COMMUNITY NEWS

Dr Philomena de Lima: Focus on minority groups
21 Apr: The Press and Journal (Aberdeen, Scotland). The challenges faced by minority groups who live in rural communities will be the topic of a lecture in Aberdeen … During the talk Dr de Lima will discuss why minority groups face issues such as isolation and a loss of identity depending on where they live. For details of her presentation click here.
Dr de Lima is the daughter of Nelly and the late Victor of Entebbe and she has two sons. For a profile of Dr de Lima, click here.

Canada: Darryl Da Costa 'No rats' T-shirts
21 Apr: The Edmonton Sun (Canada). Darryl Da Costa. then-acting city police chief, found the now-notorious "no rats" T-shirts worn by some downtown cops at a slo-pitch tournament so entertaining that he pointed them out to other senior brass, according to Det. Dave Pelech who designed them… Da Costa asked him what it meant, and Pelech said when he explained it meant "no rats," the acting chief told a team made up of senior brass, which included the then-head of the Internal Affairs section… 599 words. Click here.
For a Goan Voice Supplement on Darryl Da Costa click here.

Collien Fernandes: Appointed to YoumeU Board

Click to enlarge

21 Apr: Life PR. Collien Fernandes, aged 27, has been appointed 'Vice President Communications' on the board of the Swiss media company YoumeU … VIVA presenter Collien Fernandes had sometimes acted as an ambassador of the casting platform YoumeU.com which operates the largest online casting platform in the German-speaking countries… For a machine translation of the German original, click here.
For links to Collien Fernandes’ bios, photos and video clips click here.

Rowena Pinto: Cosmetic pesticide legislation becomes reality in Ontario
22 Apr: Canadian Newswire. A ban on the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides becomes reality today … "We congratulate the Ontario government for taking the lead in cancer prevention by protecting Ontarians from the health risks associated with the use of cosmetic pesticides," says Rowena Pinto, Senior Director, Ontario Provincial Office, Canadian Cancer Society. Click here.
Rowena was born in Montreal though her grandparents were from Goa and her father grew up in Pakistan

The Goan legacy... living on in Uganda
23 May: GoaNet Reader. They owned bakeries, bars and contributed significantly to Uganda's civil service, education and economy. When President Idi Amin ordered Asians out of Uganda in 1972, many Goans were allowed to stay, but only a handful remained… their legacy lives on, Esther Namugoji writes. [The article originally appeared in New Vision on: Saturday, November 8, 2008]. 1773 words. Click here.

Clarence Fernandes: Rwanda: 'One Dollar Campaign'
24 Apr: New Times (Rwanda). The Mumbai-based non-profit organisation, Rwanda Renaissance, is on track to launch the 'One Dollar Campaign' in India. Rwanda Renaissance Chairman, Clarence Fernandes, said the idea to come into close contact with the Rwandan people came last year when he attended the first East African Investment Conference in Kigali… 382 words. Click here.
Clarence was born in Mumbai and traces his Goan roots to Salvador-do-Mundo and Saligao. For the Rwanda Renaissance website (though still under construction) with video, photos etc. click here.

Aires Rodrigues Death Threat: Court directs police to charge Minister
24 Apr: UNI. A city court today directed the Old Goa Police to investigate into the 'threat to kill' case filed by the social activist advocate Aires Rodrigues and file a chargesheet against the Health Minister Viswajeet Rane as per the undertaking the police had given to the High Court of Bombay at Goa. 374 words. Click here.
For a GVUK profile with photos of Aires Rodrigues (ex Canada & UK) click here.

Don't forget Eunice de Souza
25 Apr: the Guardian (UK). By Clive Brasnett. … Some years ago this splendid poet [Eunice de Souza] delighted participants at the Ilkley festival with readings from her collection Women in Dutch Painting before reaching a wider audience on Radio Three. Then, eight years ago, she surprised us all by bringing out the short novel Dangerlok, unique in that it shows the city of Mumbai… Click here.
Eunice de Souza used to be Head of the Department of English in St Xavier's College, Mumbai. She is now retired. For a Wikipedia profile of her, click here.

Patricia Rozario The Rest is Noise
27 Apr: Irish Times. Music of Alexander Knaifel is presented by Drogheda Borough Council, in association with Louth Contemporary Music Society, for Drogheda Arts Festival at St Peter’s Church of Ireland, Drogheda, this Fri, May 1, at 8pm. Performers are Patricia Rozario (soprano)… Booking: www.ctb.ie For the GVUK Patricia Rozario supplement click here.

Goans worst racists?
27 Apr: Herald. By Ulla Quiterio. “I was born and brought up in Sweden and have been married to a Goan for the last 35 years. We have been settled in Goa for the last 13 years, and I have never experienced such racism as in Goa… I hear “decent” educated people talking about sending people from another state back home… Almost every Goan family has one member or more working in another country… 294 words. Click here.

Dr Samir Heble: How to be healthy, feel great - now
29 Apr: Taranaki Daily News (New Zealand). Dr Samir Heble, 37, works for the Taranaki District Health Board and is one of the youngest clinical directors of mental health in New Zealand. He came to New Zealand seven years ago from Goa. "I was seeing the different types of illnesses in the Western cultures and I felt the treatments we were doing were helping some but not everybody." He thought something from the Eastern cultures might be helpful … Photo and text, 1324 words. Click here.

London: Maya De Souza: Local Councillor In The Making
29 Apr: Camden. The country’s first national BAME Women Councillor Shadowing Scheme was launched exclusively at Camden Town Hall … The event aimed to bring Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women into local government… Cllr Maya de Souza has been a councillor on Camden Council for three years. She has a keen interest in social and environmental issues and has championed proposals on sustainability for the area of Camden. She works full time as a senior manager in the civil service. For full text click here.
Maya De Souza (ex-Nairobi) is the daughter of Fitz and Romola; Sister of Veena, Mark and Roy. For a profile of her click here.

DEATHS

29 Apr: Navelim, Goa. EUTIMIO HENRIQUE FERNANDES (Born 1929; Ex-Tanga-Tanzania). Husband of late Raquel Greta. Father of Elvis/Angelica, Eileen/Dominic, Joan/late Gabriel Fernandes, Ruth/Morgan and Reynold. Brother of Sylvester/Antonett, Tony/Bertha (Dar-es-Salaam), late Cassiano/Olga, late Teodolina/Benn. Son of late Menino Francisco Rosario Fernandes/late Maria Felecidade Almeida. Funeral 30 Apr. in Navelim.

28 Apr: Mombasa, Kenya. IRENE RODRIGUES. Funeral on Thu. 30 Apr. Mass at the Makupa Church @3pm followed by Burial at the Kisauni Cemetery. [Ifo from Maureen De Souza]

25 Apr: Toronto, Canada. JOVITO RODRIGUES (Born 1956, Ex Dramapur). Husband of Ditoza. Father of Garry, Jarred and Jessica. Funeral will be held in Dramapur. Visitation in Toronto will take place on April 30, 2009 from 6pm-9pm, at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home, 8911 Woodbine Avenue, Markham. www.chapelridgefh.com/ For more info, contact gary_rod86@hotmail.com

25 Apr: Leigh-On-Sea, Essex, UK. VERA DE SOUZA (ex Zanzibar/Tanga, Tanzania). Wife of Henry. Mother of Kelvin, Louisa and Amanda. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course. Condolences to kjfdesouza@yahoo.co.uk

Click to enlarge

25 Apr. Unionville, Ont. Canada. ASHLEY PIRES (ex-Tanga, Tanzania). Beloved husband of Shirley. Loving father to Richard. Devoted son to Alfred and the late Olga Pires. Brother of Alan (Levita), Audie (Safira), Christopher (Louella). Brother-in-law of Beads (Simon), Maria (Bosco), Delia, Joyce, Efrem (Mary), Anthony (Veda), Ivette (Sherwin), Elswick (Pam). Viewing at Highland Funeral Home on Tue April 28, from 2-4 PM and 6-9:00PM. The Funeral will be held at St. Justin Martyr Parish, on Wed April 29, at 10:30 AM. The reception will be held thereafter at Highland Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Condolences to spires at rogers.com. Info from Stephen de Souza. For more details, click here.

24 Apr: Streatham, London. MRS ROSE SANTA MARIA. (Ex Byculla, Bombay). Wife of the late Dr. John Santamaria. Mother of Dr Sheila Menezes, Drs. Brenda/Oscar Viegas, Drs. Neil/Shanti Santamaria, and Ian/Ruby Santamaria. Funeral Mass on 6 May at 10.00am at 143, Central Hill, Upper Norwood, London, SE19 1RT. Burial – 11.30am at Streatham Park Cemetery, Rowan Road SW16 5JG. No flowers please only Masses to be offered for her Soul. Condolences to Sheila.santamaria@googlemail.com or neilsantmaria@hotmail.com

24 Apr: Nuvem, Goa. MARIA ESPERANCE D’COSTA (Born 1939. Wife of late Roque. Mother of Pobre/Agusta (Dubai), Wilson/Jeanette (Dubai), Pauline/Cajie (London), Albina/Andrew (London), Ines/Felix, Sandra/Inacio.

22 Apr: Ponda, Goa. HILDA MASCARENHAS (Born 1992). Daughter of Sebastiao A Mascarenhas/Rosada M Palha e Mascarenhas (Swindon. UK). Sister of Blaise (Swindon, UK). Funeral in Ponda on 25 Apr.

14 Apr: Thornton Heath, London. GREGORY FERNANDES (ex-Nairobi). His wife Candy and family would like to thank everyone for their warm wishes and condolences. Funeral on Wed. 29 Apr. 10 am at St Mary's Church, 70 Wellesley Road, West Croydon. CR0 2AR followed by a burial service at Streatham Park Cemetery at 11.30. The family would prefer that donations be made to the British Heart Foundation in lieu of floral tributes. Please email nigeldias@gmail.com for more details.

Gaby Goes: Month’s Mind:
16 May: Mississauga 16 May: 10 am. Month's mind mass for Gabriel Goes at Merciful Redeemer Parish, 2775 Erin Centre Blvd, Mississauga, L5M W2, 905-812-0030. Followed by a reception at South Common Community Centre, Arbor Green Room, 2233 South Millway, Mississauga, L5L 3H7.

WHO THE BLEEP CARES?
Weekly column by Selma Carvalho.

Who the Bleep cares about Goan weddings?

I'm back in muggy Goa to attend a wedding in the family.

There is something about the big, fat, Goan wedding which never loses its charms. It is the one time when most of our traditions, however symbolic and merely ceremonial they maybe at this point in time, are still largely retained. One tradition which doesn't get as much press as the bikaranche jevonn, is the unveiling of the trousseau. For the wedding purist, this ritual has a specific set of rules that have to be religiously followed otherwise you're guaranteed to incur the wrath of at least one wedding party.

It begins months earlier when the girl faithfully buys some crochet thread and begins making doilies. The appearance of a young maiden sitting on the veranda, embroidering on white cloth which later turn into pillow cases with the words, Goodnight Darling, daintily appearing on them, is a sure sign that the parents are getting ready to find her a suitable match. A visit to the carpenter is a confirmation to the neighbours that a match has been found and a date fixed; for a good solid teak-wood cupboard is an indispensable part of the trousseau. Once the date has been set, the mother will scour the Goan markets from Panjim to Margao in search of dress materials, talcum powder, pears soaps and handkerchiefs. Everything to make her daughter's life comfortable in the first year of marriage.

On the day the trousseau leaves the father's house, a viewing for the neighbours will be arranged to display the girl's talents, which would have been greatly aided and embellished by her mother. A dour looking neighbour is almost always expected to head this delegation of evaluators, who with pursed lips will whisper just loud enough to be heard by everyone in the room, "kaim dio'na." This comment is anticipated and deftly countered a well-placed relative who will lavish praise on the girl's culinary skills or musical talents, in an equally conspiratorial but audible voice.

Apart from the trousseau and often quite independent of it but forming part of the dowry, would be an ensemble of copper cooking utensils; shining, gleaming and waiting for a new life in an entirely different household. A much sought after item in this copper-gleaming offering in the days of yore was the motke, a huge vessel used for heating the bath water and placed just near the nani. Also accompanying the trousseau will be gifts of bol, a sweetish bread, doce and bananas, which will be distributed to the groom's neighbours.

The trousseau will usually leave the house about mid-morning accompanied by uncles or aunts. The idea is to arrive well in time, for a lunch is expected by the accompanying party at the groom's house. Before the trousseau is placed inside the cupboard, it is again displayed so that the groom's parents have an opportunity to view the contents and make appropriate comments about the father's generosity.

Once the cupboard takes its place in the appropriate bedroom, it stands there in silent witness to years of married life; the joy, the tears, the triumphs and the occasional turbulence. When my grandmother passed away we brought her trousseau cupboard to our new home. Old and weather worn, it is nonetheless more than eighty years old now. If only its doors would open up and tell us of all the secrets that have been stored in it during the course of its life.

Do leave your feedback at carvalho_sel@yahoo.com

TRAVEL & TOURISM NEWS:

Catamarans to boost Goa’s water tourism
22 Apr: Financial Chronicle. If the Goan government has its way, catamaran cruises are all set to be the latest rage in Goa. Babus soon hope to see tourists spend their days indulging in languorous day trips that take off from the Panaji jetty to the Leela beach while sailing along the 108 km palm-fringed coastline of picturesque southern Goa… 497 words. Click here.

Goa this weekend?
24 Apr: The Mint. By Vivek Menezes. If you are still undecided on a destination for this year’s summer holidays, try Goa… Where to eat: Thalassa the Greek restaurant and Bocado de Cardenales with a real tapas menu… 591 words. Click here.

Nigerian deported in '08, back in '09
25 Apr: Times of India In what can be termed as a major security lapse, Charles Wuzor, a Nigerian convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and deported in 2008, was back in the country and attended a court hearing last Saturday… 470 words. Click here.

My Life in Travel - Dominic Monaghan
25 Apr: The Independent (UK). Q: Best meal abroad? A: It was in India and I got to a beach town called Palolem. Everywhere had shut down for the night and I walked on to the beach, which was beautiful. A guy offered to make me some chicken tikka, so I went for a night swim then had the most fantastic meal of my life… Dominic Monaghan stars in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', released 29 April. Click here.

Uncontrolled tourism disrupting village life
25 Apr: Times of India. The villagers of Utorda-Majorda-Calata have voiced concern over the "uncontrolled tourism" which has in its wake brought about "social and cultural degradation of our village life," … Illegal tourism in the shape of housing complexes and villas with swimming pools and other recreational facilities meant for pensioners and others from foreign countries is now invading our village thereby disturbing the harmonious co-existence of our villagers," the report reads… 401 words. Click here.

Rickshaw Run' team in Goa after covering over 4,000 km
25 Apr: Times of India. The UK-based company, The Adventurists,' has pioneered the Rickshaw Run since 2006. Participants fly to India and drive thousands of miles of questionable terrain. The route keeps on changing to ensure that it remains a challenge… Raising money for charities is central to the challenge… 582 words. Click here.

Goa – a land of flavours
26 Apr: Express Buzz. Huge portions of Goa have been taken over by multi-starred hotel chains, turning it into a destination for foreigners with foreign exchange, and NRIs. The truth is that you neither need to be unusually rich or a green card holder to enjoy a holiday in Goa… 1176 words. Click here.

Swimmers dismayed over oily tar balls at Bogmalo beach
26 Apr: Herald. Oily tar-like balls surfaced at Bogmalo beach on Saturday evening, much to the dismay of the swimmers. Some Russian tourists and locals who had gone for a swim had to wash their bodies with kerosene, after they came in contact with the oily substance. 182 words. Click here.

Goa to check tourists from Europe, Mexico for swine flu
28 Apr: IANS. Goa’s only airport will screen tourists arriving from Mexico, Britain and other European countries for traces of swine flu, officials said Tuesday. “We are setting up two screening centres at the airport with the help of health department officials,” Dabolim international airport director D. Paul Manikam said … 255 words. Click here.

Don't travel to US, UK, India warns citizens
28 Apr: Daily News & Analysis. India on Monday put its airports and seaports on high alert after the outbreak of swine influenza-A in parts of the world… The government issued a travel advisory, asking Indians to "restrict or defer non-essential visits" to Mexico, US, UK, Spain, France, Canada and New Zealand - the countries affected by swine flu… 318 words. Click here.

Churches and cod in Indian Lisbon
28 Apr: O Estado de São Paulo (Brazil). … In Goa people still speak Portuguese, eat cod, go to church on Sunday and pray the Rosary… Panaji is a graceful Lisbon in miniature, crowned by the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and decorated with beautiful colonial houses… Photo and text, 519 words. Click here.

Asia tightens grip against flu threat
29 Apr: Agence France-Presse. Asia tightened its already strict measures to keep swine flu from spreading across the region Tuesday, after the World Health Organization warned of a significant increase in the risk of a pandemic… Health officials in the India resort state of Goa on Tuesday said they were trying to track down 500 British holidaymakers who arrived in the Indian resort state after the outbreak of swine flu. State epidemiologist Rajendra Tamba said they were planning to take throat swab samples of the tourists as a precautionary measure to prevent infection after a number of confirmed cases in Western countries… Click here.

Goa battles rumours about swine flu
29 Apr: IANS. The Goa administration on Wednesday denied alarming media reports that claimed that nearly 110 pigs had succumbed to swine flue in two piggeries located at Siolim in North Goa and Velsao in South Goa in the last 10 days… “There is nothing amiss," state epidemiologist Rajendra Tamba said … 416 words. Click here.

After dusk, darkness ‘rules’ at Calangute, Baga beaches
29 Apr: Herald. Tourists flocking to the famed beaches at Calangute and Baga are quick to leave the shores after dusk, mainly because the high mast towers at Baga and Calangute beaches have been out of order thereby plunging the two spots in darkness.
According to sources, the high mast at Baga beach has not been functioning for over a year and the authorities seem least bothered to get it electrified… When contacted, Junior Engineer Aras Chari said he had no knowledge that the high mast lights were not functioning… 223 words. Click here.

Significant drop in tourist arrival in Goa
30 Apr: Navhind Times. A significant drop in the number of chartered flights and tourists arriving in the state could perturb the tourism industry in the state. According to the statistics available the tourist arrivals in the state during 2008-09 went down by a huge margin of 357,763 as compared to the previous year… The number of foreign tourists fell from 434,399 to 389,667. The number of chartered flights fell from 763 to 660… 488 words. Click here.

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

Living on the edge.
2008: Indian Economic & Social History Review, Vol. 45, No. 4, p. 553-580. By Paul Axelrod, Professor of Anthropology Ripon College, USA. The New Conquest districts of Goa were seized by the Portuguese between 1763 and 1819, about 250 years after the Portuguese first colonised Goa…. the villages were able to persist over time within the context of the regional culture in varying degrees and under peculiar circumstances, but were not immune to the state penetration that transformed them to a degree. Click here.

Goa Cursed By Its Mineral Wealth

Click to enlarge

23 Apr: CorpWatch. By Emily Bild. Goa is renowned as a beach paradise popular with Indian and foreign tourists alike. Just a few miles inland from the quaint restaurants and the pristine waves lapping the silver shores of India's smallest state, iron-ore mining is destroying the environment, say activists and locals… It seems that Goa, blessed by fertile land and sparkling beaches, is cursed by its mineral wealth… 1971 words. Click here.

Goa polls peaceful; 52 percent cast votes
23 Apr: IANS. Voting for Goa's two Lok Sabha seats passed off peacefully Thursday, with an estimated voter turnout of 52.39 percent, an election official said… The lowest voting percentage was in the constituency of Panaji, the capital of Goa at 42.68 percent… The elections saw a comparatively 6 percent lesser turnout than the last elections in 2004… Two senior citizens who had queued up to vote in Nuvem and Fatorda died of heart attacks… 301 words. Click here.

Infighting in Goa's ruling alliance out in open after polls
24 Apr: IANS. Leaders of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance in Goa who are unhappy with their colleagues have taken to publicly airing their grievances following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha polls. Francisco Sardinha came out openly against Reginaldo Lourenco … NCP state unit president Wilfred D'Souza has declared that he doesn't expect the party's North Goa candidate Jitendra Deshprabhu to win the seat… 356 words. Click here.

Surviving Wedding Receptions. By Cecil Pinto
24 Apr: Herald. Since nobody seems to be buying my latest guide-book, leave alone reviewing it, I have decided to review it myself. “1,200 copies in print! The perfect wedding gift!” reads the blurb of Cecil Pinto’s latest offering, “Surviving Goan Catholic Wedding Receptions: A must-have Manual and Guide”. This is a worthy successor to last year’s “Surviving the Nuptial Mass”, from the author’s Goan Guidebooks series whose combined readership must be in the millions… 946 words. Click here.

Liquor ban during polls hits Catholic weddings in Goa
25 Apr: IANS. The Election Commission's decision to ban liquor from Catholic weddings in Goa held on the notified dry days during the Lok Sabha polls has forced a rights group to approach the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) for relief. The All Goa Catholic Minority Forum has claimed that the poll panel's decision went against the customs and traditions followed at Catholic weddings, where use of wine is an integral part of the ceremony… 496 words. Click here.

Jazz musician Colin D’Cruz is on a talent hunt
25 Apr: Times of India. Jazz musician Colin D’Cruz is a busy man. Besides shuttling between Mumbai and Goa for shows, he spends time at his recording studio at home in a bid to help upcoming artists… “Goa has so much talent that needs to be unearthed. There are a lot of good musicians here, whether they are young or old. But they are not being promoted,” he says confidently…
To help boost artists here, he has opened a website [ www.jazzgoa.tripod.com ] for Goan musicians that will give them a presence online. 533 words. Click here.

Milagres Saibinn: Promoting inter-religious harmony
26 Apr: Times of India. Mapusa's feast of Our Lady of Miracles draws not just Catholics, but persons from other communities too. In Goa, where the tradition of worshiping the Mother Goddess exists, the devotion to Mother Mary brings people of other communities to Catholic feasts of Our Lady. This feast falls on April 27 this year… 398 words. Click here.

Protest against Goa University Portuguese Department’s action
26 Apr: The Hindu. Some Hindu groups and a section of Goa freedom fighters here have lodged their protests with the Goa University on Friday for its Portuguese Language Department’s action of joining hands with Instituto Camoes, a Portuguese literary organization, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of April 25, 1974’s Carnation Revolution of Portugal with a series of programmes. 186 words. Click here.

Summer is at hand, so does water woes of villages!
26 Apr: Herald. Water scarcity has become a perennial problem in villages during summer months despite the sufficient rainfall that Goa receives every monsoon. Villages that solely depend on wells for water are the most hit as wells go dry every summer. However, the PWD is yet to devise a mechanism to supply water to such hard hit villages. 382 words. Click here.

Dacoits strike again in S Goa
27 Apr: Times of India. Twenty-four hours after dacoits looted an elderly couple's home in Dabolim near Vasco, a gang of eight broke into a bungalow in Benaulim, and decamped with gold ornaments worth Rs 8.5 lakh. The incident that occurred early Sunday morning saw a group of eight break into Judie Pereira's locked home. Pereira lives abroad… 320 words. Click here.

Goa: Resist eating 'jumping chicken', say experts
27 Apr: Navhind Times. Jumping chicken, as frog meat is called, is a Goan culinary delicacy. However, it is illegal and you could go to jail for a period of three years. Also pesticide residue is present in frog meat and excessive harvesting of frogs upsets the ecological balance… 489 words. Click here.

Football: Goa: Churchill Brothers: Coach blames Manager for defeat
27 Apr: Goal.com. Churchill Brothers coach Zoran Djordjevic is frustrated with manager Danzie Ferrao and labelled him as ‘incapable and lazy’ following the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Mohun Bagan …“Danzie is the negative element in the team. He is not serious, incapable, uneducated and unwilling to work. He is sleepy and slow motion… I ask Mr.Churchill Alemao to get rid of him and strip all the responsibilities from him. Working with him has been a disaster,” said an angry Djordjevic… Photo and text, 372 words. Click here.

Football: Is There A Power Shift From Kolkata To Goa?
28 Apr: Goal.com. In the wake of Churchill Brothers’ triumph in the I-League 2008-2009, Goal.com's Subhankar Mondal wonders whether Goa is surpassing Kolkata in terms of footballing power… 814 words. Click here.

German rape victim alleges police torture
28 Apr: IANS. The 14-year-old German girl who was allegedly raped by Goa education minister Atanasio Monserrate's son last year has accused the police of having treated her "mercilessly" and broken her elbow while dragging her out of her home for questioning… the teenager who was taken back to Germany by her mother… in an e-mail interview she said, "I have been living in Goa all my life and really miss everything about it. Goa is like my home and I have a lot of friends there” ... 389 words. Click here.

Supreme Court moved against Goa’s Cabinet Minister Status
28 Apr: The Hindu. In a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed before the Supreme Court on Monday, social activist Aires Rodrigues has challenged the conferring of Cabinet Minister status by the Goa Government to Congress MLA Agnelo Fernandes, State NCP president Wilfred De Souza and Commissioner of NRI Affairs Eduardo Faleiro… 373 words. Click here.

Huge land scam in Goa, says forest department
29 Apr: IANS. The forest department in Goa has alleged that vast tracts of reserve forest land is being converted into private property in collusion with revenue department officials, sources said Wednesday… One such case involves six million sq metres of reserve forest land in the Netravali wildlife sanctuary in South Goa that is allegedly being illegally converted into private property… 422 words. Click here.

‘Devnagari and Roman scripts should flourish in Goa’

Click to enlarge

29 Apr: Herald. Stating that Devnagari and Roman scripts are twin offsprings of a mother, former director of Panjim Doordarshan Pandharinath Lotlikar has emphasized that both scripts should flourish in the State in unity. He was speaking as the chief guest at Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) awards giving function at Alto Porvorim on Tuesday. The chief guest confirmed the TSKK award on Fr Almir de Sousa for his contribution to religious Konkani literature. Fr de Sousa has written and edited 25 Konknni books. 355 words. Click here.

Ready to Party?
29 Apr. Daily News & Analysis. This May, get set for the nationwide One Night Stand Party that's being organised as a protest against the moral police … The event is conceptualised by Luke Sequira of Village Idiot events, Goa … Interestingly, last Saturday did see a precursor to this party, across three locations … In Goa, it began at 10 pm and went on till sunrise… 329 words.

Hindus join Marian feast in Goa
29 Apr: UCAN. Thousands of Hindus who believe that the Blessed Mother is a sister of a Hindu goddess have joined a Marian feast in a Mapusa. The feast "is not limited to Catholics alone," remarks Irwin Fonseca, a journalist and parishioner of the Church of St. Jerome in Mapusa, where the feast of Our Lady of Miracles was celebrated on April 27… Photos and text, 449 words. Click here.

Charges framed against Rohit Monserrate for German girl's rape
30 Apr: PTI. The Goa Children's Court on Thursday framed charges against Rohit, son of Goa education minister Atanasio Monserrate, for allegedly raping and sending obscene messages to a 14-year-old German girl last year… Both the mother and daughter are presently in Germany and are expected to be in Goa in a couple of months. 185 words. Click here.

Russian couple asks for dead son's remains
30 Apr: Times of India. Almost one and half years after a boy went missing in Goa, now his Russian parents are trying to get the skull and other remains of their 22-year-old for burial in their homeland Russia. Anton Prosnyakov had gone missing in November 2007. Tests have confirmed that the decomposed body of a man found in the bushes at Vagator was of their son said police who have sent the skull to a forensic laboratory in Punjab and “disposed off” the rest of the body … 416 words. Click here.

IN THE NEWS:

Keith Vaz tables a motion on Slumdog Millionaire children
23 Apr: PTI. Indian-origin Labour MP Keith Vaz today tabled a motion in the House of Commons concerning Slumdog Millionaire actor Rubina Ali to address the recent controversy over her alleged illegal adoption deal… 209 words. Click here.

Chicken soup came from Goa
23 Apr: Paladar (Brazil). When the Portuguese conquered Goa in 1510 they found that the locals ate a rice broth called congee … the Portuguese introduced chicken as well as other meats and fish to it … congee was usually consumed at breakfast and given to patients, convalescents and women after childbirth… In Japan there is a similar dish, the okayu … The most convincing proof that congee originated in Goa is in the book “Colóquio dos Simples e Drogas e Coisas Medicinais da Índia” written by Garcia de Orta in Goa in 1563… For the Portuguese original, 854 words, click here.
For a machine translation, click here.

After pink chadis, One Night Stand
24 Apr: Hindustan Times. Sakshi Rastogi has asked 13 of her women friends along to Zenzi Mills, Mumbai’s hip, new, grunge party destination, for a preview of One Night Stand, an evening for ‘pub going, loose and forward women’… “The event is an act of protest,” said Luke Sequeira, founder of Village Idiot Ventures, a Goa-based events and travel services company. Sequeira has teamed up with party managers across 12 cities to organise this evening of collective defiance in mid-June. And even Dubai will part of it…346 words. Click here.

In search of the perfect prawn curry
25 Apr: Times of India. Melinda Pereira Kamat says that the right proportion of every ingredient makes the popular prawn curry a foodie's delight. Sungtachem hooman or prawn curry is the most preferred variety of hooman during masheche jevonn and panch partavniche jevonn. Catholics call sungtache hooman sungtachi codi and Muslims call it jinge ka salan… 763 words. Click here.

Mumbai: Goan kudds in danger

Click to enlarge

25 Apr: Goan Observer. By Dominick Rodrigues. Goan ‘kudds’ were formed during the Portuguese rule in Goa, when many Goans migrated en masse to Mumbai in search of safety and better prospects. ‘Kudds’ were also used by seafarers in transit. Today, these clubs are being shut down as unscrupulous landlords and Goans themselves are selling out to real estate sharks… 2470 words. Click here.

Restaurant Review: Bandra, Mumbai: Salt Water Café
25 Apr: Express Hospitality. A look at the menu shows that Gresham Fernandes has skilfully combined the ambition of molecular gastronomy with the laidback comfort of a café… Fernandes has grown up in a household where weekly debates among his mother and four sisters orbited around who the household's peerless sorpotel-making champion is… Photo and text, 620 words. Click here.

Indian Catholics fear Hindu 'Taliban'
27 Apr: The Australian. The Catholic Church has warned that electoral victory for the conservative Bharatiya Janata Party next month could result in a Hindu-style "Talibanisation" of India and lead to the suppression of human rights for all religious minorities there… 600 words. Click here.

Goan artist Subodh to showcase 'Anchored Ocean' in Dubai
26 Apr: UNI. Noted designer artist of Goa, Subodh Kerkar has organised his second seven-day solo exhibition titled 'Anchored Ocean' in Dubai at the Gallery Jam Jar, beginning April 30… Subodh tries to explore the 'inseparatedness' of the life of fishermen and the ocean. In his works, the fishermen metamorphose into a boat or a marine creature… 443 words. Click here.
The Subodh Kerkar website is at www.subodhkerkar.com

Russell Pinto: Indian Stock Exchange
28 Apr: Evening Standard (London). By Richard Orange. The market is going down: it's going to be a hung parliament,” said Russell Pinto, the garrulous Goan who owns the business centre where I work on Saturday. He had just sold off all his shares. Now Russell is not the world's finest businessman — his offices makes less than half the profit the same space would as a flat. But on Monday, Credit Suisse backed him up, issuing a sell recommendation on Indian stocks, arguing “election uncertainties are now badly mispriced”. 411 words. Click here.

Indian Autorickshaw race ends off the road
28 Apr: Der Standaard (Belgium). Peter De Brauwer and Willem Dewaele from Antwerp entered for the 4500 km autorickshaw run to Goa… Driving in India was disastrous … The loudest horn and largest vehicle have the right of way … An overtaking bus rammed them off the road and sped away … Their vehicle was a write-off but they are thankful to have escaped with minor injuries… Photo + 456 words. Click here.

Karachi: Boy wounded in Taliban attack dies
28 Apr: Asia News. Irfan Masih, the 11-year-old boy wounded during a Taliban attack against Christians in Taiser Town near Karachi has died… Taiser Town is home to some 700 Christian families; 300 of them are Catholic from the St Jude Parish Church. Their parish priest is Richard D’Souza. The families used to live in a more central area of Karachi but were evicted and forced to move to the outskirts of the city. 449 words. Click here.

Bahrain: Red carpet out for May Queen
29 Apr: Gulf Daily News (Bahrain). A multinational crowd of more than 1,000 are expected to attend the Young Goans Club (YGC) May Queen beauty pageant at the Delmon International Hotel, Manama, at 8pm on May 28 at the poolside… 229 words. Click here.

Auction: London: 16th century Goan Gold Coin
5 May: Baldwin's, London (Also online). Lot No 620. Manuel I (1495-1521), Gold 1/2-Manoel, Goa, undated, crown above MEA, rev globe, 1.68g. very fine and very rare. Estimates: £2,500 to £3,500. Click here.

GOANET HIGHLIGHTS
BY Cornel D'Costa

This is what Ulla Quiterio from Parra, Goa had to say recently: "I was brought up in Sweden and have been married to a Goan for the last 35 years. We have settled in Goa for the last 13 years, and I have never experienced such racism as in Goa. I am sure nowhere in the world is racism as accepted as in Goa.". To read more about Ulla's view as it originally appeared in the Herald newspaper on 27/4/09 click here. Next week we may be able to report on the many expected responses to Ulla's views and perhaps even some of my views about the issue of 'racism' among the Goans.

New Photo Journalist JoeGoaUK produces much photographical evidence of parts of Goa where there has been much degradation, but also of parts where areas have been transformed very much for the better. Included here are four links that depict such contrasts: Link 1. Click here. Link 2. Click here. Link 3. Click here. Link 4. Click here.

In an article titled ' Goa Sudharop:RTP-Contacto television coverage of Event', Paulo Colaco Dias provides information about "an excellent bi-weekly programme to you by Portuguese Television Channel...It is in [the] Portuguese language but with English subtitles so everyone can understand." To find out more, please click here.

Finally, Goanet has an account of much that is going on around the world that is Goan in character from Pakistan to Quebec, Canada. Rene Barretto manages this aspect of information provision very well and perhaps one would be surprised to discover how much information he provides in this one instance at click here.

Please visit the Goanet archives at http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/
To subscribe to Goanet send an email to subscribe@goanet.org

TRAVEL: Getaway to Goa. Thomson TV
Friday 1st May 20:00 to 20:15. If you fancy visiting India but aren't quite sure where to start, you might want to consider Goa. This beautiful region offers great beaches, a fascinating culture and an array of culinary delights.

DOCUMENTARY: Reasons to be Cheerful Harold. BBC Radio Four, also online
Saturday 2nd May. 10:30 to 11:00. Comedian Stephen K Amos is pleased that racism is no longer so overt and talks to former MP Oona King and grumpy comedian Felix Dexter, who concedes that things have improved since the days of The Black And White Minstrel Show and Love Thy Neighbour.

DOCUMENTARY: Ross Kemp: A Kenya Special. Sky2
Saturday 2nd May. 21:00 to 22:30. In a gripping special Ross visits Kenya to investigate the Mungiki, said to be Africa's most deadly organisation.

DRAMA: Drama on 3. BBC Radio Three, also online
Sunday 3rd May. 20:00 to 21:40. My Brother God and The Ban Yan Tree, By Dusty Hughes. A play set in India in the 1910s against the backdrop of the struggle for independence from British rule.

FILM: Jab We Met. Channel 4
Monday 4th May. 00:15 to 03:10. Channel 4 presents four of the biggest films to come out of India in recent years. Aditya Kashyap is shocked to find out that his fiancée has decided to marry someone else. 2007.

SPECIAL INTEREST: Painted Nation. Sky Arts 1
Tuesday 5th May. Time: 20:00 to 20:50. Hand-painted commercial art has played a large part in Indian culture. From billboards to Bollywood, discover how this art form is losing a battle against a digital revolution.

DOCUMENTARY: The New Hindu Fundamentalists. BBC Radio Four, also online
Tuesday 5th May. 20:00 to 20:40. Navdip Dhariwal investigates the rise of Hindu fundamentalism in Britain. She asks why increasing numbers of Hindus are being drawn to the fundamentalist agenda, which some regard as anti-Muslim and anti-Christian. Her investigation leads her to British Hindus who are giving seemingly charitable donations that are, in reality, ending up in the coffers of the Hindu right.

DOCUMENTARY: Kenya Murder Mystery. More4
Tuesday 5th May. 22.00 to 23.20. Tom Cholmondeley, a wealthy landowner from Kenya faces a possible death sentence after allegedly killing a poacher on his 56,000 acre Rift Valley estate. The trial has reignited many unresolved issues. The verdict which was scheduled for 30 April has been postponed to 7 May.

DOCUMENTARY: Tout Le Monde a La Plage. TV5MONDE (Sky 799)
Friday 8th May. 14:25 to 14:55. Goa - Hippies d'hier qui ne sont jamais revenus de leur voyage initiatique, routards d'aujourd'hui qui se posent là pour quelques mois de ressourcement, familles indiennes où les femmes veulent s'occidentaliser, Goa offre une mixité rare entre touristes et locaux. Et sur la plage, les vaches aussi divaguent librement, respectées de tous.

FORTHCOMING

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

Sun 3 May. Saligao Association UK celebrate the feast of Nossa Senhora de Mae de Deus at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon CR9 3AS. Holy Mass at 12.30 pm followed by a Social. For further details contact: Raymond D\'Silva: 020 8300 5240; Sergio Coelho: 020 8543 4681; Zemira Fernandes: 01895 259947.

Sun: 3 May. Cortalim Feast. Mass will commence at 2pm prompt, (followed by our social Dancing to the Sounds of Nite Life to 10pm) at St. John’s Church Hall, Bourne Hill, Palmers Green, London N13. Ticket Price includes snacks, meal & dessert Adults: £12; Age: 11-18: £6; 2-10: £2.50 and under 2 free. For information & tickets contact: Maria - 020 803 5146, Joe-0208-443-1014, Laurent 0208-641-5995, Tony-0208 -888-0393, Vanessa 0208-800-5413, Walter 0207-476-4580 or Tino- 07821900490

Sat 9 May. MAY BALL AT MIDSUMMER HALL. Jurys Inn, Milton Keynes. Black Tie / Evening wear essential. A three course sit-down meal at this beautiful venue located in the new MK Hub and great music provided by the sensational band "Calibre". Carriages at midnight. Discounted hotel rooms available. No tickets sold at the door. A Night to Remember! For more details contact: Sally on Mob: 07976 826473 or email: sally@stevef.co.uk

Sat: 16 May. Goan Association Anniversary and May Ball. Wandsworth Civic Suite. Nite Life In Attendance Further Details From Norma Menezes Rahim 020 8771 4457 or Rosy De Souza 020 8677 0390

Sun 17 May. Tiatr! Tiatr! Goan Cultural Society proudly presents their annual Konkani Tiatr “MUMMY MHAKA TUJE VENGENT DHOR” written by Goa Academy Prize winner, Albert Leo D’Souza, at St John’s Hall, Bourne Hill, Palmers Green, London N13 at 3.00pm. For details contact: Bella – 020 8372 1253; Ida – 020 8881 2921; Camilo – 020 8801 3637 or Gregg – 07931 753653. For full details and photos of the cast, click here.

Sun: 24 May. 1.00pm - 8.30pm. The Bakuli Reunion at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon. Live music by Mellow Tones and disco by "DJO" Tickets Adults: £14.00 Children (2 -12 years) £7.00. Price includes a meal and snacks. For further information please contact Tony Lobo 020 8542 0528 or Reg Da Cunha 020 7732 2659. Please note that tickets will be issued on a "first come basis" No tickets will be sold at the door.

Sun 31 May. Margao Union UK. Feast of the “The Holy Spirit”. Archbishop Lanfranc Hall, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Mass at 12.30pm. Followed by Social Gathering & Dancing to the Sounds of Nite Life. Tickets Adult £10.00 B4 - 15-May -09 after £12.00. Children 6-16Years 6.00. Under 6 Years free. Price includes Snacks Buffet & Dessert. For Information & tickets contact: Bella- 020 8372 1253, Rosalind-020 8767 8652, Lucas-020 8967 7471, Agnela 020 8646 6996, Gregg - 07931 753653, Camilo 020 8801 3637, Xav - 020 803 5146 - 0750 7950 455.

Sat 6 Jun. 3.00 p.m. Archbishop Lanfranc High School, Mitcham Rd. Croydon. Konkani Dramatic Association, Tiatr! Tiatr! Him Tujim Panvlam. KDA 8th production, written & directed by comedian Santana Fernandes performing with the most famed tiatrists from Goa. Felcy (Nightingale of Goa), Luis Bachan Top comedian, Joana (Queen of comedy), James Vaz, Philip De Chandor and UK Tiatrists. Tickets are £12.00 and £10.00 pre-booked. Contact Nina Pinto 02087670663 or Judy Pacheco 02087632606// 07949403741. For the flyer, click here.

Sat 13 Jun. 4.00 p.m. New College, New College Drive, Swindon, SN3 1AH. Konkani Dramatic Association. Tiatr! Tiatr! Him Tujim Panvlam. KDA 8th production, written & directed by comedian Santana Fernandes performing with the most famed tiatrists from Goa. Felcy (Nightingale of Goa), Luis Bachan Top comedian, Joana (Queen of comedy), James Vaz, Philip De Chandor and UK Tiatrists. Tickets are £12.00 and £10.00 pre-booked. Contact: Alvaro 07745773919, Domnic 07872064811 or Xavier 0179 3325686/ 07961560935. For the flyer, click here.

Sun 14 Jun. 12.00 p.m. Copland High School, Cecil Avenue, Wembley. North London. Konkani Dramatic Association. Tiatr! Tiatr! Him Tujim Panvlam. KDA 8th production, written & directed by comedian Santana Fernandes performing with the most famed tiatrists from Goa. Felcy (Nightingale of Goa), Luis Bachan Top comedian, Joana (Queen of comedy), James Vaz, Philip De Chandor and UK Tiatrists. Tickets are £12.00 and £10.00 pre-booked. Contact: Damacian 02083761609// 07940501196, Francis 07908591759, Anthony 02084529406// 07988896904, Santan 0208 7971950// 07904564658 and Rosy 0208 3529450. For the flyer, click here.

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