COMMUNITY NEWS

Cayman Islands: Local Goans Star in Play

Click to enlarge 2 Jan: CaymanNetNews. Cayman-based Goans starred in Mhaka Khoium Dovorla, a play written and directed by Rafael Noel … more than 500 Goans came together … a special mass was celebrated by Fr Alex Crasta in the native Goan language, Konkani… 50,000 Rupees was given to Pilar and Rachol Seminary… 338 words. Click here.

Freida Pinto: Slumdog Millionaire
3 Jan: The Guardian (UK). It's not an insult to suggest that 24-year-old model Freida Pinto's big break can, in part, be attributed to her painful good looks. With no previous acting experience, she earned her stripes through six months of tortuous auditions to play the beggar-turned-gangster's wife Latika…. Pinto, predictably, has been receiving offers, and mentions wanting to work with luminaries like Wong Kar-wai, Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep… 1422 words. Click here.

Bahrain: Muted night at clubs
3 Jan: Gulf Daily News (Bahrain). Bahrain’s social clubs either cancelled their celebrations, or went ahead with toned-down gatherings as a mark of respect towards the Palestinians in Gaza… the Young Goans Club was preparing to cancel its programme, a dinner-dance at The Palace hotel, Adliya, if instructed by the hotel management. "We are still not sure what is going to happen," said vice-president Gerard Fernandes, "but we would be fine with a cancellation." 259 words. Click here.

UAE: Oxford Marine-Vasco Triumph
3 Jan: Khaleej Times (UAE). Oxford Marine-Vasco won the Goan Premier League Cricket Tournament, defeating Zulfa Kakeez-Margao by seven wickets… As many as 10 Goan cities participated. The teams were divided in two groups of five teams each. 135 words. Click here.

Goa gives Leicester a touch of good fortune

Click to enlarge 4 Jan: Times of India. Leicester City’s involvement with Goan football seems to have brought about a transformation in fortunes… Keith Vaz beamed with delight on Saturday as he presented Lesten Martins, a 14-year-old midfielder selected for the Gary Lineker scholarship, with a Leicester shirt ahead of a two-week stay in England sometime in April-May. Photo shows Savio Messias, Secretary of the Goa Football Accociation (ex-Mombasa) Lesten Martins and Keith Vaz. 428 words. Click here.

Bahrain: North Goa rally to hold South
4 Jan: Gulf News (Bahrain). North and South Goa played to a 2-2 draw in their annual friendly match played on Friday at the East Riffa open grounds… The game was organised by the Bahrain Goans Football League Committee. 159 words. Click here.

Mississauga: Shirley De Souza gives back in Afghanistan
6 Jan: Mississauga News. Military bases have been part of Corporal Shirley De Souza's life since she was a child…The native of East Africa and her family were forced into refugee camps because of the coup in Uganda when she was 10 years old. She and her family lived in two refugee camps in Great Britain before making their way to Canada in 1974…This is her second tour abroad since she joined the forces. In 2004, she was part of a UN peacekeeping force on the Golan Heights in Israel….The De Souza clan, including brother Colin and sister Sarita, plus extended family, have lived in Mississauga for about a decade after moving from Scarborough… 476 words. Click here.

Face-Off: Roy De Souza
6 Jan: Financial Express. Roy de Souza is the founder and chief executive officer of ZEDO Inc. The San Francisco-based company is the third largest ad-serving firm in the world … ZEDO also has two offices in India, one in Mumbai, the other in Goa. Roy spoke at length to FE’s Viveat Susan Pinto about the online advertising industry in India and abroad … 1389 words. Click here.
For the GVUK Roy De Souza supplement click here.

Germany: Lucy D’Souza-Krone: Angels rediscovered
6 Jan: Giessener Zeitung.Here is an invitation to rediscover angels again in an exhibition from Saturday, 17 January to 2 April of the Indian Christian artist Lucy D'Souza-Krone These paintings are the messengers of God … Lucy D´Souza-Kron who was born in Goa in 1949 and has lived in Germany since 1996… 596 words. Click here.

Audio: Diane Nalini on the Michael Enright Show
7 Jan: CBC.ca. Diane Nalini appeared on the Michael Enright show on Sun. 28 Dec. You can listen to the recording of the interview and hear her new song "Kiss me like that." The segment begins 7 minutes into the podcast and lasts about 30 minutes. Click here.
Diane Nalini performs in Toronto on Sat Jan 10 at Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, 1214 Queen St. West. The party kicks off at 8pm, her performance starts around 9.15pm, and will last for about 30 minutes. Cost: $5 cover. For more details click here.
Diane Nalini was born in Montreal to Belgian and Goan parents … for her home page with Bio, audio and video clips, photos etc. Click here.

Malaysia: Monica de Souza: Church helps single mum
7 Jan: Malaysia Star. Every year Monica de Souza, mother of five vows not to give up hope and prays for the will and determination to raise her children, aged between 14 and seven, into responsible adults… her husband Ben died suddenly three years ago … De Souza receives a monthly allowance and groceries from her local church and its congregation… Photo and text, 182 words. Click here.

NZ: Sean D’Souza: Weight loss - Start By Doing Nothing
7 Jan: The Examiner (USA). When I say "do nothing" I mean taking a daily stress break. Sean D'Souza posted the most delightful article on his Psychotactics site for business development about the value of idleness. I think this is equally valid for weight loss… 301 words. Click here.
For the Psychotactics site click here.
Sean D’Souza lives in New Zealand traces his Goan roots to Assagao. Photo shows him in his kitchen, holding a chilli.

DEATHS

5 Jan: Mississauga, Canada. VICTOR GREGORIO MASCARENHAS. (Born 1928). Loving husband of Dora. Dear father of Ian (Suzanne), and Lilian D'Souza (Shannon). Caring grandpa of Charlene, Michelle and Michael. Survived by his brothers Jacinto and Sylvester Mascarenhas. Visitation on Tue. from 2-4 & 7-9 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Merciful Redeemer, 2775 Erin Centre Boulevard, Mississauga on Wednesday at 10:00 am. Burial to follow at Glen Oaks Memorial Gardens. For photograph and full details click here.

4 Jan: Seraulim, Goa. FABIAO DA COSTA (aged 81, ex-Zanzibar; Freedom Fighter and first Vice President of Indian National Congress, Goa. Husband of Maria Angelica. Father of late Jawaharlal/Perpetua, Prakash/Sebastiana, Reuben (Ravinda)/Lucilia, Ashok/Reny and Geeta/Jezinho.
Fabiao was born in Zanzibar and at an early age spoke out against the British colonial policy. When he was 16 his father, fearing trouble, packed him off to Goa but he continued his struggle against Portuguese rule resulting in six years spent in prison.

4 Jan: Santana, Goa. MARIA JOAQUINHA RODRIGUES. Relict of late Domingos Diago Rodrigues. Most Beloved Mother of Maria Luiza / late Santano John D’Mello; AnnaMaria de Merces Fernandes /Joao Caetano Fernandes and Ms. Fatima Rodrigues. Loving Grandmother of Alina / Cipriano (London), Melwin / Elvira D’Mello, Elvis / Merlyn D’Mello (Abu-Dhabi), Mabel / Glen Pinto and Sharika / Danny Pereira.

1 Jan: Sao Paulo, Brazil. From Folha de Sao Paulo (Brazil), 7 Jan: VICTOR FROILANO BACHMANN DE MELLO, aged 82, died on 1 Jan. following a cardiac arrest. He is survived by two sons and four grandchildren. Born in Goa, Victor graduated from MIT, specializing in geotechnical engineering. His father was an army doctor and politician in Goa… The mass of the seventh day is today, at 12:30, the Church Our Lady of Brazil… For text, 254 words in Portuguese, click here.
For a bio of him which appeared in ISSMGE Bulletin. Volume 1, Issue 2 Pages 6–8, click here.

31 Dec: Canacona, Goa. POLLY CARDOZO (Ma-Rita Shack). Husband of Juliana. Father of Preston. Brother of Camilo, Flory/Albert, Alwin (USA), Frankey/John (Dubai), Cleto (Disney Wonder)/Felicia.

29 Dec: Dubai. ANGELA BRAGANZA will be fondly and lovingly missed and remembered by her children Barbara/Zach, Ivan/Christine (Doha), Neville/Aracely (USA), Desiree/Paul (Dubai). Burial and Mass will be held in Dubai.

26 Dec: Glendale, Los Angeles. NORMAND BREAULT. Worked for many years, from the early sixties, for the Tanzania Missionary Press in Tabora, Tanzania, as a member of the USA Lay Mission Helpers Group. He had many Goan friends in Tabora, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Mombasa, Goa and the UK. [Photograph forwarded by Albert Fernandes, Canada].

24 Dec: London, UK. VINCENT MANOELINO PEREIRA (ex-Mombasa, Kenya). Husband of Philomena (Philo) Pereira. Brother/brother-in-law of late Analina/late Manuel Fernandes, Julia/John Rodrigues. Father/father-in-law of Luis/Jennifer, Netty/John Carter, late Nelson/Christine, Alvino/Marion. Grandfather of Lyzanne, Malorich, Larissa, Dominic, Nathan, Nicola, Myles, Jessica and Joseph. Funeral service to be held at St Anselm’s Church, Tooting Bec, London SW17 on Thu. 8 January at 11.30am. In lieu of flowers the family will be making a donation to an orphanage in Goa. Condolence etc to luisgoa@hotmail.com

Month’s Mind: Death: Carolina D'Souza
4 Jan: The late CAROLINA D'SOUZA (died in Northampton, UK, 4 Dec. 2008) will be sadly missed by her children: Ancy, Sheila, Clara, Nora, Louisa, Zita, Sophia and Antonio; Son's in law, Grandchildren and Great grand children. And Mai will be remembered in their prayers. To all those who sent their sympathy and condolences, we wish to thank them all. antonio.desouza@hotmail.co.uk

Re Death of Mrs. Etelvina Rodrigues
The family of the late MRS. ETELVINA RODRIGUES (Died in Goa on 27 Nov. 2008) were deeply moved by the sympathy and compassion expressed at our most recent sad loss. Bonnie, Noella and all the family find great comfort in knowing that friends both remembered and cared. We thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers and are grateful to those of you who attended the months' mind Mass. From: noella_rodrigues@hotmail.com

Death Anniversary: Prof Xavier De Souza
6 Jan. Daily Nation (Nairobi). In Loving Memory: PROF. XAVIER ESTEVAO DE SOUZA. (Born Kenya, 1922; Died Goa 6/1/2007). Fondly remembered by son Franklin, Lavita and children Melissa, Dillon and Isabel… frandesouza@swiftkenya.com Click here.

WHO THE BLEEP CARES?
Weekly column by Selma Carvalho. Do leave your feedback at carvalho_sel@yahoo.com

Who the Bleep cares about 1961?

Perhaps it’s slightly ironic that as a New Year begins, I choose to look back at the year 1961. This year has significance to many but none so much as to the Goan for it is in this year that a new lease on life began for us. You could say it was our collective New Year.

Whilst going through the events that occurred that fateful year, I came across this letter that was written by George O. Fowler, which appeared in the “Star” on December 15, 1961.

“But the Hindu Goan is Goan first and then Hindu. He does not in his heart regard his Christian or Moslem neighbor as a stranger to be despised…It is an amazing characteristic of Goan life, that as keenly religious as the Goans are, they heartily respect their neighbour’s creed, whatever it may be. There are no anathemas, no offenses, no slights, no comparisons, and no discriminations. Hindu Goan, Moslem Goan and Christian Goan are cordial to one another in both public life and private, in a manner that many other parts of the world would do well to imitate.”

That was nearly 50 years ago. I wonder what George O. Fowler would have made of Goa just 50 years after our New Year? Today Goa not only has a strong presence of extreme Hindu right-wing groups such as Sanathan Sanstha and the Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti (HJS) but allegedly they enjoy political patronage at the top echelons. This cancer has metastasized itself in parts of Goan Hindu society engaging them in a sense of victimhood and leading them to alienate themselves from fellow Goans for the most spurious of reasons. Christians, Goa’s “major minority” have developed their own brand of biases which include discriminating against Goa’s miniscule Muslim population and inculcating an almost blinkered aversion to anyone considered a “bhailo.”

Our society today is a long way off as seen from George O. Fowler’s vantage point. It is fractured along so many lines, religion, caste and community. Yet, as the New Year 2009 begins, a sliver of hope burns in my heart that this year we’ll discover something wondrous about ourselves as Goans. That we are indeed brothers-in-arms rather than pitted against each other, that we can overcome the corruption of our times and the moral degradation that has taken place in our society and emerge anew. As we did in 1961.

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year 2009.

MEET OUR NEW SPONSOR:

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TRAVEL & TOURISM NEWS:

Travel Feature: A weekend in paradise
31 Dec: Tulsa World (USA). … Stepping off the plane in Goa I inhaled heavily: how nice it was to finally breathe nonpolluted air!... From what I observed, there was about a 50-to-50 ratio of Indians to foreigners vacationing on the beach. Many of the beach shacks advertised their products in Russian… 1988 words + photos. Click here.

Security blanket over Goa on New Year's Eve
31 Dec: Times TV. Goa wears a very deserted look … empty restaurants, derseted beaches and very few tourists … Times have changed for Goa … the sands of Goa are lined with bunkers instead of beachgoers… 02m. 26s. Click here.

Video: Single Female Traveler in Goa
31 Dec: NDTV. Join our single female traveler as she scours the most exciting, beautiful and safest places in Goa to let your hair down. 23 min 53 sec. Click here.

The best of the January sales
1 Jan: The Guardian (UK) …Thomas Cook has a number of great deals at the moment - including 15-night breaks in India for as little as £509pp flying from Manchester to Goa on 2 March , and 14-night breaks in India reduced by 22% to £1,099pp flying from Gatwick to Goa in the first two weeks of May… Click here.

Air fares to Goa plummet this new year
1 Jan: Times of India. Flying in to Goa from Mumbai on New Year's eve was cheaper for revellers than entering a nightclub in the state to party into the new year… you could fly by Kingfisher to Goa for Rs 3,000 … A nightclub at Baga charged Rs 4,500 per head … 288 words. Click here.

Tourists flock Goa beaches
1 Jan: The Hindu. Tourists flocked the beaches in Goa to usher in the New Year, jamming the lanes approaching the coastal belt this Wednesday evening. Huge crowds were seen on almost all the beaches of the state, gathered to bid farewell to 2008… 210 words. Click here.

Fireworks lights up the New Year Sky in Baga, Goa
1 Jan: NDTV. The Goans are celebrating with their usual gusto in spite of the deserted look on the beaches …. Click here.

'Tourism flatters only to deceive'
3 Jan: Times of India. The new year celebrations brought joy to the tourism industry albeit short-lived with thousands of Indian tourists descending on the state to spend the first moments of 2009… However, the euphoria dropped by January 2, with hotels along the coastal belt seeing a steep decline in occupancy rates… 401 words. Click here.

Daily flight from Goa to Dubai
3 Jan: Navhind Times. Come January 14, the passengers travelling from Goa to Dubai would have the option of taking an Air India direct flight to Dubai everyday … Air India had initially started a service twice a week then increased it to 3 then 4 and later 5 per week …The flight to Dubai leaves Dabolim Airport at 1.45 p.m. The return flight from Dubai leaves at 4.15 p.m… 234 words. Click here.

Crossfire over upgrade of hotels
4 Jan: Herald. As a cold war is on between Home and Tourism ministries in Goa over various issues, Tourism Director Elvis Gomes appears to have been caught up in the cross-fire for exercising powers to classify hotels as “five star” to allow them to have casinos… 661 words. Click here.

Late Deals
3 Jan. The Western Mail (UK). £555: Direct (0871 664 7764) offers eight nights' all-inclusive at four-star Sun Village in Goa from £555, ex-Gatwick Jan 25. 4 Jan: The Sunday Telegraph (UK). £349: Jewel in the Crown Holidays (0870 067 2352; jewelholidays.com) offers 14 nights b & b at the two-star Resort Village Royale, at Calangute available with departures from Gatwick on Thursday.

Goa may revive this season
5 Jan: Business Standard (India). Lower air fares and discounts offered by hotels might just do the trick for India’s favourite destination this holiday season…Travel agents say that most of the people who had made plans to travel to Goa will still go ahead. These include a large number of expat Indians who come to India not only for leisure travel but also club it with meeting their families… 638 words. Click here.

Goa minister accused of forging wife’s signature
5 Jan: IANS. The controversy prone Goa Tourism Minister Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco has been accused by his estranged wife Sara Pacheco of forging her signatures in order to sell four flats in south Goa. Earlier, the minister was booked by the police in a forgery case involving the sale of a luxury car… Sara has also filed a case of bigamy against the tourism minister. 331 words. Click here.

Global tsunami strikes Goa
6 Jan: Economic Times. Global meltdown has spelt hard times for Goa’s hospitality business…hotel earnings have gone down by at least 30% this year… hotels have cut room rates by half to the level offered during the ‘off season’ June-September period …Tourism, which generates about Rs 1,500 crore, makes up for nearly half of the state’s entire budget. So, any dent here is likely to seriously impact Goa’s economy. 379 words. Click here.

Travel offer: Goa
7 Jan: Woman & Home (UK) … W&H Exclusive Offer: The Leela Goa is offering readers a 15% discount on all hotel room bookings from 1 December 2008 to 15 April 2009. Please call 00800 426 313 55 or email reservations.goa@theleela.com quoting W&H Leela Goa. Click here.

Gatwick to Goa, 15 Jan. 2 weeks, £241.50 return
7 Jan: Charter Flights. Also Manchester to Goa, 15 January, 1 week, £280 return. East Midlands to Goa, 12 January, 1 week, £280 return. www.charterflights.co.uk

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

Sardinha lauds lifting of ban on killing strays
2 Jan: Times of India. South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has welcomed the lifting of a ban on killing stray dogs even as he came down heavily on animal lovers' organizations who he said were "paying lip service in the name of animal welfare." … He also expressed support for dhirios (bullfights) … 275 words. Click here.

Goa Christmas-eve rape happened next to armed police bunker: BJP
2 Jan: IANS. The gang-rape of a middle-aged woman on Christmas eve at the popular Arambol beach took place right next to a fortified bunker and in close vicinity of a police outpost, former state BJP president Laxmikant Parsenkar says… 329 words. Click here.

Lorna: The Swinging Sounds of Goa: the 1960s Music
2 Jan: Sepia Mutiny. By Naresh Fernandes. One of the most famous Konkani pop songs from the 1960s is Lorna’s “Bebdo”. Here it is, with lyrics and translation: 3m.21s. Click here.

Brazilian-style football academy in Goa
3 Jan: Indopia. The Goan footballers have got a shot in the arm with the launching of' Brasil Futebol Academia which will kick start from first week of February… After going around many places the Brazilians found Goa is the best place to start this project … the site where the children will be trained is at Agassaim … 285 words. Click here.

Goa minister's wife files bigamy complaint
3 Jan: IANS. A bigamy complaint has been filed against high profile Goa Tourism Minister Francisco Pacheco by his estranged wife, who has provided documents to back her charge that her husband married another woman. 209 words. Click here.

Govt sets up Goa Cancer Registry
3 Jan: Times of India. A sample survey on 80,000 Goans will be conducted to detect lifestyle habits that are causing an increased instance of cancer in the state as witnessed by doctors. The announcement came at the inauguration of the Goa Cancer Registry. Goan-origin MP Keith Vaz from UK was also present at the function… 510 words. Click here.

German rape case: High Court orders charge sheet to be filed
6 Jan: PTI. The High Court today asked Goa government to file a charge sheet in the German minor rape case within a week… the case allegedly involves state education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son, Rohit and public works department minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren. 182 words. Click here.

Charge against Goa minister may be dropped
6 Jan: IANS. The Goa police are likely to drop the charge against state Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate of abetting his son Rohit, charged of raping a 14-year-old minor German tourist… The police had earlier named him as an abettor in the case, because the vulgar SMSes received by the German girl, coaxing her to abort her pregnancy by going on a drinking and smoking binge, were sent from a mobile connection issued in the minister's name… 290 words. Click here.

I can have as many women as I want: Goa minister
6 Jan: IANS. Rejecting his estranged wife’s allegation of bigamy, Goa Tourism Minister Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco Tuesday said he could have as many women as he wanted though he was married to only one… 283 words. Click here.

Drishti Serves Notice to Goa Govt for Non-Payment of Arrears
6 Jan. UNI (United News of India). Mumbai-based Drishti Special Response Services Pvt Ltd (DSRS), which runs India's most comprehensive beach lifeguard service in Goa, has decided to withdraw its services from the tourist state following non-payment of Rs five crore arrears for more than 90 days… The system has already saved 50 lives in Goa … 545 words. Click here.

Goa: Elvis Gomes removed as Tourism director
7 Jan: Navhind Times. Differences over functioning with the Tourism Minister, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco, cost the director of Tourism, Mr Elvis Gomes, his chair as the government decided to shift him from the post. The order, however, states that the transfer has been affected in “public interest”. Mr Swapnil Naik is the new director of Tourism with immediate effect … 192 words. Click here.

Churchill paid Sara Rs 50L: Mickky Pacheco
7 Jan: Times of India. Tourism minister Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco openly charged PWD minister Churchill Alemao of having paid Rs 50 lakh to his estranged wife Sara to file police complaints against him in order to "tarnish my image"… Referring to Sara as "my wife", Pacheco also revealed that he had filed for divorce from her around 20 days back… 554 words. Click here. [Photo shows Sara was claims that Mickky accused her of being “fat and ugly”].

SEZs: Conflicting Claims
3 SEZs in Goa can be denotified on developers' consent: Centre
7 Jan: Economic Times. The Centre has reiterated that the three notified special economic zones (SEZs) in Goa could be denotified only if the state government and the developers of these SEZs agree to it. Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat met commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath on Wednesday to ask for the Centre's support in denotifying the SEZs… 197 words. Click here.
Centre going ahead with denotification of Goa SEZs
7 Jan: Zee News. The Centre on Wednesday said it is going ahead with cancellation of the three Special Economic Zones in Goa as popular sentiment is against SEZs… Goa’s Chief Minister Kamath said the State Government was ready for compensating the promoters whose SEZs would be denotified… 265 words. Click here.

72 criminal cases booked against foreigners
8 Jan: Navhind Times. At least 72 criminal offences have been booked against foreigners in various police stations all over the state during the last year, say police… In case of overstaying British top the list followed by Russians and Germans… 342 words. Click here.

Goa Sudharop gives away donations for social cause
8 Jan: Herald. Donations worth lakhs of rupees were made by Goa Sudharop to several deserving educational and social institutions and NGOs serving public cause, at the annual awards presentation function held at Hotel Mandovi, here last evening…For more information on the organization visit website: www.goasudharop.org … 311 words. Click here.

Weekly Update
8 Dec: Times of India (Goa). Weather: Max = 32; Min = 20.4. Humidity 88%
Exchange rates £= 73.82; $ = 48.81; Euro = 66.68

ALLEGED DUTCH RAPE:

Dutch woman complains of rape in Goa
4 Jan: Sify News. A 24-year-old Dutch woman has complained to the Goa police that she was drugged, robbed and raped by a group of Nigerians on the New Year's Eve near the Anjuna beach, police sources said… The incident raises questions about the safety of women on Goan beaches. On Christmas Eve a middle-aged local woman, was raped and left to die a few meters from an armed police bunker at the famous Arambol beach… 339 words. Click here.

Update: Dutch rape
5 Jan: Sahara Samay. A 24-year-old Dutch woman complained that she was sexually abused by six Nigerians who also robbed her … the hospital report, however, didn't indicate any sort of sexual abuse. 150 words. Click here.

No sexual abuse complaint by Dutch girl
5 Jan: Times of India. Goa Police today said that the 24-year-old Dutch national was only drugged and robbed by a group of Nigerians on a beach near Anjuna village and no rape case has been registered… "The girl did not say anything about sexual abuse and hence rape case was not registered," SP (North) Bosco George said. 244 words. Click here.

Update: Goa police yet to clarify on Dutch tourist’s charges
5 Jan: IANS. A Dutch woman has alleged that she was drugged, robbed and raped on a Goa beach but the police were not registering her complaint and have neither confirmed nor denied the sexual assault … the girl was sun-bathing at Arambol and was befriended by a Nigerian national and five others on Dec 31… 299 words. Click here.

Medical report rules out rape of Dutch national
6 Jan: Navhind Times. The medical examination of the Dutch female has ruled out rape, the police revealed on Monday… She had asked to be examined to clear any doubts in her mind about the sexual assault… 342 words. Click here.

LOOKING FOR:

Info re. The Goa League (London) 1956
From Selma Carvalho: In 1956-57, there existed a Goa League in London, operating from 77 Dean St London, W1D 3SH. Not much is known about them except they held a public meeting once and issued literature on why Goa should be liberated from Portugal and instead should join the Indian Union. Does anyone have information about this League or its counterpart Goa Movement, which raised its voice for self-determination? Any information by way of literature or contact with people involved or related to those involved would be greatly appreciated. Please contact lescarvalhos@yahoo.com

IN THE NEWS:

Hindu Filmmaker’s Movie On Lourdes’ Saint Premiered In Goa
31 Dec: Union of Catholic Asian News. By Bosco de Souza Eremita. An Indian Hindu who recently made a film on Saint Bernadette and her Marian visions at Lourdes says the movie shows how ordinary people can make the world better. Our Lady of Lourdes, produced by Kamalakar Rao, premiered on Dec. 21 in Panaji… 608 words. Click here.

Pakistan: Hot Conflict, Cold Economy
31 Dec: Canwest News Service (Canada). Patrick, a 30-year-old clerk from Pakistan's Christian minority earns about $60 a month in Pakistan… he says, "What can we do except pray and queue up to see if we can get a visa to emigrate to Canada or another western country…" Click here.

Video: India: Boom in surrogacy despite recession
1 Jan: NDTV. The government is working on drafting a new law to police surrogate pregnancies amid fears that the country's booming rent-a-womb industry is running out of control. A new trend shows that even in the time of recession, there are many young and educated women who have turned to surrogacy as their side profession. 2m. 12s. Click here.

Strumming it the Jungleeway
2 Jan: Times of India. Eight years ago, Chris Horcon left his carpentry and candle making business in England, and opened a school in Baga teaching the making of musical instruments. Today he lives there with his wife and two sons … 813 words. Click here.

Oliver Smart is 'critical' after Bangkok nightclub fire
2 Jan: Yorkshire Post (UK). Oliver Smart caught up in the New Year's Eve nightclub fire in Bangkok is still in a critical condition in hospital…Mr Smart's mother, Pauline Gent emigrated to Goa five years ago. She and other members of his family who live in London were on their way to Thailand last night to be with him… 380 words. Click here.

CBI to hand over Scarlett's organs
3 Jan: PTI. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has agreed to hand over vital organs of British teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling, which were removed during autopsy in India, her lawyer said… Meanwhile, the CBI will leave to UK in the second week of January to record Fiona's statement in the death case… 256 words. Click here.

Katrina Kaif rejects Scarlett Keeling s role
2 Jan: Hindustan Times. Bollywood starlet Katrina Kaif has reportedly turned down the offer to play murdered teenager Scarlett Keeling in Prabhakar Shukla's film Rave Party…Shukla is apparently planning to cast somebody from UK to play Scarlett … At the moment, Shukla is awaiting the green signal from Scarlett's mother Fiona McKeown as he has sent her the film's script for approval… Meanwhile, buzz is that South Indian director Venkat Prabhu is making 'Goa' which is also based on Scarlett's murder. 203 words. Click here.

Dennis Pinto: A Budding Revival in the Land of Obama's Roots
4 Jan: The New York Times. Kenya is hoping that Obamamania will result in a resurgence of visitors to the ancestral homeland of the president-elect… But some tour operators question whether a small, nondescript village will be enough to draw visitors. Dennis Pinto, managing director of Micato Safaris (www.micato.com) says ''It's relatively difficult to get there. You'd have to fly to Kisumu, which is not terribly close to anything, and then you have to drive 40 miles just to see a village.'' For that reason, Micato is not planning to offer an Obama trip in 2009. 1236 words. Click here.

Nigerian smuggles cocaine in tummy, arrested
4 Jan: Daily News and Analysis. …Police arrested Nigerian Ebica Pious, 37, at Mumbai airport for smuggling in cocaine worth Rs6 lakh…The cops took him to a hospital, and the doctors told him that they would operate on his stomach and find the substance. When they were taking an X-ray of him, Pious admitted he was carrying four capsules in his stomach to be delivered to someone in Goa … 298 words. Click here.

Stephen Bennett: Last Seen in Goa
5 Jan: The Independent (UK). Stephen Bennett's sister believes that thugs murdered her brother. David Orr reports from India on a violent crime and botched cover-up that shames a tropical paradise … ‘We thought Goa was this lovely sunny place. We thought the people were all relaxed and honest. Now we know differently’ …The minister's son on the Bennetts' blacklist has also been linked to the rape and murder of the Scarlett Keeling. The barman Samson D'Souza and racketeer Placido Carvalho are known associates of the politician's son … The editor of a Goan magazine published in London says it is no accident that Stephen's body was strung up in a public, ritualistic way. It was he reckons, the mafia's way of saying 'This is what happens if you mess with us'… Amanda Bennett is planning to return to Goa in February and complete her search for the truth behind her brother's death. 3061 words.
For the facsimile version, part 1 click here.
For the facsimile version, part 2 click here.
For an html version, click here.

Orissa Violence: “Govt should quit office”
6 Jan: Times of India. In an unusual outburst, the Supreme Court gave a general ultimatum - sectarian violence and persecution of minorities would not be tolerated… 442 words. Click here.

Orissa: Raped Indian nun identifies alleged attackers
6 Jan: Catholic News (Australia). The Indian nun has identified two of her alleged attackers during an identification parade, police say. The nun, with her face covered, identified the two during the parade that lasted over two hours… 295 words. Click here.

Australia: Indian-born woman burns hubby's genitals
6 Jan: PTI. Rajni Narayan, 44, an Indian-born Australian woman who allegedly set fire to her husband's genitals suspecting his fidelity has appeared in a local court with fresh charges of murder slapped against her. 226 words. Click here.

Vancouver: Memorial to be held for firefighter killed in Goa
7 Jan: Metro Vancouver. A memorial service will be held Thursday morning for Cindy Kampmeinert, 41, a Vancouver firefighter who died Dec 17 in Goa after a motorcycle accident. According to media reports she was found by the side of the road by a British tourist who tried and failed to get her admitted to three area hospitals. Eventually, the fourth hospital he tried admitted Kampmeinert. The delay of several hours before receiving treatment may have contributed to her death… 160 words. Click here.
For the Death Notice and guest book, click here.

Auction: Boston - 10 Jan. also online
10 Jan: Skinner. Lot 535. Pair of Painted and Gilded Wood Ornaments, Goanese, 18th century, rococo-style foliate carved frames surrounding central oval medallions, each mounted atop a raised base, overall approx. ht. 21 1/2 in. Estimate $400-600 Click here.

GOANET HIGHLIGHTS
BY CORNEL DACOSTA

Could it be true that, in Goa, "extramarital affairs [are the] major cause of strife between spouses?" According to Ms Rao, referring to reported research, "family life in the state of Goa, which is known to be family oriented and a relatively conservative place despite its seemingly westernised and open mien (sic) is slowly showing its darker side..." To read about this click here.

At times, getting a suitable return flight from London to Mumbai becomes a problem especially in the peak holiday season. However, news of the Indian based Kingfisher Airline providing a new daily flight service between the above named destinations may be welcome news. To read more about this please click here.

How much say do ordinary people have in planning matters in their localities re the major Plan for Goa 2021? In an article titled 'Regional Plan to Disempower People' by Nandkumar Kamat, the noted economist V.A. Pai Panadikar is quoted as saying that, "Goa being a small and over-political state, the established top political class does not permit any truncation or distribution of its space to rule and govern." To read more about this click here.

In light of the seemingly 'bumpy' development of Goa over recent years, the name of Dr. Jack de Sequiera has often been presented as one who had an excellent vision for Goa and how he "foresaw the many problems that ill Goa today...and appealed from a principled position to all sections of Goan society irrespective of their religious and social backgrounds." Find out more about Jack de Sequiera from a recent obituary – click here.

Alisha Carvalho provides several reasons why the youth of Goa prefer to leave Goa for better economic prospects. See her article titled 'Youth Leaving Goa for Better Prospects'. Click here.

Finally, at a time when New Year resolutions are made and often quickly broken, a poem by Milena Marques-Zachariah may be of particular interest to Goan Voice (UK) readers. Milena is a Mumbai-Goan and Dubai-Canadian and her poem 'Mind versus Heart' can be read by clicking here.

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FILM: The Mystic Masseur. BBC 2
Sunday 11th Jan. 02:10 to 04:00. Adaptation of V S Naipaul's Pulitzer prize-winning novel. An Indian schoolteacher in Trinidad decides to fulfil his dream of becoming a writer. In order to make ends meet, he works as a masseur. 2001. Director: Ismail Merchant.

RELIGIOUS: Sunday Worship. BBC Radio Four
Sunday 11th Jan. 08:10 to 08:50. Mass for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord from St Thomas More, Coventry. Celebrant: Father Timothy Menezes. Musical directors: Jo Boyce and Mike Stanley.

DRAMA: A Passage To India. BBC Radio 7
Monday 12th Jan. 13:00 to 13:15. Dr Aziz is surprised to find a kindred spirit in the Englishwoman, Mrs Moore. E M Forster's final novel, read by Samuel West. Episode 1 of 15.

DOCUMENTARY: Crossing Continents. BBC Radio Four
Monday 12th Jan. 20:30 to 21:00. Malaysia: Racist No More? Report on the tensions between Malay, Indian and Chinese young people on the front lines of the struggle between ingrained racism and the possibility of a more equal future.

HEALTH: Case Notes. BBC Radio Four
Tuesday 13th Jan. 21:00 to 21:30. Explores the science behind the dramatic cut in the number of cot deaths. A study in Bradford looks at the differences between how South Asian and European families look after their newborns.

TRAVEL: Rough Guide to Amazing Journeys. five
Friday 16th Jan. 19:30 to 20:00. Travel series presented by Julia Bradbury and Toby Amies. Toby boards the Orient Express in Singapore; and Julia explores the villages that lie along the picturesque waterways of Kerala, South India.

NATURE: Natural World. BBC 2
Friday 16th Jan. 20:00 to 20:50. The Mountains of the Monsoon. Wildlife documentary. Indian environmentalist and photographer, Sandesh Kadur explores the natural wonders of the Western Ghats mountains.

FORTHCOMING

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

Sat. 14 Feb. SE Goans Valentine Ball from 6.30pm - 11pm at St Marks Hall, Old Mill Rd, Plumstead SE18 1QE. Ticket £11 per person includes meal + 1 free drink on entrance. Children under 10. accompanied by an adult, free admission and soft drink. Dance the night away to the wonderful sounds of Mustang Band and a disco, in addition see the famous Saga Dancers live as seen on BBC2 in Step up to the plate. Tickets & more information call- Chris Pinto 01322400732, Ronald Fernandes 0208 298 9263, Tatanya D’souza – 0208 316 1473 or email segoans@ntlworld.comsegoans@ntlworld.com

Sun. 22 Feb. Mungul Union (UK) celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Woodside High School (ex-White Hart Lane School Hall), White Hart Lane, London N22. Live music by "MAZ & CO" and Disco by "FANTASY". Mass at 12.30 pm. For tickets and details, contact Robert Fernandes (07753831250) or Rosalind Rebello (0208 767 8652) ros.rebello@amserve.net

Sun. 26 Jul. G.O.A. GOAN FESTIVAL in conjunction with Goan Organisations at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Starts with Holy Mass at 12.15 pm. Contact: Herbert Fernandes 01277 651052, Alfred Rebello 020 – 8337 8022. For stall applications contact: Bernie Gracias 020 - 8723 1322.

Sun. 23 Aug. G.O.A. SPORTS DAY at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Contact: Peter Rodrigues 020 - 8399 4883. For stall applications: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457.

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