COMMUNITY NEWS

Feature article: Oscar de Mello is no more
5 Jun: Coastweek (Kenya). By William Faria. Oscar, a Kenyan of Goan-Portuguese descent was born in 1930 in Dar es Salaam … he was orphaned at a very young age … a man with immense sense of humour … He quipped: “Goans were never considered as Asians in the pre-colonial era, they were categorised as Europeans…”... In 1956 Oscar moved to Nairobi and organized the Nairobi Heroes to play outside matches … Louisa and Valerie, his daughters were Kenya’s tennis aces and are still active tennis players in Canada… He was hit by tragedy in 1980 as wife, Zelia dies in a car crash … in later years he married a young Kenyan woman, Ambia, with whom he has a son, Tony… Goodbye Oscar! 2570 words. Click here.

Toronto: Ian and Joanna De Souza: 2009 Dora Award Nominees
4 Jun: Playbill News. The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced nominations for the 30th annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards which honour excellence in the performing arts in Toronto… Theatre Passe Muraille's The Misfit was twice nominated: Outstanding Choreography for Joanna De Souza and Anita Majumdar and Outstanding Sound Design/Composition for Ian De Souza. Click here.
Photo shows Ian who is married to Joanna, the son of Norbert and brother of Kevin (Montreal), all from the distinguished Kampala musical family. For profiles of Ian and Joanna de Souza click here.

Mombasa: Archbishop Graces Star of Sea Centenary Celebrations
5 June: Coastweek (Kenya). The Star of the Sea Centenary Celebrations took place on 30th May … Guest of honour was Archbishop Boniface Lele … Chairman Steering Committee James Muriuki and Headteacher Sr. Bernadette Mwelu provided the following history of the 'Star of the Sea' Primary: … The number in the White Sisters (so called because of the sisters white dress) Convent School, grew from 20 in 1909 to 1,055 today … 947 words. Click here.
For some recent photos of the school, click here.

Leander Paes all set for his new innings in business
5 Jun: Economic Times. The only name associated with India’s individual glory at the Olympics was that of Leander Paes when he brought home the tennis bronze in 1996 …Now, on the cusp of his 36th birthday, the Goan boy from Kolkata has shifted attention to life beyond tennis…. He has set up Leander Sport, a sports management firm … Like he says, at the end of the day, he is still the same guy from Goa. 950 words. [Photo shows Leander with his wife, Rhea Pillai]. Click here.

Massachusetts: Clement Pinto: Allston-Brighton Unsung Heroes to be honored
5 Jun: Allston-Brighton News (Massachusetts). In 1994, the Allston-Brighton created the Unsung Hero Award to honor residents who selflessly put the community before themselves…Here are this year’s recipients… Clement Pinto was born in Goa and moved to Karachi where, when he grew up, took a job at a bank. He then moved to Kuwait where in 1960 along with his friends built a cathedral, complete with a bishop… in 1989 they bought a house on Monastery Road, Brighton and got involved in Community projects … 450 words. Click here.

Montreal: Cheryl Braganza: Cancer's comeback adds urgency to life of artist-musician
5 Jun: Montreal Gazette. For Cheryl Braganza, not going gentle into that good night means painting in the wee hours of the morning… The urgency is cancer. Braganza's was in remission for a few years and now it's back… On Sunday, she'll be exhibiting art, ranging in price from $210 to $2,500, in the lobby of her building… My Journey Inward, an exhibition of Cheryl Braganza's art, takes place Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the lobby of 1070 St. Mathieu St… 702 words. Click here.
For a profile and sample of Cheryl Braganza’s works, click here.

New Zealand. Asian women 'disadvantaged' in health
6 Jun: Stuff (New Zealand). … Auckland University of Technology Centre for Asian and Migrant Health senior research fellow Ruth DeSouza wrote a research paper last year showing Asian women were the least likely of all ethnic groups to have mammograms or smear tests, generally going to a doctor only if something was already wrong…
Ruth DeSouza was born in Tabora, Tanzania and is the daughter of Edwin and Ivy DeSouza (ex Dar & Nairobi). Click here.

Canada: Vernon Lobo: Cyberplex shakes off dot-com doldrums
6 Jun: Globe & Mail (Canada). Once upon a time, Vernon Lobo was a very rich man… About 15 years ago Mr. Lobo and his partners become leaders in cyber retailing and his company was worth almost $1-billion. Then came the dot com crash so he set about rebuilding Cyberplex on a new business model: matching advertisers with electronic publishers… Mr. Lobo appears to be sitting pretty right now. 865 words. Click here.
Vernon Lobo received the 1982 Victor Abreo Education Award presented by the Goan Overseas Association. He is married to Ingrid.

Goan Diaspora Survey: There are 56,000 Goans overseas [!]
6 Jun: Times of India. … The Goa Diaspora Survey was done among 6,000 sample households in 60 localities selected at random from both rural and urban areas …The detailed analysis reveals that 56,000 emigrants were settled abroad … The study also found out 56 percent are in the Middle East, 13 percent in Europe, 10 percent are in North and seven percent are working aboard ships…264 words.
[Ed: The number of Goans in the UK has been estimated to be 50,000 alone. Very few of them have close family in Goa and therefore would not be represented in the survey] Click here.

pdf of Goa Migration Study 2008 now available
8 Jun: Global Goans. The full text of the Goa Migration survey 2008 is available in pdf format – go to www.globalgoans.org.in. You need to register (free) to access the site. Eduardo Faleiro, Commissioner for NRI Affairs released the 206 page Study on 2nd June 2009. It will be analyzed and discussed in August 2009 at a Conference of eminent National and Goan experts on the subject.

Genelia D’Souza’s mini skirt creates a mini riot
8 Jun: Apunkachoice. Genelia D'Souza was doing a photo shoot in Bandra, Mumbai … when Genelia stepped out, donning a sensuous mini skirt, the crowd started to increase and in a jiffy people went bananas, making it impossible to control them… Attempts were made to cover Genelia with jeans, but all in vain so the shoot had to be stopped … 285 words. Click here.
Genelia D'Souza was born in England in 1983. Her parents, Jeanette and Neil originally hail from Goa, later moved to England and then to Bombay…

Fredrick Noronha: Cyber-Activism as Extended Mission of Journalism
9 Jun: Ohmy News. By Armstrong Vaz (armie). Goa-based journalist cum cyber activist Fredrick Noronha sees himself primarily as an info-activist. His goal is to dig out information that can bring about a greater degree of social justice in societies… 1487 words. Click here.

Michigan: Michelle D’Souza: Entrepreneur of Year Finalist
9 Jun: Crains Detroit Business. Ernst & Young L.L.P. has selected finalists for its 2009 Central Great Lakes region’s annual Entrepreneur of the Year award. Winners will be announced at a gala event Thursday, June 11… Included on the list of this year’s area finalists is Michelle D’Souza, CEO, Unified Business Technologies Inc., Troy. www.ubtus.com/ Click here.
Michelle D'Souza won the 2008 Enterprising Women of the Year Award … she was born in Bombay, the daughter of Felix Heredia and Rosalina D’Souza and traces her Goan roots to Salvador-do-Mundo, & Chorao. She owns a Complete Business Solutions company which recruits for both the private and public sectors and is always looking to hire suitable people. Enquiries to resources@ubtus.com

Australia: Alan D'Souza selected by Gordon Ramsay who cancels Perth visit
10 Jun: WA News. Foul mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay has been embroiled in controversy over nasty comments he made about A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw … He called her a pig and a lesbian … Opus at the Richardson chef Alan D'Souza has flown to Los Angeles to work with Ramsay on the unique menu they were to have offered to guests at the Perth dinner. Click here.

UK: Brother 'slain in drug row'
10 Jun: Newham Recorder. Adnan Patel was knifed to death as he confronted the drug dealers who supplied his 14-year-old brother, a court heard … Clint D'Mello of Leyton rounded up his alleged gang armed with nail-studded baseball bats and knives and surrounded Mr Patel as he tried to protect himself with a golf club…The court was told Mr Patel had already been involved in two fights that day with alleged ringleader D'Mello … The trial continues. 217 words. Click here.

USA: Fiona Dias: GSI Commerce Leads in E-Commerce Services
10 Jun: PRNewswire. GSI Commerce Inc. (Nasdaq: GSIC) is among the nation's top 500 online retailers according to research published by Internet Retailer … "Earning this leadership position is a reflection of GSI's commitment to consistently deliver superior services that drive business performance for our clients," said Fiona Dias, executive vice president of strategy and marketing for GSI… 730 words. Click here.
Fiona Dias is the daughter of Felix and Jane Pinto (Micato, Nairobi). For more about the family, click here.

USA: Lifestyle Guru Susie Coelho Joins Examiner.com
10 Jun: PR Newswire. Examiner.com welcomes lifestyle guru Susie Coelho as its National Lifestyle Examiner … Susie Coelho is the founder and CEO of one of the country's preeminent lifestyle companies. As the bestselling author of four books spanning home, garden, entertaining and wedding, Susie brings her life experience as a restaurateur, retail store owner and designer to homeowners across America… 466 words. Click here.

Canada: Goan Tanzanite Seniors: Photo Gallery
10 Jun: From Brendan Abreu. Check out the photos of the 31 May 2009 Social. Select the website, then the Photo Gallery. Click here.

DEATHS

9 Jun: Mapusa, Goa. EVANS DE SOUZA. Husband of Iris. Father of Eileen. Brother of Eric/Pramila, Erasmo/Superfina, Elmo/Sandra, Elinda/Dr Robinson, Milagres/Veronica, Dr Margaret/Dr Watson (California, USA), Dr Frederick/Patsy (Birmingham, UK).

6 Jun: Tonbridge, Kent, UK. DORIS ALMEIDA (ex-Mombasa). Wife of Ubald. Mother to Mario, Jackie and Roxanna. [Info from Maureen de Souza].

6 Jun: Candolim, Goa. ESTERLITA MIRANDA. (Born 1939; Ex-Glaxo, Bombay). Wife of late Terence. Mother of Neil/Charlotte (Dubai), Sandra/Max (Australia).

4 June: Panjim, Goa. FREMIOT FERNANDES. Husband of Nancy. Father of Carlos/Ursula, Madalena/late Bosco (Portugal), Cesar/Saozinha (Switzerland). Grandfather of Karl, Mac, Helder (Portugal) and Karina (Switzerland).

30 May: Anjuna, Goa. ANTONIO (AC) CARVALHO. (Born 1924, ex-Nairobi: ex-chairman of the Goan Institute and popular snooker and card player) He will be greatly missed by his wife Remezia, his children Luisa, Leo and Mathew, his son-in-law Caje, daughter-in-law Wendy and his grandchildren Terence, Timothy & Lorraine along with the rest of his family and friends. His funeral will take place in Anjuna and a service will be held on Tue. 30th June at 10 am at Our Lady Queen of Apostles, 15 The Green, Heston Road, Heston, Middlesex, TW5 0RL. Condolences to lorraine_desouza@hotmail.co.uk

29 May: Newham, London. EUFREGINA GENETRESE MIRANDA (aged 89; ex-Nairobi). Wife of the late Mr. S.B.Miranda. Mother of Anthony (Christine), Cajy (Bernie), Sabino and the late Isabella Miranda. She leaves behind many grandchildren. Funeral will be held at 12 noon on Friday 12 Jun. at St. Antony's Church, 56, St. Antony's Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 9QB

In Memoriam: The Honourable Justice Ivan J.A. Fernandes
8 June 2005. Toronto. IVAN JOHN ANTHONY FERNANDES. Born June 12, 1956, in Mbarara. Uganda. Photograph in the Globe & Mail of June 8 2009, page R 13. For an obituary, 623 words click here.

WHO THE BLEEP CARES?
Weekly column by Selma Carvalho.

Who the bleep cares about M. Boyer, tiatre and a cultural evolution?

My great-grandfather was called posko-bamon, not because he was adopted nor was he a bamon, but because he was a light touch with the violin, the rebec. In the 1800s, this was an accomplishment more generally acquired by upper-castes, who had time to devote themselves to such leisurely and artistic pursuits. By the time his son, Khaitan Aguiar, the youngest of seven siblings, was born, he realised the entire family was musically gifted and that at least one of them should be given the opportunity to bring this talent to fruition. He enrolled, Khaitan, in a music school. My great-grandfather was M. Boyer’s grandfather. Despite the musical inclination of his own off-spring, he could never have imagined that when one of his grandson’s passed away, the Chief Minister of Goa, himself would come to pay his respects, scores of tiatrists would form the funeral procession and act as pallbearers, and that the police would be called in to cordon off the people.

Boyer’s own father, Sebastiao Aguiar, was also a notable personality. Not a celebrity like Boyer but he was well known in Margao for his social activism. He had moved from a fairly comfortable life from the village of Mardol to Margao. The notion of permanent settlement is relatively new to many Goans, especially to those from the hinterlands of Ponda and Sanguem. Up until the advent of the 19th century, movement of Goans from one area to another was quite common, often fleeing the ravages of a flu and cholera epidemic or the impoverishment that followed a failed crop. Perhaps it was one of these circumstances, which prompted Sebastiao to make the move to the more promising region of Margao, where he erected a thatched dwelling to house his family. Here, he established himself as a person of some merit, providing assistance in whatever capacity he could, within the small community. When Bostiao, as he was known, died people lined the streets to pay their respect, a line so long it delayed the funeral cortege from leaving the home at the scheduled time. After his father’s demise, Boyer still fairly young, moved to Raia to live with his maternal uncles.

My father’s earliest memories are of Boyer as a young lad, putting up small plays on makeshift stages in the balcony of our ancestral house. In fact, Boyer’s debut performance was a play that opened in our native village of Nuvem. No matter what accolades, he won as a tiatrist, playwright and singer, he maintained his relationship with my grandmother, his aunt, till her death. Often, he would return to our village to celebrate the Mae Dos Pobres feast. In those days, even rarer than a sighting of M.Boyer, was the appearance of a car in the village. There was no tarred road leading up to our house, so he would park it quite a distance away and walk the mucky path to our pale yellow house with its red-tiled roof. Children would gather around the car to study it closely and women would peep through their windows to catch a glimpse of the tiatrist.

In the early 1900s, tiatre as an art form was held in much disdain by Goa’s caste based social hegemony. It was a society deeply segregated by caste and language. Writing at the turn of the 19th century, Francisco Joao Da Costa, in his column Notas a lapis, parodied Margao society’s caste pretensions and their ungainly dalliance with all things Portuguese, particularly the language. In a letter dated 1897, written to the Viscount de Taunay, Costa defended his position and charged that most of the population of Goa spoke a “Portuguese version of Konkani or a Portuguese with a Konkani construction.” However difficult the phonetics of this alien language was, to the native Goan elite, speaking in Konkani was abhorrent and almost treacherous. Tiatre was an artistic genre which combined the pathos of Italian opera and the comedy of Burlesque, but because its medium of delivery was Konkani, it came to be shunned by Goa’s elite as a plebeian form of entertainment.

M. Boyer was not a politically motivated man. It was never his intention to project a political agenda into anything he wrote or portrayed. He did however, inadvertently, propel the aspirations of a large section of Konkani speaking Goans into the limelight. The exceptional quality of his plays meant the elite would often sneak into the tiatre-halls to catch a show. Inevitably when caste rivalries erupted in his home town of Margao or village of Raia, he was often caught in the cross-fire. He once confided to my father, that he considered himself neither a sudhir nor a chardo or bamon, but just the arbitrator for all sides concerned. He was a man ahead of his time, a constant reminder to Goan society that extraordinary talent transcends the trivialities of human prejudice and the discrimination it perpetuates.

Like so much of Goan culture, tiatre too might have floundered into obscurity but for an unforeseen event in the 1960s, which salvaged it from the wreckage of economic paucity. The migration of a substantial number of Romi-lip Konkani-speaking and writing Goans, into the Gulf countries meant these Goans were now in a position to sponsor tiatrist to the Gulf. This much needed financial fillip energised the tiatre industry and it re-emerged to take its rightful place as a legitimate Goan art form.

Perhaps what made M. Boyer a legendary artiste was his profound understanding of the human heart; that it is fragile and vulnerable, given to comedy and pathos, and that it needs an audience to sustain itself.

Do leave your feedback at carvalho_sel@yahoo.com

TRAVEL & TOURISM NEWS:

Goa Govt not to bend the rules for nightlife: Ravi
5 Jun: Navhind Times. Ruling out amendment to the state rules to allow various activities in the night for the benefit of tourists, the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik on Thursday said that foreigners would have to obey the laws of the land and that there would no changes in laws to suit their style of living in the state of Goa… 658 words. Click here.

Any further increase in tourist entry will finish Goa: Churchill
5 Jun: Navhind Times. The South Goa strongman and present PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao categorically stated that he was against any increase in the number of tourists coming to the state and rejected the need for construction of another airport and raised the bogey of Goa being swamped by outsiders … 402 words. Click here.

India’s fastest emerging cities targeted for investment
4 Jun: Law Society Gazette (UK). The UK government has drawn up a list of emerging Indian cities that it will target for British investment, opening the door for City lawyers to advise British businesses heading to these locations. The report lists nine rapidly growing Indian cities as having the greatest potential for investment, including tie-ups with local law firms… Goa is listed as having high potential. Social, economic and cultural indicators, as well as the infrastructure of 179 Indian cities were evaluated… 303 words. Click here.

Casinos out of sight, out of mind: Goa chief minister
6 Jun: IANS. Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Saturday said once the six offshore casino vessels were shifted out of the Mandovi river and away from sight, public protests over the issue would stop… “The casinos benefit the government, and hence the ordinary people…” he said, adding that the government was earning Rs.5 crore annually from the casinos by way of licence fee and entertainment tax… 509 words. Click here.

Goa: 25% fall in tourism expected this year
6 Jun: Economic Times. Faced with a bleak season, travel agents in Goa are now looking up to Bollywood for a revival of their fortunes. For this, they want the state government to chip in with film sponsorships …A further fall in tourists of 25% is expected this year. This drop also includes many repeat clients coming mainly from UK and Russia who form Goa’s bread and butter during the peak tourist season from mid December to end February… 330 words. Click here.

Why We Travel
7 Jun: New York Times. Louise Alldis, 25, a massage therapist from Newcastle Emlyn, Wales… ''I was spending five weeks in Goa with my friend Dean, just relaxing and unwinding … my favorite beach bar, Cafe Lilliput… I got to know the family that runs Lilliput quite well. I feel very at home there … making the most of the wonderful sunshine and being entertained by the antics of the cheeky cows on the beach.'' Photo + 169 words. Click here.

Goa Property Con
7 Jun: The Observer (UK). From TC: Bought a flat in Benaulim, Goa … The property is occupied by locals and a few Brits and looks a state with rats running about because of the rubbish that is strewn around. It is difficult to put pressure on the contractor, on the verge of bankruptcy, but he is still trading and taking deposits from unwary Brits… All the Brits say their property has risen in price. This brings in buyers for the builder but nobody is making serious money and most will be lucky to get back what they have laid out. It's a con. 141 words. Click here.

CM to save Goa from “its alienation to immigrants and foreigners”
7 Jun. Times of India. Digambar Kamat on Saturday said his government would enact an effective legislation "to save the land from its alienation to immigrants and foreigners" and to protect Goa's identity. He also expressed a "dream to make Goa known as a Knowledge Hub", equipped with modern educational centres. 187 words. Click here.

How I got my cash out of Goa (at £250 a day)
7 Jun: Mail on Sunday (UK). By Rosie Waterhouse: … I had bought a flat in Goa five years ago on a whim for £8,750… I decided to sell because foreign property owners are not really welcome … When I sold it for £11,000 I was faced with a problem of what to do with the money that was handed over locally in rupees… I found the best way to bypass India’s strict currency laws was simply to use an international Visa cashpoint card…. … 659 words. Click here.
7 Jan. 2007: Mail on Sunday. My paradise lost? By Rosie Waterhouse. 879 words. Click here.
22 May 2005: Mail on Sunday. For the account of Rosie Waterhouse property purchase, click here.
Rosie Waterhouse is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director, MA in Investigative Journalism at City University (London). For a profile of her, click here.

For Sale: Goa: 104 rooms resort. $26m
8 Jun: Hotel Development. Price: USD 26,000,000. Just a couple of minutes from the beach, 5 star resort, 104 rooms, restaurants, bars, swimming pool, coffee shop, barbeque, banquet hall, conference, business center, spa, health club, gym, sauna, steam-chilled showers, jacuzzis. Click here.

Goan pilgrims accuse Israel of religious profiling
9 Jun: IANS. A group of Goans who went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem accused the Israeli authorities of religious profiling even as the Goa government sought a full fledged probe into a visa racket run by travel agents based in Goa and Israel… 363 words. Click here.

Kuoni conducts workshops in Goa to protect children from sexual exploitation in tourism
10 Jun: TravelBizMonitor. Kuoni recently conducted workshops in Goa and Kochi to enhance awareness about the vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation … A total of 135 people – mainly hotel management employees and tour guides – participating in the workshops. … S. Vidya and Nishta Desai gave a more specific Goan perspective highlighting the past cases of sexual exploitation of children … 467 words. Click here.

Direct Doha to Goa flights to begin mid-October
11 Jun: Gulf Times (Qatar). National carrier Qatar Airways will connect Doha to two new destinations – Goa and Amritsar in India - in October… 360 words. Click here.

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

Married 'bachelor' thrashed in Ponda
5 Jun: Navhind Times. A married man, posing as a bachelor, befriended a girl and promised to marry her. Aware of his marital status, she told her father who beat the living daylights out of him. He escaped and ran to the hospital for medical attention… the police arrested the father and later released him… They congratulated the girl for her actions. 191 words. Click here.

River Princess: 9-year reign of disaster
6 Jun: Times of India. Two months before villagers could sing a requiem to the devastated Candolim beach on the ninth anniversary of River Princess grounding, the government declared the vessel a state disaster. Nothing, however, has changed and the beach continues to be washed away, even as a much-awaited anti-erosion programme to save it has run into rough weather… 386 words. Click here.

Goa govt not to compensate SEZ developers
6 Jun: Business Standard. The Goa Government today said it will not compensate the developers of special economic zone (SEZ) in the state except refunding their money, which they had invested in the land… 360 words. Click here.

New life for Fontainhas
7 Jun: Deccan Herald. By Devika Sequeira. Fontainhas, Panjim’s Latin Quarter was classified as a conservation zone by the state government. But for many of the residents the conservation stamp and cap on high rise construction proved a hurdle for expanding family needs. In the last few years with the international demand for heritage homes in Goa prices continues to soar and the area is witnessing a regeneration … 802 words. Click here.

Monsoon lashes Goa, disrupts traffic
7 Jun: Navhind Times. Monsoon lashed the state with full fury on Saturday, uprooting trees at various places and blowing away roofs and hoardings, even as cases of water logging were reported from various places…The weather office at Altinho recorded 58.3 mm. of rain over the past 24 hours…462 words. Click here.

Goa varsity teacher found guilty of sexual harassment
7 Jun: PTI. The committee headed by lawyer and women's activist Albertina Almeida, probing sexual harassment accusations against Aureliano Fernandes, a senior faculty member at Goa University has recommended dismissal of the teacher confirming the charges against him… Around six girls studying masters had accused Fernandes of sexually harassing them… 203 words. Click here.

Football: Mascarenhas hat-trick takes Goa into Santosh Trophy semis
7 Jun: Times of India. Goa strolled into the semifinals of the Santosh Trophy beating a lifeless Maharashtra 5-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday. Marcus Mascarenhas scored a hat-trick and Beevan D Mello grabbed a brace… Click here.

Goa records 156 mm rainfall in 24 hrs
8 Jun: Herald. The State has received 156.6 mm rainfall in last 24 hrs … the Fire and Emergency Services attended 45 cases wherein the trees were uprooted due to heavy rains coupled with gusty winds… 151 words. Click here.

Forest dept cracks whip on frog poachers
8 Jun: times of India. Cracking the whip on frog poachers, the forest department staff caught some persons, including a female, in nearly a dozen cases all over Goa during the last few days… 373 words. Click here.

CM to demand pro-industry, pro-Goan special status
8 Jun. PTI. The Goa government will pitch in for the special status which will restrict the sale of land to non-Goans and give financial benefits to the state, chief minister Digamber Kamat said on Monday… 176 words. Click here.

Goa to Showcase its Sports Talent in Lisbon
8 Jun: Herald. Goa will have yet another, unique privilege in representing India at the 2nd Lusofonia Games to be held in Lisbon from July 11-19… Goa will have football, volleyball, taekwondo, judo, athletics and table tennis teams to display their talents and compete… The Games will now be held every four years, with the next one slated for 2013. Will it be in Goa? 666 words. Click here.

Leopard attacks woman, gets trapped in house

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9 Jun: Herald. Ranghavati Velip received serious face injuries after a leopard attacked her while she was entering her house … she rushed out of the house and closed the door trapping the leopard inside. She cried for help and neighbours rushed her hospital … a rescue team from Forest Department managed to trap the leopard in a cage and moved it to Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary… Herald photo. 548 words. Click here.

NGOs best suited to tackle child abuse:
9 Jun: IANS. NGOs are better suited than the administration and the police to fight the menace of child abuse as the bureaucracy is not sympathetic to the cause, former chief justice of India P.N. Bhagwati said in Goa on Tuesday… Known as a world famous tourist destination, Goa has also emerged as a shady sex tourism hub over the last few decades… In 1991 Peats, who had settled in Goa for several decades, was accused of trafficking minor children to paedophiles in Europe. 338 words. Click here.

Goa Civil Service officers protest ‘improper’ appointments
9 Jun: IANS. Goa Civil Service officials Tuesday met Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and asked him to remove non-GCS officials from positions traditionally occupied by state service officers… 336 words. Click here.

Dr Wilfred D'Souza resigns from Goa NCP

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9 Jun: IANS. Wilfred D'Souza, president of the Goa unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and former chief minister, late Tuesday resigned from the party's primary membership along with several key executive committee members… However, the three NCP legislators in the Goa legislative assembly, two of whom are cabinet ministers, have not resigned from the party. 198 words. Click here.

Rebel NCP leaders lash out at Pawar, call him ‘communal’
10 Jun: IANS. Members of Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) Goa unit, who resigned from the party yesterday lashed out the party chief and union minister Sharad Pawar calling him “anti-Catholic” and “communal”. At least 30 out of party’s 37-member state executive committee have resigned following the lead of former chief minister and Goa unit chief Wilfred D’Souza… 330 words. Click here.

The expanding red light district
10 Jun: Times of India. From massage parlours to fishing trawlers, highways to starred hotels, migrants to Goan girls, after the tearing down of Baina's red light area, trafficking in Goa has undergone a sea change, reports Preetu Nair… 1781 words. Click here.

Two suspected Swine Flu patients isolated in Goa
11 Jun: Indian Express. Two passengers from abroad who showed symptoms of swine flu have been kept in isolation wards in a hospital in Goa. A 21-year-old woman, who arrived from Sharjah, was admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital, while another male passenger, who came from London via Germany has been quarantined … 278 words. Click here.

IN THE NEWS:

Property: Builtup Vs Superbuiltup
4 Jun: Property Nice. In a significant judgment that could be a trend-setting step towards protecting consumers against exploitation by builders, a city builder was directed to pay a flat purchaser Rs 10.25 lakh with interest. The builder had passed off the super builtup area as the built-up area … The verdict was passed in a case by a Bandra resident, Allwyn Fernandes, against a prominent Bandra builder, Sydney Lobo … 785 words. Click here.

Toronto: In Little India, anxiety over a veteran merchant’s arrest
5 Jun: National Post. On Wednesday police arrested 22 people who were allegedly targeting the South Asian community, breaking into hundreds of homes across greater Toronto and stealing cash, electronics, passports and jewelry… two long-time jewelry stores on Gerrard Street East, Ashok Jewellers and Dubai Jewellers are implicated in the crimes… 771 words. Click here.

Year-long India festival in Canada
7 Jun: Times of India. India is all set to hold a year-long 'Festival of India in Canada' in 2011, showcasing the country's rich cultural heritage, said Indian High Commissioner to Canada S M Gavai… 325 words. Click here.

Poona: Malvani magic
7 Jun: DNA Sunday. The Poona Goan Institute Restaurant is ready with a completely new Malvani menu to tingle your taste buds… Name the fish and the various thaalis served here have it, right from prawns, pomfret, surmai to crab. The thaali contains fish fry, fish curry (surmai/bangda), malvani gravy, sol kadhi, three chapattis and plain rice. 340 words.

Men on the Beach in Goa
7 Jun: Helsingborgs Dagblad (Sweden). The exhibition of 17 photographs by Martin Bogren is ongoing until the August 16. Five men from Rajastan visit Goa and view the sea for the first time. Text in Swedish. Click here.
To view the photographs, click here.

Canada recognises Indian law degree
8 Jun: PTI. Broadening prospects for legal professionals coming from India and other Asian countries, Canadian authorities have decided to recognise their law degrees equivalent to that of the U.K. and Australia… 403 words. Click here.

Single men buying children for £15,000 at 'baby factory'
8 Jun: Evening Standard (London). A surrogacy clinic in India is advertising babies for sale to single men in Britain. Newborns can be bought for as little as £15,000 at the private clinic in Mumbai. More than 10 single men have purchased babies from the Rotunda Clinic… 627 words. Click here.

Couple back home with twins after months of legal battles
8 Jun: Evening Standard (London). A couple from London who spent £25,000 in a deal with an Indian surrogate mother are back home in East Ham with their three-month-old twins after a lengthy legal fight… 370 words + photo. Click here.

UK: Fake Viagra boss faces jail
8 Jun: Manchester Evening News. Martin Hickman, 49, of Ashton under Lyne, made £6m profit over four years selling fake and unlicensed Viagra-like prescription drugs… He sold Kamagra tablets - a generic and cheaper version of Viagra – as well as 'Lovegra' tablets … It is believed that most of the medicines he sold were produced in India… He pleaded guilty [and has been jailed for two years]... Photos + text, 833 words. Click here.

Uzbek migrant worker hits YouTube with Indian song
9 Jun: Russia Today. Baimurat Allaberiyev has been dubbed Russia’s Susan Boyle. Also known as Jimmy, the supermarket worker from the Moscow region has become a sensation on YouTube, singing a track from Bollywood’s “Disco Dancer”… Jimmy looks like a DJ from Goa but his origins are far less romantic… Video + text, 419 words. Click here.
For the You Tube hit click here.

Dubai: Goan Food Festival at Le Meridien Al Aqah during July
9 Jun: Eye of Dubai. The Swaad Restaurant at Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, will showcase the distinct flavors of Goa during July … The Goan Festival will incorporate the seafood dishes, as well as local Goan dishes with popular dishes such as Goan prawn curry, mutton vindaloo, chicken xacutti, and bebinca… Click here.

New Zealand: Labour MP Richard Worth’s “Goa purchase”
10 Jun: New Zealand Herald. MP Richard Worth is under police investigation following complaints of sexual harassment by two women … One of them has been named as Neelam Choudary, a prominent Labour Party member… It is alleged that he offered her a Government job in return for sexual favours and sent her a text message referring to the "Goa purchase" about a holiday he wanted to have with her in Goa… 758 words. Click here.
Video: 10 Jun. TVNZ. 3m. 30s. Click here.
For the Neelam Choudary page, click here.

London: Win tickets for England v India at Lord's next Sunday
10 Jun: The Guardian (UK). We've six pairs of tickets to the England v India and Ireland v Sri Lanka Super Eight matches at Lord's to give away… The Competition closes at 9.30am on 12 June 2009. Click here.

India Sky Broadcasting makes UK splash
10 Jun: Biz Asia. A new company by the name of India Sky Broadcasting (ISB) is set to make a splash in the UK market by launching a slew of new channels… 199 words. Click here.

Canada: Boy or girl? Take a quickie at-home test
11 Jun: Globe and Mail (Canada). Finding out the sex of a foetus is now easy thanks to an at-home test, on sale in the U.S. and Canada which can tell be used as early as 10 weeks… IntelliGender's test retails for $35.95 (U.S.) and takes just 10 minutes… IntelliGender refuses to sell its product in either India or China… cultural preferences for boys over girls are prevalent in Canada, too… the practice of sex-selective abortions is already rampant in the Greater Toronto Area … 606 words. Click here.

The 7 Wonders of Portuguese origin in the World
11 Jun: Jornal de Notícias (Portugal). The 7 Wonders of Portuguese origin in the World was announced last night in a ceremony held in Portimão, Algarve and broadcast by RTP. They are Basílica do Bom Jesus (Goa), Fortress of Diu (India), Fortress of Mazagão (Morocco), Old Town of Santiago (Cape Verde), Church of Saint Paul (Macau), Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi ( Brazil) and Convent of St. Francis (Brazil). There were 239,418 votes cast via the Internet and telephone. 241 words. Click here.

Freida Pinto: My love for Dev
11 Jun: the Sun (UK). Slumdog Millionaire Star Freida Pinto as told for the first time of her love for co-star Dev Patel… Freida, 24, has now called 19-year-old Dev “a lovely boy”. She added: “The friendship blossomed after the film, it got even stronger. This is all new to us.” Click here.

Auction: London and Online: Writing table
17 Jun: Rosebery's Auction, West Norwood, London SE27. Lot 1773. An Indo-Portuguese rosewood and marquetry writing table, mid 19th century, the top with ebony and bone banding over single frieze drawer upon barley twist supports united by shaped x frame stretchers, 79 x 106 x 71 cm. Estimates: £1,500 to £2,000. Click here.
Also Lot 1384: A late 17th/early 18th century Indo-Portuguese carved ivory Corpus Christi, Goanese, height 42 cm, mounted in a modern ebonised frame. Estimate £3,000 to £4,000. Click here.

GOANET HIGHLIGHTS
BY Cornel D'Costa

Barack Obama received appreciation from much of the world for his Cairo speech (4/6/09) extending a welcome to the Muslims across the globe. However, his proposition for a two state solution between the Palestinians and Israelis did not please all. Not least, Mario Gouveia on Goanet. Although the issue does not relate to Goa and Goans and I do not agree with Mario, I hope Goan Voice (UK) readers will find an oppositional stance to Obama re Israel of some interest. Click here.

Likewise, at a time when Obama has expressed his commitment to a universal public health service for America, the health systems of the UK and Canada (let alone Cuba) are being scrutinised as possible examples for America to draw upon. But, there is a determined effort from some quarters in the USA to nip this proposition in the bud and to retain the private insurance scheme that operates there. This time, we have Mario Gouveia attacking the "free Canadian health care system" offering an alternative view that can be read. Click here.

To those who never get enough of nostalgia about Goa, hopefully, they will find JoeGoaUK's offering of Goa Sunset comforting as well as other supporting video clips of M Boyer (a tribute) and M Boyer, the Last Journey. The contrast between the spectacle of bereavement in Goa and our sanitised version in the UK is seemingly marked. To view this click here.

Samir Kelekar is widely recognised as an informed and competent professional in Information Technology. When appointed as a non-executive director of the Goa Government firm Infotech Corporation by the IT minister, Samir took up the post enthusiastically. However, he soon become disillusioned when he discovered that, instead of projecting Goa, he had been invited to join an organisation that was "just a fig leaf to cover the doling out of real estate in the Dona Paula IT Park to friends and kin of the IT minister and his other cronies". Read about this in an article titled 'Getting Goa out of the IT Backwater' Click here.

Under a new scheme the Goa Government will give an award to any Goan institution "working for Goan artistes for a period of at least five years and has given valuable contributions in the field of art and culture." To read more about this in an article titled ' Govt. declares state cultural award winners click here.

Finally, this is what well known TV personality Simon Cowell, from London, had to say "I have just read Churchill Alemao's statement proclaiming that "Goa does not need any more tourists." Well said, Mr Alemao, as Goa cannot even look after the tourists she gets now!" To read about this click here.

Also hopefully, GV(UK) readers will have seen the herd of cows ruminating on Calangute Beach amidst the many foreign tourists there. This is currently doing the rounds of several internet sites across the globe.

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

COOKERY: Come Dine with Me. more4
Sunday 14th June. 18:25 to 18:55. Dan Cumberland’s Indian menu is inspired by his love of spices and through his cooking of three curries and a dal, he educates viewers about an unusual spice that smells like manure.

COOKERY: Indian Food Made Easy. UKTV Food
Sunday 14th June 21:00 to 21:30. Goan Cuisine. Anjum Anand presents more simple and healthy Indian recipes. She heads to London to meet Jonathan Readman who is going to attempt to cook for his Goan mother-in-law. [Repeat]

COOKERY: Madhur Jaffrey's Flavours of India. UKTV Food
Sunday 14th June 21:30 to 22:00. Goa. The renowned cookery writer visits the state of Goa, where the marriage of Portuguese and Indian food is one of the best in the world, as the authentic vindaloo demonstrates. [Repeat]

TRAVEL: Working Holiday. Travel Channel
Monday 15th June. 23:00 to 00:00. India. In this episode Wellington DJ, Sandon James, works in Goa, India, at a Motorbike tour company which is run by English expatriate Susie. [Repeat]

DIY: Grand Designs. more4
Monday 15th June. Time: 23:05 to 00:10. Mimi d'Costa and her husband Andre have moved to the Kent countryside to bring up their two boys. They have bought a large plot of land and want to build a home on it that is functional enough to serve their young family, but that will also blend beautifully into the landscape. Mimi is project managing, despite never having done it before. [Repeat]

DOCUMENTARY: Ganges. Eden
Wednesday 17th June. Time: 13:00 to 14:00. Daughter of the Mountains. Episode 1. A journey to the source of the Ganges. This stunning documentary reveals the natural and spiritual worlds that swirl around India's most sacred river.

COOKERY: Come Dine with Me. more4
Thursday 18th June. 14:00 to 14:30. Moni Bharij is cooking up an Indian banquet in an attempt to bring Bollywood bling to London. She's convinced her starter of gargantuan prawns and lavish five main courses will win her the £1,000 prize.

FORTHCOMING

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

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.

Sat. 13 Jun: G.O.A. Mass for Deceased Members at the Goan Community Centre, Keston Road, London N17 6PW (nearest tube station Turnpike Lane or buses 41, 67 and 141 - bus stop near Downhills School - the Centre is behind the School). Mass commences at 1pm followed by a 3-course lunch. Cost: £7 per person. Contact: Bernie Gracias (020 8723 1322), Nina Pinto (020 8767 0663), Alfred Rebello (020 8337 8022)

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.

Sat. 20 Jun. Siolim Union (London) invites you to the first ever evening celebration of the feast of their patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua at Archbishop Lanfranc School Hall, Mitcham Road, Croydon CR9 3AS. Holy Mass will commence promptly at 5pm followed by dancing to the fabulous music of “Maz & Co.” and “Say One Do One” till 12 midnight. Licensed Bar. Tickets £10 each includes a meal. Children under 12 free admission. Dress: Strictly Formal (strictly no Jeans or Trainers) - the Siolim Union Committee reserves the right of admission. No Table Reservations Allowed. No tickets will be sold at the door so please book early to avoid disappointment. For tickets and further details please contact Eugene Fernandes 0208 6654773, Charlotte 0208 6564836, Vanessa 0208 3951084 or Loretta 0208 3309307

Sun. 21 Jun. Goan Chaplaincy Day. Thanksgiving Mass at 1.15 pm followed by a Social Get Together. Venue: Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon. Live Music by Breakthru. Tickets (inc. Food & Snacks): Adults-£ 12.00. Children (7-14 yrs) -£ 6.00. Children (below 7 yrs) – Free but reserve before 18th Jun. Donations and Raffle Prises will be greatly appreciated. For further details contact: Goan Chaplaincy, St. Thomas of Canterbury School, Commonside East, Mitcham, Surrey. CR4 1YG 020 8665 2176 or goanchaplaincy@googlemail.com

Sun 28 Jun: Benaulim Association (UK) invites you to celebrate the feast of their patron saint St John the Baptist at Woodside High School Hall (formerly known as White Hart Lane School ), White Hart Lane, Wood Green, London N22. Holy Mass will commence at 12.30pm SHARP followed by dancing to the music of Maz & Co (Band and Disco). Tickets Members £8.00 Guests £10, Children 10 - 16 yrs £4 and under 10 FREE. For catering purpose only tickets will not be sold at the door so please book early to avoid disappointment For tickets and further details please contact Josephine on joferns9@gmail.com or 0208 9677471 or Mary on 0208 8039752

Sun: 5 Jul. Aldona Association celebrates the Feast of our Patron Saint Thomas at Moss Hall School, Nether St. Finchley, N3 1NR. Walking distance from West Finchley Station. Mass at 12.30 p.m. followed by social to the live music of famous band MUSTANG. Tickets £13 Non members; £11 members; £6 children 6-12 years and under 5 free. Includes Goan snacks, main meal and dessert. For tickets please phone Vanessa 020 8800 5413, Oliver 020 8965 0979, Damacian 020 83761609

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