COMMUNITY NEWS

Harshita Saxena surrenders pageant title, slams Gladrags
11 Apr: IANS. Harshita Saxena, the Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth title winner, Friday surrendered her crown after modelling agency Gladrags sent her a legal notice for breach of contract. An upset Harshita described Gladrags, with which she had signed a contract in 2006, as "unprofessional" … In the April 5 2008 contest Harshita from Goa, was crowned Miss India Earth. 532 words. Click here.

Richa Adhia, Miss Tanzania supports a child
12 Apr: Daily News (Tanzania). Miss Tanzania 2007 Richa Adhia has offered to foot medical bills for a young boy Ismail Yahaya (10), who is suffering from a life-threatening wound on his leg … Adhia said she was informed about Yahaya’s condition by one of her friends … “I was very sympathetic on hearing the news, I’ve decided to help this young boy from the sufferings, by meeting his operation costs,” she said. [Info from Mervyn Lobo].
Richa (Rachael) Adhia is the daughter of Sarcarcia (nee) Fernandes and Deepak Adhia; granddaughter of Xavier Fernandes of Pemba. For links to more information about her click here.

Goan killed in Dubai fire
13 Apr: Herald. A Goan, Cruz (Popi) Fernandes died in the explosion at the Al Quoz industrial area of Dubai on March 26.
He suffered 97 per cent burns in the devastating fire, and died the following day. Altogether, eight people are believed to be dead in the explosion at an illegal fireworks warehouse that sparked a huge fire that engulfed dozens of buildings in the area … Click here.

British author in search of Celina Fernandes, a Goan classmate
13 Apr: Herald. British author Annette Allen is looking for her classmates from her schooldays in Ethiopia. In fact, the search is the subject of her first non-fiction memoir: ‘An Ethiopian Odyssey’, that is helping to raise funds for WaterAid Ethiopia … Among the girls Annette hopes to find, is a Goan, Celina Fernandes. She would be around 56 now, says Annette, and had a sister Elizabeth and brother David. Please visit www.anethiopianodyssey.com for details about Allen’s first book and for a group photograph which includes Celina. 880 words. Click here.

The Mississauga Ladainha. By Roland Francis
13 Apr: GoaNet. Mississauga is home to about 2 million souls with Goans probably no more than 1% of the general population … Ladainha or Ladin is a thanksgiving ritual among the Christians of Goa … My own memories of ladainhas are irreverent … an opportunity to eat the servings of boiled grams with coconut pieces and have the swigs of feni that were liberally dispensed … the Mississauga ladainha was held in the church of Martha and Mary … They prayed too for their beloved Goa, that the rack and ruin they saw on the internet about their Goan earth and they retreated to the church hall for the boiled gram and the hot coffee that had to take the place of the feni … 671 words. Click here.

Goan Expats. By Valmiki Faleiro
13 Apr: Herald. … The community of Non Resident Goans can be divided into two basic classes: NRG-Type 1 and NRG-Type 2. Type 1 is the regular Goan expatriate. He is based somewhere in India, or works on cruise liners, the merchant navy, or is a ‘Gulf Goan’. Type 2 is a class apart. He is invariably settled in a developed country and travels on a foreign passport … he is Goa-bound only at heart. He will never return to Goa on a permanent basis and is loudest in wailing for Goa, never forgetting to pontificate on why and how Goans in Goa need to save Goa! … When a reverse migration starts their kids will curse their parents for having sold the ancestral property in India’s paradise called Goa… 787 words. Click here.

Joaquim D’Silva goes missing at Sea
13 Apr: Times of India. For a fortnight now, ever since their son went missing, the D'Silva family has been swinging between hope and despair. Their 25-year-old son Joaquim, a kitchen hand on an Italian ship, MSC Lirica, was last seen on March 22. The ship was headed to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica … The family alleges that maritime authorities have made no effort to trace Joaquim … Joaquim finally got the job after waiting for two years and paying an agent Rs 2.2 lakh … Click here.

UK: Maria Fernandes: 'Chicken tikka masala' hit by price rise
14 Apr: Times of India. Spiralling prices of food items and stringent immigration rules have prompted several restaurants in the UK to drop the chicken tikka masala - dubbed as the 'Britain's national dish' - from their menus … stringent immigration rules have also made recruitment of chefs from the Indian sub-continent difficult … Maria Fernandes, who chairs the Ethnic Minority Citizens Forum, warned: "Restaurants in high streets will simply disappear. They rely on chefs coming from abroad. The new rules will spell the end of the UK as the recognised capital for high quality, multicultural cuisine." Britain has about 32,000 Indian restaurants and takeaways, and 30,000 Chinese restaurants … 472 words. Click here.

Bahrain: Arthur D'Souza: Artwork display
14 Apr: Gulf Daily News (Bahrain). Bahrain-based Goan artist Arthur D'Souza will host an evening of Goan culture and art at his residence next week. The event, entitled 'A Journey Through Goa,' will showcase Mr D'Souza's art and photography work … Guests will also enjoy Goan foods at the event. Contact Mr D'Souza on 39623381 for details. Click here.

Roy de Souza: ZEDO Expands Operations to Goa
14 Apr: Earth Times. ZEDO, Inc., the world's third largest on-line ad serving solution, is experiencing rapid growth due to increased demands … it has thus opened an office in Goa. There they have hired several senior engineers to speed development of system-wide releases and to expand ZEDO's offerings, which includes a suite of services designed specifically for social networks … ZEDO's CEO and founder is Roy de Souza … To learn more about ZEDO please visit www.zedo.com Full text, 265 words, click here.
This is an opportune moment to congratulate Roy de Souza and Aisha de Sequeira who got married on 5 April 2008. Aisha was featured in GVUK 2007-42 after she was appointed as Morgan Stanley’s head of investment banking in India. For the GVUK Roy de Souza supplement click here.

Australia: Dr Rennie D'Souza: Lovely to be here
14 Apr: The Sydney Morning Herald. Research is lifting the lid on how we can be happy at work … Dr Rennie D'Souza, a fellow at the Australian National University, analysed data from a study of 2000 workers. "… our study showed that stressful work conditions can also create mental health problems for the workforce, resulting in more sick days, more visits to the GP and possibly resulting in reduced productivity," she says 986 words. Click here. Click here.
For a profile of Dr D’Souza (ex-Karachi) click here.

Sasha Gonsalves and Binaca Pereira: Gladrags 2008 runners up
15 Apr: Smashits.com. Karan Ambardhar - A graphic designer from New Delhi and Payal Tarafdaar an aspiring model from Assam were the fortunate ones to win the Gladrags Megamodel and Manhunt contest 2008 … Two other beauties to be crowned at the second and third position were Sasha Gonsalves from Mumbai and Binaca Pereira from Goa respectively. Click here.

Keith Vaz: Gandhi statue to be installed in Leicester City
16 Apr: Sify: Leicester City Council on Tuesday gave its approval to installing a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the multicultural city, ending months of contentious campaign and debate over the merits of the issue … The 3.8 m statue will be located off Belgrave Road … Campaign's lead supporter, Goa-origin Labour MP from Leicester East, Keith Vaz and other MPs led an early day motion in the House of Commons to support the installation of the Gandhi statue. Click here.

Melbourne: Glen Coutinho: When Duty Calls
16 Apr: Herald-Sun (Aus). Mobile phones have become an indispensible part of many people's lives … As Director of Hocking Stewart's Hawthorn branch, Glen Coutinho, 43, needs to be contactable all the time. Which is why he has three - yes three - mobile phones. Glen uses a Nokia for incoming calls, a second Nokia for outgoing calls and a Smartphone for emails … Phones: A Nokia Nseries N95 (for incoming calls); a Nokia 6230i (for outgoing calls) and a Palm Treo 750 Smartphone (for emails). 325 words. Click here.
For a profile of Glen click here.

Floyd Fernandes: Killed in New Zealand Tragedy
16 Apr: TIME. Six students and one teacher from Auckland were drowned when they were washed away by a flash flood … The school released brief profiles of the deceased students … Floyd Fernandes: Floyd was a highly talented musician who was very active in many areas of the school. A humble student who was a good all-rounder and who loved sports. Click here.
17 Apr: New Zealand Herald. … When a production or event at the school needed music, more often than not it was Floyd Fernandes who would provide it on his keyboard or guitar … Click here.
For the Floyd Fernandes My Space profile, click here.

Julio Ribeiro Awarded For Example Of Integrity In Public Life
16 Apr: UCAN. Julio Francis Ribeiro, aged 78, received this year's Dadabhai Naoroji Memorial Award at a function in Mumbai … Ribeiro began his public service in 1953 after training at the police academy … he has survived three attempts on his life. In 1991, four Sikh gunmen fired at him in Bucharest. His guards gunned down two assailants and arrested the other two. Ribeiro said he wanted to meet his attackers in the Romanian jail, but they refused to see him. 625 words. Click here.
For the Wikipedia profile of Julio Ribeiro see Click here.

DEATHS

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

Savio Jon: “You don’t need celebs to sell”
11 Apr: Daily News & Analysis. Savio Jon is in Mumbai to launch his eclectic summer collection at fashion store Zoya. The Goa-based fashion designer explains his ‘rebellious’ stance. “The shows are all about drama…more about the front row than the designers and their clothes. I don’t know what’s the fuss about showstoppers. You don’t need celebs to walk the ramp to sell your clothes. It’s all a big farce. I don’t relate to it,” he says, “My clothes are global — something you can wear with ease anywhere in the world—be in Kolkata, New York, London or Goa, ” he explains. He also comments on the Scarlett Keeling murder. 316 words. Click here.

Goa: Surprise checks at govt departments
12 Apr: Navhind Times. Checks at various government departments in Panaji revealed that there was about 30 per cent absenteeism in three to four departments while in other departments it ranged from 5 to 10 per cent … besides absenteeism many government employees were late in reporting for work … 320 words. Click here.

Government to take up Goa SEZ issue April 30
13 Apr: Economic Times. The Indian government is all set to meet Goa officials and developers after the state government decided to scrap its special economic zones following large-scale protests. "The government has decided to meet officials and SEZ developers from Goa to find a solution to the issue," an official said … 236 words. Click here.

Goa: Gating communities
14 Apr: Herald. Four villages – Carmona, Benaulim, Siridao and Aldona have independently arisen in recent weeks to question proposed mega-housing projects in their areas … Gated communities cater to a specific class only, promising its affluent members a paradise-on-earth; an enclave with a scenic sea or river view, 24-hour water and electricity supply, pool, clubhouse, security and other exclusive amenities … Massive amounts of power and water could be drawn from village resources to satisfy these gated communities … gated communities can also threaten the social fabric of an area. 555 words. Click here.

Russian tourist found dead in Goa guest house
14 Apr: PTI. Kabanov Valdimir, 28, a Russian tourist has been found dead in a guest house at Vagator, north Goa. He had been touring Goa since beginning of this month and had checked in the guest house at Vagator on April 11 … "The door was locked from inside and we went to the spot after receiving a call," a police official stated. "We will be able to know the exact cause of death only after the post-mortem report is out," a police official said … 260 words. Click here.

Power breakdowns irk passengers at Dabolim
15 Apr: Navhind Times. Erratic power supply over the last three days has led to chaotic situation at the Dabolim international airport … airport officials have been forced to run their vital navigational aids and air traffic control on diesel generator sets … The problem is attributed to poor maintenance of the 33 kv feeder that supplies power to naval authorities as well as the airport … all international airports need to have dedicated electrical feeders, but Goa airport has to share power with the naval authorities … 403 words. Click here.

Lord Mayor of London “Goa's infrastructure needs upgradation”
15 Apr: India PR Wire. Lord Mayor of London David Lewis said Tuesday, “Goa is undergoing a tumultuous period. The conflict is between the developmental aspirations on one hand and ecological preservation on the other side.” Addressing a gathering of top-notch business fraternity members here Lewis said that Goa's infrastructure needs upgradation and added that Goan planners have already sought advice from the Advisory Council of London … several financial organisations in Britain have already evinced interest in funding the infrastructure development projects in Goa … 207 words.
The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Mr Alderman David Lewis is currently in India, leading a business delegation, includes around 50 city representatives. Click here.

Spousal sexual violence and poverty: a Study of Women in Goa
15 Apr: Sexually Transmitted Infections. Vol. 84; numb. 2. Page(s) 133-139. Article Title: Spousal sexual violence and poverty are risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women: a longitudinal study of women in Goa, India. By Weiss, H.A.; Patel, V.; West, B.; Peeling, R.W.; Kirkwood, B.R.; Mabey, D. For a summary of the article and links to the full text select the link below. click here.

Of Goans, non Goans and anti-Goans. By Oscar Rebello
16 Apr: Navhind Times. …The most hotly debated topic is the issue of Goan identity today … Goan identity is kaleidoscopic, often chaotic celebration of all the influences that a Goan has so gladly assimilated into the cultural experience of his own … purging a land of the imagined enemy, the outsider to cleanse it, is an abominable stream of thought that has mercifully been buried with Hitler, Idi Amin and Milosevic … What we, the people of Goa, need to do is purge ourselves of our avarice, our prejudices, our hatreds and our propensity to break the rules … 661 words. Click here.

Washing away miseries
16 Apr: One World. Swift Wash is a laundry service manned by rehabilitated female sex workers from the Baina beach — Goa’s notorious red light area that was partially demolished in 2004. They are trying to wash away their past, iron out the painful creases and looking at a ‘clean’ future. 916 words. Click here.

Goa airport: Low voltage burns AC unit
17 Apr. The Navhind Times. The international as well as domestic passengers at Dabolim Airport had to face traumatic conditions due to the non-functioning of the air conditioning plants … airport sources say that the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities has badly affected the functioning of the airport and this could give a bad impression to tourists arriving in the state … the damage to the AC plant could take another week or so to restore … 239 words. Click here.

The Dhirio Debate: Editorial
17 Apr: Herald. Regardless of how many battalions of the India Reserve Battalion the government may claim to have deployed to stop the traditional Goan sport of dhirio or bullfights from taking place, these events will continue surreptitiously, because they are enormously popular with the people of Goa … 580 words. Click here.

IN THE NEWS

Goan manufacturer promises frugal roadster for UK distribution
11 Apr: Auto Industry. A two-seater convertible called Storm built by San, a manufacturer based in Goa is to be shown at this year’s British International Motor Show, before being offered for sale by the Sussex-based specialist sports car retailer Dream Machines. Priced from £9,995, it will be cheaper (and slower) than the Lotus, Marcos and TVR cars offered by Dream Machines … Click here.

Intoxicating Voyages. By Marc de Souza
12 Apr: Herald. It warms the cockles of my heart to recall the emotions churned up by the British India (BI) vessels of the ‘D’ class - the steamships Dara, Dumra, Daressa and Dwarka. They plied between Bombay and Basra, calling at intermediary ports like Karachi, Muscat, Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others until finally docking at Basra, Iraq … Click here.

Government to tackle problem of British-Asian Women Drinkers
11 Apr: Eastern Eye (UK). The trend of British-Asian women between the ages of 17 and 40 who drink has reached crisis point … desi women often drink at home in secret to escape problems such as domestic violence … The NHS Statistics on Alcohol> England 2007 reported that five per cent of Indian women drank more than three to four per units on at least one day, while three per cent drank more than six to eight units on at least one day … 784 words. Click here.

India-Africa summit fosters development
14 Apr: The New Vision (Uganda). President Yoweri Museveni attended the India/Africa Partnership Summit Forum in New Delhi last week. In his speech he said …The relationship between India and Africa spans centuries back … The Portuguese, in the 16th Century, imported Goan workers to build Fort Jesus, where their trade was based. The Asians in Uganda came as labourers for the building of the East African Railway in the year 1890 … Policy mistakes made by African leaders in the 1950s, 60s and 70s have cost the continent in terms of development … Idi Amin, for instance, made the unfortunate move of expelling the Indian community who had made Uganda their home, because he did not see the usefulness of the private sector in the economy … 1056 words. Click here.

Actress Shriya Saran wants to go nude in Goa
15 Apr: India Target (NY). Actress Shriya has a hot desire to go Goa and do you know why? She says that she considers that to be the best place for enjoyment as no one questions if anyone goes nude there. She implies that every single woman needs to have freedom of expressing her freedom in her own way and Goa is the best place for that. 129 words. Click here.
For photographs of Shriya, click here.

Chennai: Spicy Goa for the foodies
15 Apr: NewIndPress. The only thing that was missing in the Navaratna restaurant in Le Royal Meridien was the Goa beach! The restaurant had all that looked fitting for a Goan food festival. Goa is not just famous for its beaches but also for its people who are always ready to party and have fun … Chef Edna Cotta, who was specially flown down from Goa for the food festival, prepares the dishes herself and makes everyone succumb to enchanting Goa … The Goan food festival is on in Navaratna restaurant at Le Royal Meridien till April 20. 472 words + photo of Edia Cotta. Click here.

Florida: Tampa: Saffron Adds Spice to Area Eateries
16 Apr: Tampa Tribune. Sunita Chheda's father was the chef in the family, but she learned to cook from her mother … her mother's specialties from the Goan region of India, where they lived fill the menu of her new restaurant, Saffron … Saffron is a family affair. Chheda's three brothers are business partners … Chheda adapted her traditional Goan fish curry by utilizing local seafood. Another Goan specialty, vindaloo, uses a vinegar-based sauce with chili paste, spices, ginger and garlic. The spicy lamb xacuti shows Indian and Portuguese influences. "We use a lot of spices because we slow cook the lamb to make it really tender," Chheda said … Saffron Indian Cuisine is at 10044 Cross Creek Blvd. Call (813) 600-3315. 456 words. Click here.

Sun, sea and beer can’t compete with SuDoku for British team
17 Apr: The Times (UK). Goa is sweltering. It is 36C (96.8F) and the humidity is off the scale. British and Russian tourists are slowly going lobster-red by the pool at the Holiday Inn Resort. But inside an air-conditioned hall 89 people have their heads bent over grids of numbers … These people are here to solve SuDoku … The Holiday Inn was the exotic venue for the third World Sudoku Championships, where the greatest puzzlers, from 31 countries, gathered to fight it out over two days for individual and team honours … 908 words. Click here.

Cops to contact missing French cyclist's friends
17 Apr: Daily News & Analysis. Jean Baptiste Talleu went missing from Mumbai in Dec 2007 while on a world tour. As a part of police investigations to trace Jean Baptiste Talleu, 26, the French adventure-cyclist who is believed to have gone missing in December last year, the Mumbai police now plan to contact friends and acquaintances he had in the city … Talleu's relatives said he was likely to head toward Puducherry in Tamil Nadu or Goa … 346 words. Click here.
For a photograph and description of Jean Talleu

SCARLETT KEELING MUDER

Fiona Mackeown to take on cop-mafia nexus
11 Apr: The Telegraph (UK). When the body of Scarlett Keeling was found in Goa many believed her family's unconventional lifestyle was to blame. Cassandra Jardine meets her mother… she wears Scarlett's vests and T-shirts in order to feel closer to her … She wants to bury Scarlett on the smallholding, return to India for the trial, and set up a fund in her daughter's name to help others battle for justice against a police force which, she believes, connives with the drug mafia in Goa to suppress the truth about tourist deaths. 1991 words. Click here.

Murder on the beach. By Ratiksha Baxi
11 Apr: Sur (Spain). The Goa Chief Minister's remarks in the aftermath of the rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling are illustrative of forms of what could be termed as "pornographic governance" in India. Pornography makes rape look like raunchy sex, and murder like a sexy accident. Pornographic governance fudges rape statistics, obfuscates patterns of systemic violence and grants impunity to those who sustain such forms of violence to make rape look like sex. (The writer is Assistant Professor, Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Delhi.). 1042 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: “Death may have been suicidal”
11 Apr: PTI. Placido Carvalho and Julio Lobo who are accused in the death Scarlett Keeling may file a defamation suit against her mother Fiona Mackeown. "My clients are exploring the possibility of filing a defamation suit against Fiona along with Goa police and the media," Adv Jose Peter D’Souza, a lawyer representing them told PTI … He said while Carvalho was being mentioned in connection with drug peddling, a defamation suit would be filed against allowing Scarlett's diary, which speaks of Lobo's alleged illicit relations, to be made public … The lawyer said, "There is every possibility that the death may be accidental. She may have fell down and rolled over, or even the death may be suicidal as one can see from her diary scraps which shows suicidal picture … D'Souza also said the police should investigate the role of British eye witness Michael Mannion who was present at the shack … For full text, 350 words, click here.
19 Mar: Zee News. … Mannion has said that he was asked to leave Goa by his lawyer, Jose Peter D'Souza … Click here.

Scarlett Keening: Fiona Mackeown in love split
13 Apr: Sunday Mirror (UK). Fiona Mackeown, 43, the mother of Scarlett Keening has split from Rob Clarke, 47, the boyfriend who took her and eight of her kids on their tragic trip to Goa. Former shopkeeper Mr Clarke, who has now returned to Launceston in Cornwall, said: "It all went wrong in India before and after her death. Too many mouths and not enough money coming in." 175 words. Click here.

Video + text: Scarlett dead, mother gone, questions remain
12 Apr: CNN-IBN … The confessions of the accused are also not admissible in Court, as they weren't recorded before a magistrate … “The press don’t know what to ask. As long as they sell, even if it's a bunch of lies told by the IGP, it will carry that,” says Defense Lawyer, Jose Peter D'Souza … It seems that somewhere between all investigations, the truth has been successfully buried. … 2m.07s 525 words. Click here.

Goa witness alleges police harassment
17 Apr: The Guardian. The key witness in the Scarlett Keeling case claims he has not been allowed to leave Goa and has accused the police of a campaign of harassment. Michael Mannion, 35, a carpenter from London, came out of hiding to tell police he saw Samson D'Souza, on top of the teenager outside a beach bar hours before she died. He said, “I turned up and showed that the investigation was fudged. So they want to get back at me by keeping me here." 342 words. Click here.
For a video clip of Mannion’s interview click here.

Scarlett's Mum finds a Soul Sister
17 Apr. Western Daily Press (Bristol, UK). Fiona MacKeown has spoken of the strength given to her by Amanda Bennett who suffered a similar loss less than 18 months ago … Amanda’s brother Stephen was found hanging from a mango tree … Initially, police said Mr Bennett, from Cheltenham, had committed suicide, then claimed he was a drug addict and even questioned his sexual orientation. Police later stated he had been killed by locals after they mistook him for a sex attacker … Fiona said, "Even when I was getting criticised, Amanda was there telling me they were idiots and giving me a shoulder to cry on … Her advice and support has been absolutely brilliant. She has been amazing at researching and getting information for me; it has been truly invaluable … Ms Bennett said, “ … I also told her to try to get the body home to England and to record everything the Indian police say because they will deny it the next day.” 892 words. Click here.

SCARLETT KEELING MISSING BODY PARTS

Scarlett’s vital organs removed entirely, says UK autopsy
13 Apr: My News.in: By Vinod Kumar Menon. The vital organs - kidneys, stomach and uterus of Scarlett Keeling are missing. This fact came to light when forensic pathologist Dr Gayan Fernando attached to the Coroner’s court in Devon, UK, opened Scarlett’s body to conduct a third autopsy. Her mother said, “I am shocked to learn about her missing organs” … The absence of kidneys makes testing for drugs more difficult … the lack of a uterus makes it difficult to take DNA samples to prove if and who sexually assaulted her … the body had also been embalmed from the inside out and this greatly affected the ease in getting clear samples to test. 1075 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: Missing Vital Organs Other Reports
14 Apr: CNN-IBN. Goan forensic experts said there is no foul play … Goan forensic professionals said that in case of any Indian dying in UK, the body is sent without any vital organs or viscera. Click here.
14 Apr: Navhind Times. Goan authorities say that there is nothing fishy about the organs and everything has been documented and as per procedure. Click here.
14 Apr: Times of India. By Preetu Nair. Fiona MacKeown says, “I have decided to return to India within a week. I haven’t given up.” … Fiona is even considering asking for a copy of the video of the second autopsy to find out when the organs were removed … "Removing body parts is a normal procedure in India, as we don’t have sophisticated equipment," said a forensic doctor on condition of anonymity. "But once the body is removed and the required sample collected and documented, the remaining part is put back. This appears not to have been done in Scarlett’s case." Click here.
14 Apr: Herald (Goa). … a senior doctor suspects that the doctors who conducted the second autopsy may have removed the uterus along with remaining pieces of organs and sent them for histopathological and chemical analysis findings. Approximately 400 grams of organ samples were sent … Click here.
14 Apr: Melbourne Herald Sun. … forensic experts in Goa dismissed suspicions of foul play … "We sealed everything and gave it to the police," said a forensic expert who was part of the team that conducted the second autopsy … Click here.
14 Apr: The Daily Telegraph (UK). A spokesman for the Exeter and Greater Devon coroner confirmed that a third post mortem had been carried out but said that results would not be released for six to eight weeks. Devon and Cornwall police declined to comment [on reports about missing vital organs]. Click here.

Taking out organs is routine: Docs
15 Apr: Asian Age. By Pamela D’Mello. Senior pathologists at the Goa Medical College said there was no mystery to the missing internal organs … "All these accusations are flying around in unofficial statements. If we are officially asked to account for it, we will. All I can say is that the kidneys, stomach and uterus and parts of internal organs were taken out and preserved as viscera and sent for further tests," said a senior pathologist at the GMC … 266 words. Click here.

No parts of Scarlett’s body missing
15 Apr: Navhind Times. The Goa Medical College and Hospital authorities have firmly ruled out possibility of vital organs of Scarlett Keeling going missing, adding that it was a routine practice under forensic autopsies to remove pieces of vital organs and send them for examination at different places. 912 words. Click here.

Video + Test: 'Why are Scarlett's body parts missing?'
15 Apr: CNN-IBN. Recent autopsy reports said that many of Scarlett Keeling’s vital organs were missing. In an exclusive to CNN-IBN, Scarlett’s mother, Fiona Mckeown has expressed her shock over the reports. 1m. 56s. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: body parts not missing, being preserved: Goa Govt
15 Apr: Zee News. Facing new allegations over vital organs missing from rape and murder victim Scarlett Keeling, the Goa government on Tuesday said there was no cover up and said the body parts were preserved for investigations … the Goa government had no intention of stopping Scarlett's mother Fiona Mackeown from coming back to India from the UK … this statement is in contrast to the stand taken by state Home Minister Ravi Naik who had said they would object to issuance of Visa to Fiona … 315 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: Vital Organs to be Destroyed in India
15 Apr: Boston Globe. Organs from the body of murdered British teenager Scarlett Keeling were removed for tests and will be destroyed soon, Indian police said on Tuesday … A fresh autopsy in Britain this month showed that Keeling's uterus, pancreas, both kidneys and spleen were missing … Authorities in Goa said the organs were safe in a laboratory there and would be destroyed after medical tests. Police officer Bosco George said the organs would be destroyed after all the tests were completed. "There is no question of sending them back now," he said. 383 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: Organs removed in Goa
16 Apr: Hindustan Times. … medical practice in India is to remove a slice for testing — not the entire organ. "You only need to take 100g samples in total of all organs put together for testing — the uterus, spleen, kidney, liver and stomach," said Dr Rukmani Krishnamurthy, director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Kalina … Police in Goa say they will not return the organs … Family lawyer Vikram Varma is considering legal action … 348 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: 'Indian autopsies absolutely illegal'
16 Apr: Times of India. Swedish forensic experts have said the two autopsies carried out in India on the body of Scarlett Keeling were "absolutely illegal" … Swedish autopsy expert Per Arne Schedin said: “It is not just incredible, but absolutely illegal, the way they (Indian officials) have proceeded in their 'modus operandi' of abducing the poor girl's body … What the Indian pathologists claim is most confounding …” 606 words. Click here.

Where are Scarlett’s organs?
17 Apr: Mid Day. Although Goa Chief Secretary J P Singh, said in a media statement on Tuesday, that Scarlett Keeling’s organs were not missing as the Goa Medical College had preserved them after the autopsy, officials at the State Forensic Sciences Laboratory, in Santacruz, Mumbai say they have disposed them off after the Goa police had sent the organs to Mumbai for viscera analysis … 403 words. Click here.

GOANET HIGHLIGHTS BY CORNEL DACOSTA

If terminal 5 at Heathrow airport has had innumerable problems and even featured on the cover page of the prestigious Economist weekly magazine, as an example of things going badly wrong in Britain, spare a thought for the passengers at Dabolim airport, Goa, where electricity supplies have been interrupted for days on end and the heat has been unbearable without air-conditioning for this time of year.

An article supplied to Goanet by Ruby Goes and titled Booming India Draws NRI (Non Resident Indians) Docs Home, tells us that large numbers of doctors who had gone to work abroad from India are now returning home. In the last three month alone, it is estimated that 60,000 have returned from the UK and the USA alone. Among the reasons for this phenomenon are that working conditions in India have improved dramatically with the installation of much modern equipment and improved infrastructure. Two other main reasons seem to be that career progression in the West is not seen in a favourable light, and of course, many doctors now prefer to raise their families in an Indian culture rather than in a Western one. The Indian Government has also made a concerted effort to draw highly skilled personnel back to India.

The overseas Jews/Israelis often end a social get-together with the sentiment expressed "next time in Jerusalem" and a question has been raised whether the Goans might relish saying "next time in Old Goa"? Some fairly interesting commentary has arisen on this topic and Goan Voice (UK) readers are encouraged to participate in this discussion.

Should there be a differential rate for entry to museums and other sites of interest in Goa/India depending on whether one is a local person or a foreigner? Several irate posters question such a practise with examples of their bad experiences. However, even local people may be mistaken for Non Resident Indians and charged exorbitant entry fees. Although this issue was raised previously on GV(UK), nothing concrete appears to have been done and decisions on what entry rules apply appear to be arbitrary and left to lowly officials at the entrance gate.

For some time, on Goanet there has been a 'fierce' discussion about caste among the Catholic Goans in Goa and in the Goan Diaspora. This discussion has taken a new slant with the question---Is the destructiveness of caste a myth? This has drawn many caste adherents/apologists into the fray with the anti-casteists on the opposite side of the discussion. Here too is an excellent opportunity for GV(UK) readers to pitch into this discussion.

Finally, the prospects of Gated Communities emerging in Goa appears to be very real. Gated Communities that are quite common in America, and increasingly so in parts of India, tend to be exclusive residences constructed as part of a mega-project that includes many recreational facilities. The communities living there tend to be secluded from the rest of the local community and protected by a substantial fence and security guards. Such developments appeared to have been surreptitiously explored for the villages of Carmona, Benaulim, Siridao and Aldona but when the local people got wind of these plans, they were able to put a temporary stop to such schemes. There is a very detailed explanation about the pros and cons of such developments and the article on Gated Communities in Goa is definitely well worth reading.

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DOCUMENTARY: Death: BBC 1
Sat. 19th Apr: 01:15 to 02:15. Historian and writer Dan Cruickshank comes face-to-face with death itself in Varanasi in India, a sacred Hindu town where people come to die.

DOCUMENTARY: Focus: BBC 2
Mon. 21st Apr. 10:30 to 10:50. Citizenship: Minorities - Black and British. Programme looking at racism, what it is, what its effects are and why it is so harmful.

FILM: Murder Unveiled. True Movies
Mon, 21st Apr. 12:30 to 14:30. Based on a true story. A young woman runs away to India to be with the man she loves. But soon she is in fear of her life. 2005.

DOCUMENTARY: Asian Network Report. BBC Radio Asian Network
Mon. 21st Apr. 18:30 to 19:00. Investigations and special reports from the Asian Network team.

DOCUMENTARY: Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts. BBC 3
Tue. 22nd Apr. 21:00 to 22:00. Six young fashion lovers visit the backstreet workshops of India to learn how the clothes they wear are manufactured.

CHAT SHOW: Night Waves. BBC Radio Three
Tue. 22nd Apr. 21:45 to 22:30. Isabel Hilton is joined by former editor of The Economist Bill Emmott to consider Japan's role alongside China and India in a newly emerging world order.

MAGAZINE PROGRAMME: Desi DNA. BBC 2
Wed. 23rd Apr. 23:20 to 23:50. The Great British Curry Trail. Featuring Manchester's Curry Mile, a budding entrepreneur in Bradford and the world's hottest curry in Newcastle, asking: is the chicken tikka masala really from Glasgow?

TRAVEL: Yatra. Travel Channel.
Thu. 24th Apr. 14:30 to 15:00. Agra, Kerala, Goa and Melas … Leisure Zone explores Goa, famous for its wonderful beaches and Portuguese-inspired culture.

CONSUMER: Jewels of the Taj. Ideal World
Thu. 24th Apr. Time: 23:00 to 00:00. This exquisite collection of jewelry features intricate designs and filigree work.

FORTHCOMING

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

SOLD OUT Sun 4 May. 12:30pm- Cortalim Union (UK) 30th Jubilee Celebrating the Feast of Sts. Philip and James … Holy Mass followed by the social. Music provided by Nite Life. Also hosting the May Queen and May King. Smart dress essential.

Sun 4 May. 2pm. Croydon. Archbishop Lanfranc School Hall, Mitcham Road. Wembley Goans U.K presents “American Ghorkar” Konkani Tiatr. A Tribute to Alfred Rose. PROFESSIONAL CAST FROM GOA. The artistes are: Director, Menino De Band; Legendary Rita Rose, Antonette De Calangute, Comedy Queen Janet, London Favorite Kenny, Bab Andrew, Goans Choice Francis De Tuem, Rising Star Master Junior Chico, Master Character Ben Evangelisto and the Guinness Record holder, Norman Cardozo. Contact Nina Pinto 020 8767 0663 or Tony 020 8795 1121, 0783 4639 420. For flyer click here.

Sun 4 May. Saligao Association (UK) Celebrates our patron, Mae de Deus, with Holy Mass at 12 noon followed by May Feast function till 8pm at the Ursuline High School, Crescent Road, Wimbledon SW20 8HA. Enjoy good music with the sounds of MeloTones & Disco plus children's entertainment and good food with lunch, snacks & afters by the popular Viva Goa !, Formal dress please. Tickets are (£18 (adults), £16 (11-18yrs), £11 (2-10yrs), under 2 free, ALL WELCOME. Contact Zemira 01895 259947, Lucia 0208 670 4023, Ros 0208 542 0528 or go to www.SaligaoUK.com

Sat 10 May. 6 pm. Swindon. Punjab Community Hall. Wembley Goans U.K presents “American Ghorkar” Konkani Tiatr. A Tribute to Alfred Rose. PROFESSIONAL CAST FROM GOA. The artistes are: Director, Menino De Band; Legendary Rita Rose, Antonette De Calangute, Comedy Queen Janet, London Favorite Kenny, Bab Andrew, Goans Choice Francis De Tuem, Rising Star Master Junior Chico, Master Character Ben Evangelisto and the Guinness Record holder, Norman Cardozo. Contact Peter Bala 0751 553 1092. For flyer click here.

Sun 11 May. Margao Union UK – Feast of THE HOLY SPIRIT. Mass at St. Boniface Church, 185 Mitcham Road, Tooting, at 1.30pm. thereafter a get-together at the Church Hall. Price including snacks and buffet £ 10.00. Band “DIMENSION”. Contact: Bella-020 8372 1253, Rosalind-020 8767 8652, Lucas-020 8967 7471, Agnela-020 8646 6996

Sun.11 May BMX REUNION (Ex Students of Britto's, St Mary's and Xavier's) 1.30pm to 8pm at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Proceeds will go to worthy causes. Everyone is welcome. For tickets contact - Bernie Gracias 020 8723 1322, Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 8771 4457, Ilona Fernandes 020 8300 5347, Proto Carvalho 020 8640 3135, Jaime Rodrigues 020 8684 0456, Liz Coutinho 020 8647 6387. For the flyer click here.

Sun 18 May. 2 pm. Wembley. Copland School Hall. Wembley Goans U.K presents “American Ghorkar” Konkani Tiatr. A Tribute to Alfred Rose. PROFESSIONAL CAST FROM GOA. The artistes are: Director, Menino De Band; Legendary Rita Rose, Antonette De Calangute, Comedy Queen Janet, London Favorite Kenny, Bab Andrew, Goans Choice Francis De Tuem, Rising Star Master Junior Chico, Master Character Ben Evangelisto and the Guinness Record holder, Norman Cardozo. Contact Tony 020 87951 121, 0783 4639 420 or Felix 020 8421 5542, 0798 545 7108. For flyer click here.

Sun. 18 May. Goan Chaplaincy Day. Thanksgiving Mass at 1.15 pm followed by a social get together at Archbishop Lanfranc School Hall, Mitcham Road, Croydon. CR9 3AS. Music by Rainbow's End. Tickets: Adult £15.00* Child £ 7.50* *Early Bird Discount (Adult £ 12.00/ Child £6.00) if completed form and cheques are received latest by Wednesday, 30th April 2008. For forms and other information please contact the Goan Chaplaincy on 020 8665 2176. Tickets include snacks and food. Email- goanchaplaincy@yahoo.co.uk
Donations and Raffle Prizes will be greatly appreciated. Cheques should be addressed to 'Goan Chaplaincy'

Sat 31 May. 7pm. GOA Anniversary and May Ball. Wandsworth Civic Suite. Crowning of May Queen and May King. Music by Mellow Tones and Nite Life. Further details from Norma Menezes Rahim 020 8771 4457 Rosy De Souza 020 8677 0390 Rose Remedios 020 8658 7769 Claire De Souza 01784 421421 and Bernie Gracias 020 8723 1322. For full details click here.

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