COMMUNITY NEWS

Kenya: Soccer loving Saude George turns hockey hero
	25 Nov: Daily Nation (Nairobi). For Saude George, Kenya's former renowned Olympian, football was his speciality from his school days. Yet it was in hockey that he really made his most indelible mark - he featured in two Olympic Games - in Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964. His interest in hockey started when, at a hockey match between the Goan Hockey Association and Asian Hockey Association at Nairobi South 'C', the Goan side found themselves without a goalkeeper for the day.
George's office colleague, Oscar de Souza spotted him among the spectators in the crowd and persuaded him to take over between the posts ... Later George was asked to write for the now-defunct Sunday Post and took up the challenge to write not only on hockey and football but on all sports.Click here.

NRI panel demands summary trial in encroachment cases
23 Nov: The Hindu. The Goa NRI Affairs Commission has urged the Goa Government to enact a legislation to provide for the summary trial of cases pertaining to the encroachment of the properties of Non-Resident Goans (NRGs) back home. Commissioner for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Affairs Eduardo Faleiro told presspersons on Wednesday that it had become a common complaint from NRGs that sometimes during their absence, their properties were encroached upon. When they sought the eviction of the trespassers, the cases would drag on, forcing them to either pursue the cases here and lose their jobs abroad or to forgo their property here. Also, the Goa Government has agreed to create 10 additional seats in the Goa Medical College and five in the Dental College for the benefit of the children of NRGs.Click here.

Former Indian footballer Dereyk DeSouza passes away

25 Nov: Afternoon (Mumbai). Former India football international player and Coach Dereyk DeSouza died of cardiac arrest at a local hospital late Thursday night. DeSouza, 69, whose elder brother late Neville played for India in 1956 Games at Melbourne, had played for the country in a few international matches in 1960s as a sharp shooting forward. He later turned to coaching youngsters and guided the fortunes of Mumbai's Mahindra & Mahindra and Goa's Salgaocar Sports Club, besides coaching the national team in the 1990s. He is survived by two sons. Click here.

UK: Clement Lobo: £25k for Tube hell
24 Nov: The Evening Standard (London) Tube driver Clement Lobo, 50, has won £ 25,000 compensation after his bosses failed to clean up racist graffiti about him. He had to put up with taunts such as "Mullah Minger" and "Lobo RIP" being daubed across various Piccadilly line stations. The abuse prompted six separate complaints from Mr Lobo over one year. But managers ignored him and instead dismissed him in February this year, claiming he had plotted to assault a manager. A Watford employment tribunal upheld claims of race and sex discrimination, victimisation and unfair dismissal and ordered London Underground to give Mr Lobo his job back.

Xavier D’Souza: Cayman bodybuilders compete in NYC
26 Nov: Cayman Compass. More than 200 athletes from countries all over the world converged on New York for the 2006 WNBF Pro/Am World Natural Bodybuilding Championships.
Xavier D’Souza, displaying rock hard muscle and great symmetry, earned himself the 2nd place trophy in the men’s middle weight division. This class was one of the largest classes in the championships and Xavier expressed that he was happy with his performance at the event and said that he felt that the judging was fair. Photo and text at click here.

Roy de Souza: www.thenewrevolutionaries
26 Nov: The Observer (UK). After YouTube and MySpace, what next? As the internet continues to change at a breathtaking pace, David Smith goes to Silicon Valley to meet the architects of the next web explosion ... Roy de Souza formally launched Zebo in September and says it already has 5 million regular users. 'The things that work best on the net are things that work in the real world. If I wanted a new car, I would call my friend for his advice. It's what human beings do and the internet makes it a lot easier to tap that knowledge.' Click here.

Keeping alive Goan culture in UK
Click to enlarge	27 Nov: Herald. By Percy Ferrao. The Union of Navelim celebrated its Feast in London on 19 Nov ... Goans from all over UK and even Canada and Australia , turned the social into a joyous and festive occasion ... Selvyn Ferrao was re-elected the president. Other committee members elected were Daniela Fernandes (Secretary), Amelia Gomes (social secretary), Leonard Mergulhao (treasurer) and Sukor da Silva (auditor).
The committee members are Maurilio Mergulhao, Hypol Mergulhao, Sandra Fernandes-Allen, Cyrila Pereira, Loy Rebello, Michelle Staussi, Percy Ferrao, Nelson Baretto, Tony Pinto, Dora Fernandes, Cynthia Antao, Cos Fernandes, Violet Da Silva and Vince Fernandes. http://oheraldo.in/node/20760

UK: Hockey: Cheam 8 Goan 0
29 Nov: Croydon Advertiser. A truly breathtaking display of attacking hockey in the opening 25 minutes gave Cheam an unassailable lead and broke the will of their opposition, Goan, in last Saturday's match. For much of the first half Cheam retained possession of the ball to completely dominate their opposition through clinical passing play. Three goals before half-time were enough demoralise Goan, who could not sustain the pace set by Cheam and their composure and discipline was undone in the second half by five more Cheam goals. Click here.

DEATH

28 Nov. Majorda, Goa. JOSE HILDEBRANDO LUIS. Husband of late Maria Niceta. Father of Victor/Janet (London), Edgar/Arati (London) and Sem. Ramiro (Rachol Seminary).

27 Nov: Nerul, Goa. EDVIGES BRAGANZA (ex-Kampala, Uganda). Wife of late Cleto Braganza. Sister of late Minguel Francis, late Idalin, late Liberata, late Eutiquio, late Amancio.

27 Nov: Etobicoke, Toronto. JOHN D'SOUZA (retired 38 year employee with British Airways). Husband of Arminda. Father of Coletta/Agnelo, Tony, Vincent, Gemma and Roland. Brother of the late Michael. Funeral on Thur 30 Nov 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew's Church, 2547 Kipling Ave. Click here.

23 Nov: Dar es Salaam. PIETY FERNANDES (aged 35; sudden death as a result of a massive heart attack). Son of late Joseph and Stella Fernandes (ex Zanzibar). Info from Claude Fernandes.

22 Nov: Agassaim, Goa. PIEDADE SOUZA E FERNANDES. Mother of Jacinto (London)/Rosado; Armando (London)/Martha; Menino/Maria; Santan.

21 Nov: Siridao, Goa. JOSE AFONSO. Beloved husband of Anna Maria. Father of Domingo Xavier/ Pelegrina (London), Arcangela/Menin (London), Antonio/Melanie, Idalina/ Agnelo (Cayman Islands)

GOA FILM FESTIVAL

Goa Film Festival takes flight with glitz
24 Nov: Vancouver Sun. India kicked off an international film festival on Thursday with a laser show and dances by Bollywood stars in a display of glitz aimed at raising the country’s profile as a global centre of moviemaking ... “Goa is now an established cinema hub of the world,” declared Pratap Singh Rane, chief minister ... Troops guarded the venue as 5,000 guests watched Bollywood put its best foot forward at the festival’s opening ceremony. “The West produces at the best one or two films a month while we in India often have three releases a week. This shows we are way ahead,” said former Miss World and Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, clad in a skintight dress and sparkling necklace. 460 words. [News item notified by Ferdie Rodrigues, currently in Vancouver) Click here.

IFFI may be shifted to Delhi for good
25 Nov: New Ind Press: Disappointed over the way the International Film Festival of India is being organised by Goa, the Directorate of Film Festival (DFF) is seriously thinking about breaking away from the Goa affair and holding its own festival annually in Delhi ... On Friday, the DFF and the Goa Government came under fire from several newspapers from Goa for the way a festival of such importance was being held. Click here.

Goa: Chaos seems to be Film Festival theme
26 Nov: Monsters and Critics (UK). Planning: non-existent. Organisation: pathetic. End result: utter chaos. That is how any objective report card on the ongoing 37th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will read. For veteran media persons who have attended film festivals around the globe, IFFI 2006 in Goa is a complete washout. Getting into an auditorium to catch a film of one's choice is next to impossible. Click here.

Goof-ups, chaos may take film carnival out of Goa
30 Nov: Hindustan Times. Goa will not be the permanent venue of the annual International Film Festival of India anymore if the Ministry of Information Broadcasting has its way. Following the accelerating chaos, internal conflicts and major gaffes at the festival currently on in Goa, it is felt that after a break of three years, the nation's most prestigious movie carnival should return to Delhi every alternate year and be rotated in other cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Trivandrum, Hyderabad and Bangalore.Click here.

Festival Links
For photos, videoclips, etc. see http://pib.nic.in/prs/iffigoa2006.asp

NEW SPONSOR

London: Goan Food Online Store
	Dos Santos Foods are proud to launch four styles of Hampers which reflect a range of mouth watering delicacies that are synonymous with Goan Food. Visit our website: www.goanfood.co.uk for Seasonal and Special Offers and for the range of Authentic U.K. home-made Goa Sausages, Award Winning Sannas, Assorted Goan Sweets and Real Prawn Balchao. Email: sales@goanfood.co.uk

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

Last Minute Goa Deals
23 Nov: The Times (UK). Pre-Christmas sunshine is also promised in Goa, where Jewel in the Crown Holidays has a discounted deal from December 9. A fortnight's B&B in a quiet resort, a short ride from bustling Baga Beach, is Pounds 451 with a flight from Gatwick. Tel. 01293 533338

All we want for Christmas
25 Nov: The Sun (UK). Stuck on ideas for the family this Christmas? ... we’ve a few prezzie ideas ... Treat Mum to a break in Goa this Christmas at the InterContinental Grad Resort in Palolem Beach. It boasts the first Champneys spa in India, as well as the chance to discover the fabulous food or go native and ride an elephant and sleep in a mud hut. Two weeks B&B departing Manchester on December 15 is from £1,484 per person. Call Direct Holidays on 0870 191 9185 ...Hustle, bustle and paradise

Hustle, bustle and paradise
25 Nov: The Independent (UK). Seasoned travellers have the tendency to be somewhat snooty about Goa, dismissing the southern state as being overdeveloped. But while the resorts of Candolim and Calangute are perfectly set up to pander to Western whims, just a short distance away a largely unspoilt Goa is there to be discovered ... Mapusa market ... Morjim ...the finest, flattest and safest road in the state. A ride across the bridge on a rented motorcycle is a joy, not just for the stunning vista, but for the pothole-free (and largely cow-free) experience it delivers ... Palolem is the picture postcard image of Goa ... For an even more relaxed vibe head to the next beach, Patnem, which has some excellent restaurants. What better way is there to start your day than stepping out of your hut and diving into the Arabian Sea? 591 words.

Go For Goa
26 Nov: Sunday Times (UK). There are few better places to escape to in the depths of winter than Goa. Feel the soft sand between your toes, eat delicious fish curries, watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea and — if the fancy takes you — lose yourself at a trance club. The cost of living is extremely low, and winter holidays are also going for bargain prices, as airlines compete to offload seats ... Indian law prevents operators from selling you a seat-only charter flight ... the Beach House, an isolated beach villa near Mandrem was rented recently by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. It has three bedrooms and costs £182pp per week, based on six sharing ... Packages are also good value. Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk) has a week at the four-star Majorda Beach Resort, departing between December 2 and 15, for £579, saving £219. Thomson (0870 160 4529 has the Fort Aguada Beach Resort, in Sinquerim, where a week, departing on January 9, costs £714, reduced from £799. Clickhere.

Running With Champions in Kenya
26 Nov: The New York Times. ... the average person could only hope for a distant glimpse of a Kenyan great runner. But on the Running Safari in Kenya, which Micato Safaris began last year and is offering again from March 14 to 25, a closer view is guaranteed. The trip will start in Nairobi, head north to Eldoret, the center of an area that has produced many well-known runners, and move southeast to Mombasa, on the Indian Ocean, for the International Association of Athletics Federations World Cross-Country Championships on March 24.
Micato is owned by the Pinto family of Nairobi. For a profile of them see the links at GVUK 2003-46 click here.

Goa beaches are off limits for hawkers
28 Nov: Daily News & Analysis. Tourists swimming or walking on the beaches in South Goa have got back something they had lost in the last few seasons — peace and quiet. Village panchayats in the region got together and decided to ban the 1000-odd Kashmiris and Lamaanis from hawking their wares on the beaches. Media reports of Goa facing a terrorist threat and the arrest of a Kashmiri terrorist at Margao with one kg RDX in March this year are the reasons being attributed for this drastic action. Click here.

Goa—a unique synthesis of east and west
30 Nov: Manila Standard (Philippines). Our port of call was Goa, a former Portuguese colony, known as the “Rome of the Orient”, which till today maintains much of its European old world charm. Its multicultural ambience, complimented by scenic sun-kissed beaches make it a popular destination for tourists and local honeymooners ... click here.

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

Goa: Symposium on globalisation and Indian cultures held
24 Nov: Navhind Times. The Cardinal Paul Poupard said that globalisation could be a boon if used well. He was speaking at the special All-India symposium on Globalisation and Indian Cultures at the Pilar Theological College ... The unique part of the symposium were the two students on the panel. Misha Fernandes of Dhempe College spoke on being Goan or Global. She was particularly critical of the uncontrolled development that destroyed nature. Kimberly Dias spoke of the generation gap and how it could be bridged. In a personal note she illustrated how she got on with her eighty year old grandmother. Click here.

Portuguese firm to set up unit in Goa for football development
24 Nov: Navhind Times. Goa is small in size, but the quality concerning everything connected with football surpasses all the other states in India. That’s the raison d’etre why Portugal-based Football & Friends have decided to establish a unit in Goa, divulged Mr Nuno Mousinho Esteves, marketing officer. Click here.

UN funds study on Laamanis in Goa
24 Nov: Herald. Goa Police have received an official reply from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) approving in principle a study on Laamanis focusing on the “migration pattern of these nomads to the State”. http://oheraldo.in/node/20668

Celina Jaitly acquires a villa in Goa
24 Nov: MidDay. As Celina Jaitly gets a year older today, she’s gifting herself a Portuguese villa in Goa. The actress, who flew to Goa with her parents last week, had been scouting for bungalows on the beaches for some time now. She reveals that fond memories of her maternal grandfather, late Colonel Eric Francis (who witnessed the Portuguese occupation during his time in the army) prompted her to acquire a Goan villa ... She intends to visit the villa every month. “I never get tired of Goa. It’s close by and there are innumerable flights every day. I’m going to make it a point to visit our permanent address (referring to the villa) every month.” click here.

Goans have deep religious fervour: Cardinal Poupard
25 Nov: Herald. Goa’s rich culture and harmony among faiths may have impressed Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture (PCC), but the top Vatican official has reminded Goans of obstacles that could impede dialogue between faiths. http://oheraldo.in/node/20701

Goa seeks to ward off paedophiles
25 Nov: The Peninsula (Qatar). Charity workers are teaming up with hoteliers and police in Goa in a bid to prevent it emerging as a top destination for paedophiles. Tourists pouring into Goa are handed pamphlets on arrival at the airport explaining the law that this western state has passed to shield children from paedophiles and the punishment for offenders. Aid workers have also installed monitoring units in Goa’s four most popular beaches and police say combating paedophilia is their top priority ... The Forum of Children’s Rights has been helping youngsters who fall prey to molesters but said it was an uphill task. Click here.

The green gauge
26 Nov. The Observer (UK). Plastic is considered far from fantastic in the Goan town of Vasco, which has gone plastic free. Twenty businesses have already been fined for flouting the plastic ban, and citizens have been issued with jute and paper bags. Click here.

Goa: New ecclesiastical diocese created
27 Nov: New Ind Press. Pope Benedict XVI has created the new ecclesiastical province of Goa and Daman, with Sindhudurg as its Suffragan diocese and appointed Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao as its first metropolitan archbishop. The official announcement was made at the Vatican on November, 25, 2006. The day also happens to be the feast of St Catherine, the patron saint of the Cathedral of Goa, an official release said. Click here.

Pedro Cabral Adão, Portuguese Consul in Goa dies
Pedro Cabral Adão	29 Nov: Agência Lusa (Portugal). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Pedro Cabral Adão has died on 29 Nov aged 37, after an illness. He entered the diplomatic corps in 1995, and was appointed Consul General in Goa in February 2005. 29 Nov: Agência Lusa (Portugal). O cônsul-geral de Portugal em Goa, Pedro Cabral Adão, morreu hoje, aos 37 anos, vítima de doença, confirmou à Agência Lusa fonte do gabinete do ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros. Pedro Cabral Adão entrou para a carreira diplomática em 1995,
tendo desempenhado nomeadamente as funções de secretário na embaixada de Portugal em Teerão e, desde Fevereiro de 2005, de cônsul-geral em Goa, Índia.

IN THE NEWS

Why Russians Go To Goa
24 Nov: Moscow Times. On Wednesday, the non/fiction book fair -- which bills itself as a "trade fair for intellectual literature" -- will open for the eighth time. Discussions listed in the program include such interesting topics as "Sex Without Filth and Hypocrisy" and "Why Russians Go to Goa." Several publishing houses will present their art albums, and a separate fair of antique books will be held in one part of the exhibition complex. A list of events can be found online at click here and here.

Independent women too are victims of domestic violence
25 Nov: Times of India ... educated and financially independent women suffer physical and mental abuse at the hands of their husbands. Some of them did not have the courage to either separate from them or seek divorce ... the recent Act to protect women against domestic violence will make people aware that there is a law. Click here.

Indian visas in UK to be outsourced
27 Nov: Business Standard. To tackle the surge in visa applications, the Indian High Commission here will outsource their processing from next year ... On an average, the Mission here issued about 400,000 visas per annum ... outsourcing would help to prevent the long queues at the centrally located India House at Aldwych ...click here.

Furious and funny in Goa
28 Nov: Hindustan Times. Book review of Reflected in Water: Writings on Goa. Editor: Jerry Pinto. Publisher: Penguin India. Pages: 295. Format: Paperback. Price: Rs 395. Click here.

Sundance reveals 2007 lineup
29 Nov: Variety (USA). The Sundance Film Festival 2007 selection includes "The Pool," directed by documaker Chris Smith and written by Smith and Randy Russell, is a class study acted in Hindi and filmed in Goa, India, about a young hotel worker's fixation on a swimming pool and the family that comes to occupy the house it adjoins. Nana Patekar, Venkatesh Chavan, Jhangir Badshah and Ayesha Mohan star. Click here.

Childless NRIs head for Gujarat to hire wombs
29 Nov: Times of India. Most NRIs suffering from infertility come to Gujarat looking for egg donors and surrogate mothers. The expats find it difficult to find ovum donors of Indian origin abroad and prefer not to go for foreign donors whose features would be a dead give away ... The NRIs pay anything between Rs 15,000-25,000 for one cycle of egg retrieval ... Many NRIs come looking for surrogate mothers; by a conservative estimate, at least 30-50 wombs are hired by NRIs across the state during the NRI season ... Services of surrogate mothers abroad are exorbitantly priced and may range from $20,000-30,000 ... Click here.

How an Asian immigrant grew up to be Miss Great Britain
	25 Dec: The Independent (UK). Preeti Desai knows more than most people about the difficulties of integrating into British society. Her mother, Hema, suffered depression and twice attempted suicide after moving to this country from India. It was made worse by the stigma in her community of giving birth to two daughters rather than sons. Ms Desai, 25, felt she wanted to achieve something as a way of paying tribute to her mother. So, after leaving home in Guisborough, North
Yorkshire, to pursue her modelling career in London, she entered her first beauty pageant. She is now celebrating after being named Miss Great Britain, the first woman of Indian extraction to win the title. Her success has shone a spotlight on the struggle still facing women in some immigrant families. For full text click here. For the Preeti Desai website see http://www.preetidesai.com/

RECENT ITEMS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST ON GOANET. BY CORNEL DACOSTA

Just completed on Goanet, is Domnic Fernandes' seventh instalment of SOIRIKEN KAZAR (Arranged Marriage). If any Goan Voice (UK) reader has not yet read one of Domnic's masterpieces of Goa of Yesteryear, now surely is the time to do so. Hopefully also, one may not need to wait too long for the anticipated publication, in a book, of most of Domnic's wonderful historical articles.

Clearly, Goanet is a fairly proactive medium. Just when someone perhaps rhetorically asked "Where have all the great Goans Gone?" a wonderful piece from Marcos Gomes-Catao, titled Great Men of Goa, provides many answers to the question originally posed. Marcos provides his excellent material masterfully and modestly.

In response and further to Marcos, Paulo Colaco Dias provides a substantial list of other names with an excellent commentary on the distinctive contribution of Great Goans.

For a quick and succinct review of the current International Film Festival of India (IFFI) do read a presentation from George Pinto. Hopefully, we will have a good response to G. Pinto's constructive criticisms.

With the firm belief that, a tiny seed (planted at the right time) could grow into a mighty oak or perhaps a mango tree, an excellent Goanet-Careers stream (or list) has been initiated by Bosco DeMello. It attempts to build awareness about career options among the youth in Goa and the Diaspora. Hopefully, this will be an excellent scheme to which GV(UK) readers can contribute abundantly.

"We are seriously looking at some measures to streamline the movement of workers from India to foreign countries so that adequate provisions are built into our procedures to ensure their rights and reasonable working conditions." This was recently stated by E. Ahmed, the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs. Hopefully, this will help alleviate some gross injustices experienced by Indian labour in several parts of the Middle East in particular.

The proposed ban on the wearing of the saree in Holland has prompted several responses on Goanet. Although UK Goan women may wear the saree sparingly, when they do, they stand out superbly. They surely must have a view to express about the proposed ban in Holland.

Finally, have GV(UK) readers wondered how much the Pope gets paid for the job that he does? If not, perhaps you may want to discover from Goanet, what other enquirers have found out on this unusual theme.

UK: TV & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS By Lira Fernandes

Travel: Earthwalkers: Goa. Travel Channel
Sun 3 Dec: 19:00 - 19:30. Famous for its beaches, parties and relaxed lifestyle, Goa has become a Mecca for tourists of all nationalities. We join David from England and Annemarie from the Netherlands, as they hire mopeds and explore the region's heritage attractions.

Cookery: Feast India : Kochi, the Backwaters. Discovery Travel & Adventure
Sun 3 Dec. 23:00 - 23:00. English-born chef Barry Vera enjoys the delights of Kochi's local markets, with their strange vegetables and fish, and samples the delicious street food

Travel: Earthwalkers: Lamu Island. Travel Channel
Wed 6 Dec: 00:30 to 01:00. Today Earthwalkers follows our inquisitive back-packers to Lamu Island. Frozen in time this fantasy destination in Kenya is a 'must see' for any discerning traveller.

Travel: Indian Rendezvous : Mumbai Discovery Travel & Adventure
Wednesday 6 Dec. 22:00 - 22:30. A guide to exotic India. Actress Sushma Reddy gives an insider's guide to Mumbai, from the stunning Hanging Gardens to the throbbing metropolis

Travel: Earthwalkers: Zanzibar: Travel Channel
Thu 7 Dec: 00:30 to 01:00 and Tasmania.
Join Jana and her companions on a tour of Zanzibar in Africa as they wander the narrow alleyways of the old Stone Town exploring the food art and culture of this fascinating tropical island.

Cookery: Floyd's India: Goa. Sky Travel Extra
Fri 8 Dec 07:00 to 07:30. 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.

FORTHCOMING

See http://www.lanfranc.com/lanfranc_location_2000.pdf for help in locating Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon

Sun. 3 Dec. G.O.A. Ruby Feast of St Francis Xavier being celebrated for the first time at St Boniface Church, Tooting. All are welcome to the Mass at 1.30pm and there is no charge. Please do come and enjoy listening to the beautiful choir. The church service will be followed by a Social in the adjacent Parish Hall for which tickets will be required. Adults (17 years and over): £3.00. Children (12 – 16years): £2.00. Under 12 years: “free”. Food and drink will be on sale. Contact: Alfred Rebello 020 – 8337 8022, Diego Pinto 020 - 8767 0663

Sold Out! Sun. 10 Dec: G.O.A. Ruby Children's Pantomime - Sold Out!

Sat. 16 Dec. St. Diogo's Association (UK) Guirim/Sangolda. Children's Christmas Pantomime "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" at Fairfield Halls, Croydon at 12.00 noon sharp, followed by Christmas Party with refreshments, games and distribution of presents by Santa Claus. Please report at 11.15a.m. For details contact: Apolonia DeSouza 020 8686 1876, Jennifer Fernandes 0127 765 1052

Sun. 31 Dec. Saligao Association UK Sparkling New Year's Eve Ball 2006 at Tolworth Recreation Centre, Tolworth KT6 7LQ. Grand Unlimited Buffet / Childrens entertainer / Hot Band and Disco / Showstopper. Book online / reserve tables (no fee) on www.SaligaoUK.com Enquiries to tickets@SaligaoUK.com or call Cedric de Souza on 07725 080239/Marion Pereira 020 8408 0748.

Sun. 31 Dec: 7.00pm to 3.00am. Dark Star Social Club presents a NEW YEAR'S EVE Gala Ball at the NEW Harrow Leisure Centre. Music by live band "SECOND NATURE" and disco "SOUND FX ROADSHOW". For tickets and other information, email info@dssclub.co.uk or call Derrick Pereira 020-8952 8899 or Bernie Gracias 020-8723 1322. GOA members entitled to 2 tickets at £12 each. Contact: Bernie Gracias 020 8723 1322. For the flyer click here.

Sun 31 Dec. 7pm-1.30am. SE Goans New Years Ball. Orpington Hall, 311 Orpington High St, Kent. BR6 0NN, Band & Disco. Contact Dominic 07854 490617; Ron 0208 303 3386.

Sun. 31 Dec. St. Diogo's Association (UK) Guirim/Sangolda New Year's Eve Ball at Civic Suite, Wandsworth Town Hall. For details contact: Apolonia DeSouza 020 8686 1876, Jennifer Fernandes 0127 765 1052.

Sun. 31 Dec 7.00pm to 1.30am. Friend's Circle presents a NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL at Belmont Community Hall, Kenton Lane, Belmont Circle, Harrow HA3 8RY. Entertained by Goa's top most band "BREAKTHRU" Guest artist from Dubai "CONNY" and Disco "SOUND SOUND". Ticket & Info. Francisco 0208 3574281 Carlos 0208 2487387 Teresa Felix 0208 2453786

FOR LATER EVENTS SEE http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/