of German national Ingo Grill of Saturday Night Bazaar fame and his Canadian wife Maria Brotherton. http://oheraldo.in/node/10500

Advocates Of Roman-script Konkani Say Goan Priests Have Let Them Down
3 Mar: UCAN. Some Catholics in Goa say their priests have betrayed them in their campaign to have the Roman script used in the written expression of the Konkani language … the Church has pressed for the Roman script to be used in writing it. Hindus use the Devanagari script for the language … Until recently the Church was united in its demand for the use of the Roman script. But now Catholics say some priests working in the archbishop's house no longer support the cause … For text, 788 words and photographs click here.

Goa: Mancurad Mangoes has little scope for export due to strong local market
4 Mar: Herald. It will be quite some time before Goa starts exporting its delicious ‘Mancurad’ because the yield of is negligible and the concept of commercial cultivation of mangoes is yet to take root in Goa … Nevertheless Mancurad was well liked in UK last year, when Goa for the first time participated in Mango show exhibiting its favourite Mancurad variety. Though there was demand for Mancurad, Goa couldn’t seize of the opportunity for want of required quantity of fruit. http://oheraldo.in/node/10548

Foreigners involved in drug trade: Goa police. By Devika Sequeira
4 Mar: A large number of the 40 foreigners that the Goa government wants deported for “undesirable activities” are in the drug trade and the police says it has enough evidence to make a case for their expulsion from the country. Click here.

Pilgrimage Ensemble Perform in Velha Goa Festival
5 Mar: Rádio Renascença, Portugal. Fundação Oriente is sponsoring the performance of the Ensemble Peregrinacao (Pilgrimage Ensemble) a choir of the Lisbon Conservatory. Text in Portuguese. Click here.

NDTV Video Clips
4 – 5 Mar. NDTV. By Frankie Fernandes and Yogesh Pawar. To view the videoclips select Preview from the menu
4 Mar Communal clashes reported in Goa. For videoclip click here.
4 Mar Goa tense after communal clashes. For videoclip click here.
5 Mar Police on guard as tension brews in Goa. For videoclip click here.

Hindus & Muslims Clash Over Razed Mosque
5 Mar: The Guardian (UK). Excerpts: Hundreds of Hindu protesters rampaged through a town in the coastal state of Goa on Saturday, storming a police station, beating officers, looting Muslim shops and burning vehicles and buildings … Several men could be seen stealing a policeman's gun after beating him unconscious with stones and sticks … But religious clashes in Goa, a former Portuguese colony and one of India's premier tourist attractions, are rare. Click here.

Communal tension could affect trade and tourism in Goa
5 Mar: New Kerala.com. In the wake of violence in the Goan town of Sanvordem over the last two days, industrialists here have called for adequate steps to prevent recurrence of such communal clashes as it could affect the state's trade and tourism industry. Click here.

Indian temple city hit by blasts
7 Mar: BBC News. At least 15 people have been killed in three explosions in the northern Indian pilgrimage city of Varanasi … The explosions came days after Hindus and Muslims clashed in Lucknow, and after Hindus looted Muslim shops and burned vehicles in the coastal resort of Goa. Click here.

Sujay Gupta’s Editorials in Gomantak Times
7/8 Mar: Gomantak Times. [From Cecil Pinto via GoaNet]. Click here.

Communal Rioting: Navhind Times Coverage
3 Mar: We were outnumbered: DIG. Click here.
4 Mar: Mob goes on rampage at Sanvordem. Click here.
5 Mar: Arson, looting continue in disturbed Sanvordem. Click here.
5 Mar: Rane visits Sanvordem. Click here.
5 Mar: CISF troopers dispatched to Sanvordem, says DGP. Click here.
6 Mar: Need for a Policy on Religious Structures. Click here.
6 Mar: EDITORIAL: The Sanvordem Message. Click here.
6 Mar: Riots: Muslim federation demands judicial probe. Click here.
6 Mar: Govt to compensate riot victims: Rane. Click here.
6 Mar: Uneasy in calm in Sanvordem. Click here.
7 Mar: Total bandh in Shiroda, Cuncolim. Click here.
7 Mar: Cong, BJP demand judicial probe. Click here.
7 Mar: Union minister Jaiswal to visit riot-hit towns. Click here.
8 Mar: Fear continues to haunt riot victims. Click here.
8 Mar: Life returns to normal in Sanvordem. Click here.
9 Mar. Riot victims who fled Sanvordem returning. Click here.

A Reversal of the Tide in India
28 Feb: Washington Post. Excerpts: Return migrations have become increasingly common; Indian expatriates are finding that, at times, the best way to move up is to move back … Those who return to India -- known as returned NRIs, or RNRIs -- tend to fill jobs on the higher rungs of the corporate ladder. They are the country's new elite, living in gated communities, networking in golf clubs, celebrating holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving -- transplanting their foreign lives in Indian soil … Tens of thousands of India's best and brightest have made these multiple migrations … 1554 words. Click here.
For video/audio links click here.

Six Out of 10 Skilled Immigrants Leave Canada within a Year of Arriving
2 Mar: The Hamilton Spectator. A new Statistics Canada study shows six out of 10 skilled immigrants leave Canada within a year of arriving. Local settlement workers say it is another indication that newcomers cannot get jobs in their profession, even though the country is in need of skilled immigrants. 481 words. Click here.

Fishing trip tragedy
3 Mar. Manchester Evening News (UK). Ronald Stuart, 62, from Mossley, Tameside, disappeared while fishing off Anjuna beach in Goa on October 18 last year. His body was recovered from the water and a post-mortem examination in India revealed he had died from drowning. A second post-mortem by a British doctor came to the same conclusion … Mr Stuart had travelled to Goa for the last 12 years to enjoy the climate and because it reminded him of his childhood. Click here.

Videoclip: Indian Dual Citizenship Cards in US
5 Mar: CNN-IBN. It's been over a month since Indian PM handed out the first dual citizenship cards. And now, the Indian consulate in New York is following suit. Click here.

New Delhi fights “monstrous” crime of female foeticide
6 Mar: Asia News (Italy). … only 814 girls are born for every 1,000 boys in Delhi … the main cause of such a high number of abortions is a cultural preference for male sons … girls are getting eliminated before birth, despite a ban on sex-selective abortions … Click here.

UK: Immigration point system outlined
7 Mar: BBC News. A new points-based immigration system for workers who want to come to the UK from outside the EU has been unveiled by the Government. Click here.

Gulf: Goa in Property Show
9 Mar: Kuwait Times. Indian Property Show 2006 will be held in Kuwait (Mar 10-11), Doha (12-13) and Muscat (14-16) . prominent builders drawn from Kerala, Bangalore and Goa will participate in the proposed property show. Click here.

Francis Newton Souza: 20 paintings to be auctioned.
30 Mar: Christie’s. Modern and Contemporary Indian Art Auction, March 30, 2006, New York, Rockefeller Plaza. Estimates: $8,000 - $400,000. For details click here.

London: Tongues on Fire Film Festival Launches
Tongues on Fire, the annual film festival celebrating performance and achievements of Asian women in cinema, runs from 10 – 31 Mar. Included are Amu, a tale of a young woman who goes back to India and discovers secrets of a hidden genocide at Curzon; Pink Ludoos, a delightful comedy about the prejudices against girl children and A Decent Samosa, Ya! a documentary about Asian fusion music. Full listing and information at http://www.tonguesonfire.com/

Documentary: Immigration
Sat 11 Mar. 7.30 pm. UKTV History. A look at immigration from the 1950’s to 1970’s

Travel: Pondicherry
Sun. 12 Mar. 11:25 am to 1.55 pm. Arthur’s trip to Pondicherry

Parliament: Immigration
Wed. 15 Mar. 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. Lords Immigration, Asylum & Nationality.

Chat Show: Richard and Judy: Laila Rouass
Wed. 15 Mar. 5:15 to 6:00 pm. Channel 4.

Documentary: Idi Amin: The Man Who Ate His Archbishop's Liver
Fri. 17 Mar. 11:00 – 11.30 pm. Biography Channel (repeat).

Sun. 9 Apr. (Provisional). Ruby Hockey Tournament at HSBC Club. Contact: Richard Fernandes 020 – 8300 5347, Glyn Albuquerque 020 – 8680 2401

Sun. 16 Apr. Easter Dinner Dance. 6.00 to 11.00 pm. St Mary’s Church Hall. Welling DA16 3QU. Disco by the fabulous Music Mania. Catering by Potbor Ha. Adults £12.50 Children (6 to 12) £5 Children below 5 – free. Includes snack, meal, dessert and free soft drink. Raffles and novelty games galore ! Details musicmaniadisco@yahoo.co.uk Tony 020 8265 9644/077 4811 2667. Paul 020 8311 1195. Vincent 020 8244 5598

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