Goan Voice - UK - providing updated comprehensive news coverage on Goa daily.

Obituary

Emeliana Diniz: Update with Funeral details
10 April: Norbury, London. EMELIANA DINIZ. Aged 87; ex-Nairobi. Wife of the late Miguel Joao Diniz. Mother to Margarida, Remy, Vigilia and Rosinha. Mother-in-law to Mario, Wanda, Michael and the late Vincent. Granny to Natasha, Martin, Leanne, Louisa, Laeticia, Natalie, Matthew, Danzel and Emma. Great-Granny to Maya, Peter and Elijiah. Funeral mass will be held at St Andrews Church, 45 Brook Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 7RD at 10 a.m. on Wednesday 7th May 2014 followed by burial at Bandon Hill Cemetery, Plough Lane, Wallington, SM6 8JQ and reception thereafter at St Elpheges Ward Hall, 120 Stafford Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9AY. Condolences to: email

News Summary

70-year-old woman with jaw smashed, paraded naked by constable, left alone
25 Apr: Herald. Victim of police brutality, banks of human generosity not govt help for treatment … Drunk constable arrested but no medical test done to probe sexual assault … Mother Teresa charity home taking care after Provedoria refused to admit her to govt old age home … click here

Panjim: Zaine Almeida: One sword, two blows, many wounds

25 Apr: Herald. The blow by blow account literally, of a murderous sword attack by Zaine Almeida (photo), a spoilt child of an influential father, which has damaged the fabric of Panjim, and the lives of the two victims of the attack. It’s close to a week since Rafael Da Costa and Raju Sarin were close to being slain, by the madness of a man, not under the influence of alcohol, but carrying a sword long enough to qualify as a murder weapon. While the broad contours of the story are known it is important for all of us to know the exact sequence of events, if only to show how close Panjim was witness to two murders on one of central squares of the town… click here
Zaine’s behaviour was not liked by many. 25 Apr: Herald… click here

Vinegar & its connection to Easter, wines & Indian food
24 Apr: Economic Times … Fatima da Silva Gracias, in her Cozinha de Goa, writes that the Portuguese found that Indians didn't have vinegar, using tamarind instead for souring. But the Portuguese wanted vinegar so "some ingenious Portuguese Franciscan priests are believed to have solved the problem by making vinegar from coconut toddy." This is still one of the best Indian vinegars and its use is a defining characteristic of Goan Christian food… click here

UK: Forthcoming Events

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Sat. 3 May. The Goan Association (U.K) is pleased to invite you to the book launch of 'A Railway Runs Through.' The book is the outcome of the three year 'Histories of British-Goans Project' and forms a unique record of our history. The launch will take place at 1:30 pm on Saturday May 3, 2014 at the following address: Sterling Suite, HSBC Sports and Social Club. Lennard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1QW.
Ample parking available. For those travelling by rail, the New Beckenham BR station (Travelcard Zone 4) is adjacent to this club. Refreshments will be served at the event. Please confirm your attendance to lescarvalhos@yahoo.com indicating the names of those in your party. Thanks to a generous grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund, 100 copies of this book will be available for distribution, free of charge, on this day (restricted to one copy per family) on a first come, first serve basis. For more information about the project, click here. For the day's programme, click here.

Sun. 4 May: Swindon. Santa Cruz Goan Association, UK. Feast of the Holy Cross. Mass at 3:30pm.at Holy Rood Church, 2 Groundwell Rd, Swindon SN1 2LU. Thereafter, to 11pm. Dine & Dance at St. Joseph's Catholic College, Ocotal Way, Swindon, SN3 3LR. Tickets: Adult: £10 (includes Buffet). Children under 10 free. Contact: Joe - 07886994169; Freddy - 07856070378; Marcus - 07593254960. For the flyer, click here.

Sun, 4 May: Cortalim Union (UK) celebrates the Feast Saints Philip & James and raising funds for CANCER RESEARCH UK and CHARITIES IN CORTALIM at Woodside High School Hall, White Hart Lane, London N22 5QJ. Mass at 13.30pm. Music by "RAINBOW'S END". Adult Tickets £15 and Under 12, £8. Contact Tino Goes (0208 697 7819), Laurente Gomes (0208 641 5995), Ligor D'Mello (0190 864 7396) and Mel Fernandes (0208 888 0393). For the flyer, click here.

Sun. 4 May: FEAST OF MÃE DE DEUS: The Saligão Association UK invites you to celebrate Mass at 12 noon, followed by a Social until 8pm. Venue: Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon CR9 3AS. Music for the Social by Say One Do One Disco, with Catering by Maggie. Licensed Bar. Tickets: £13/£10/£5 (members); £15/£10/£5 (guests). Contact: Selina de Sa 020 8643 9675. For the flyer with details, click here.

Sun. 18 May. The Goan Chaplaincy Day 2014. Archbishop Lanfranc School Hall, Croydon. Thanksgiving Mass at 1.30 pm. Principal Celebrant: Rev. Fr. Francis Carvalho - Superior General of Pilar - followed by a social. Live on stage: MUSICAL VISION and Inacio's one-man-band - STRING ALONG. Added attraction: Goa's unique cultural dances showcased by Agnelo Carneiro. Mood setter: Elliot Bocarro. Tickets available from: Nina Pinto (Tooting) 020 8767 0663. Cippin Fernandes (Swindon) 07727617537. Nazareth D'Souza (Southall) 07737166254. Gabriel Fernandes (Heston) 020 8230 7139. Louis Dias (Reading) 07448651265. Debbie Fernandes (Hounslow) 07896007011 or Joe Fernandes (Norbury) 07764659305.

Sun: 25 May: Konkani Tiatr - "Serkar" - Wembley at 2.30 pm. Goencho Avaz UK, presents Samuel Carvalho's Tiatr 'Serkar'. Venue: Copland Community School, Wembley, HA9 7BU. Contact details: Lulu Rego - 07961981792/ 07405021222/ 02089029975. S. Caitan - 07404814810/ 07949206355/ 02087951270. Caitan Braganca 07882009063. Pravin (Wembley Triangle Stores) - 07951813158/ 02089022884. For the flyer, click here.

Sun: 1 Jun: Konkani Tiatr - "Serkar" - Swindon. 2 Shows: 11.00 am & 4.00 pm. Goencho Avaz UK, presents Samuel Carvalho's Tiatr 'Serkar' Venue: Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, SN1 1QN. Contact details: Monty - 07840135121/ 07417388762. Agostinho - Modern Cut Salon, 95A Manchester Road, Swindon, SN1 2AJ - 07873251335/ 07438265444. Vincent D'Souza - 07886657763/07438188421. Lulu Rego - 07961981792/ 07405021222/ 02089029975. For the flyer, click here.

For Later Events See www.goanvoice.org.uk/events.php

Obituary

Death: Dr. Bernard Peres Da Costa

19 Apr: London, UK. DR. BERNARD PERES DA COSTA. Born1931. Son of late Jose Caetano & late Maria Escolastica, beloved husband of Marion, loving father/father-in-law of Michael/Helen, Mark, David, Clara/David Field. Grandfather of Yasmin, Rowan and Billy. Brother of late Joao Jose, expired peacefully in London

News Summary

Goan Transformations in East Africa
23 Apr. Goanet Reader. In the essay 'Butcher, baker, minstrel, hunter, frontiersman: Goan transformations in East Africa,' Selma Carvalho gives a brief overview of the new book 'A Railway Runs Through : Goans of British East Africa, 1865 - 1980'. She writes, 'We see a Goan, as he might have been had he not been cowed down by the strictures of colonialism -- had he been treated as an equal partner. The pioneering years in Africa allow him that opportunity -- to be this derring-do adventurer and risk-taker. In just a few years, this egalitarian relationship would dissolve as the age-old hierarchies of Empire are recreated in British East Africa, and the Goan is once again compliant, but for a brief moment in history, he runs like a wild, untamed horse.' For full essay: click here
For those residing outside of the UK you can order the book through PayPal from this link. click here

Calgary, Canada: Antonio and Annie Carvalho

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With their daughter, Flory

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19 Apr: Calgary Herald (Canada). Antonio Carvalho, 90, takes the lead with his wife Annie behind him as Catholics took part in the 31st annual Way of the Cross Procession at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Good Friday… Clutching a handmade wooden cross in one hand and the tiny fingers of her granddaughter in the other, Zelina Fernandes moved slowly among the urban pilgrims gathered to commemorate the passion of Jesus Christ. The 61-year-old breast cancer survivor was too physically weak to take part in last year’s Way of the Cross procession, which travels a route through the Beltline from St. Mary’s Cathedral, down to 12th Avenue S.W. and back… click here
Antonio and Annie are ex Mombasa and Nairobi. [Alert by Marilyn Miranda, Nairobi]. For a video report of the Procession, advance to 5m. 0s of the video, click here

Goa tourism development corporation leases 53,000 sq m at Vagator
24 Apr: Times of India. The Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) has leased out a stretch of 53,000 sq m on the shores of Vagator to two Delhi-based hospitality companies to run a 'model tourism-entertainment zone' for a period of 22 years. Amid protests from locals over the 'privatization' of the dark and desolate beach, GTDC is determined to go ahead with its mega project, that should be up and running when the tourism season of 2014 begins… One stretch of around 22,500 sq m will be leased to Apra Motels to set up a large beach wedding venue … click here

UK: Forthcoming Event

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Goa CM rejects idea of state taking over mining
24 Apr: Times Of India. Chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday rejected the proposal that the state should directly take over mining activity in Goa but said that the government could do it through contractors. He said the government should not take over mining activity as it will promote lots of corruption. Parrikar said he had other ideas on how the government could take up mining… click here

Benefits cheat who travelled the world from Goa to Argentina is jailed

24 Apr: Daily Mail. Former model Tracy Johnson, 52, claimed she was ‘prisoner in own home’. She travelled the world as she falsely claimed benefits of around £50,000… She was jailed for one year … Johnson lived it up in a variety of exotic locations including spending a four-month stint in Goa, which she told a court she thought she was 'entitled' to. She told the jury during her trial: ‘I was entitled to a little break. I think I’m entitled to go and sit on a beach in Goa. But you can sit on a beach in Goa watching the sunset and still be in a pretty desperate state.’ … click here

Breifne follows Bourne in idyllic Goa
23 Apr: Leitrim Observer (Ireland) By Breifne Earley: I’ve arrived in Goa and I have been lucky enough to spend a few rest days between Anjuna Beach and Palolem Beach in southern Goa. It’s a million miles away from anything I’ve ever experienced in my entire life before. The pace of life is totally pedestrian and between kayaking in the Indian Ocean, sleeping in a tree house on the beach in Anjuna, retracing the steps of Matt Damon in his movie The Bourne Supremacy at Palolem, enjoying the food and drink available along the beaches and just completely recharging the batteries both physically and mentally. The range of people I’ve spend time with over those days is equally as interesting as the activities we got up to. From French reality TV stars, College professors, exchange students, hippies out to find themselves, holiday makers and some fantastic locals in the accommodation, restaurants and bars along the way… click here
Breifne Earley is an Irish radio presenter who is currently Pedalling The Planet, an 18,000 mile cycle through 25 countries, to raise awareness for suicide prevention. For his daily videos and blogs click here

Obituary

Death: Alexander De Mello
17 Apr: Duncan, BC, Canada. ALEXANDER THEOTONE DE MELLO. Survived by his wife of 55 years, Anne Kirsten, and his sister Blanche. Born 1929 in Goa. He spent his first 7 years in Dar es Salaam, East Africa. He was educated in Bombay and later attended university in London, England, where he met his wife. Alex came to Canada to teach in 1963, first in St. John's, NFLD, then Consort, Alberta, and finally Yellowknife, NWT, where he spent the next 29 years until retirement. The last 20 years were spent in retirement in Brentwood Bay and Duncan. A private service will be held. Condolences to For further details click here

News Summary

London: Green Party’s Maya de Souza to step down in Highgate

22 Apr: The Hampstead & Highgate Express. The Green Party’s single Camden councillor has announced she is to step down after eight years in the role. Highgate councillor Maya de Souza will not stand for re-election to Camden Council next month. She said: “Working both as a civil servant and a councillor has never been an easy balancing act, and as a result of changes in my role, sadly I don’t feel able to continue with this.” … click here
22 Apr: Camden New Journal. Camden's lone Green councillor Maya De Souza steps down … click here
Maya De Souza is Head of Sustainable Public Procurement, Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), UK. Maya De Souza (ex-Nairobi) is the daughter of Fitz and Romola; Sister of Veena, Mark and Roy.

Sex, lies and Goa's massage parlours
23 Apr: IANS. … Over the last couple of years, several groups of tourists, especially those cruising the famous Calangute beach stretch, have been duped by pimps, who first offer massage and sex services and then beat up the tourists after relieving them of their money. The police are rarely informed… "I provide clients to two parlours. We have northeastern girls, young Punjabis, smart college educated girls... But foreign masseuses will cost you double the amount," claimed the pimp, Rakesh, who also claims he's the first to introduce a "business innovation" to the industry in Goa - a "massage on wheels" service… click here

Football: Mariano Barreto takes charge of Ethiopia

22 Apr: BBC. The Ethiopia Football Federation has confirmed the appointment of Mariano Barreto as the new coach of the national team. The 57-year-old signed a two-year contract on Tuesday to replace Sewnet Bishaw, who was sacked in February... Barreto's main task will be to lead the Walya Antelopes to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco… Barreto was Ghana coach in 2003 and went onto coach Portuguese side Maritimo and several other clubs in Europe including Russian sides Dynamo Moscow and Kuban Krasnador. Photo. click here
From Wikipedia: Mariano Barreto was born 18 January 1957 at Ribandar, Goa … click here

Cayman Islands: Goans enjoyed Easter Ball
23 Apr: Caymanian Compass. Members of the Indian community in Cayman came together for an Easter Ball to celebrate the religious holiday and reinforce their cultural identity. The Goan Heritage Club’s inaugural Easter Ball was held at Loyola Hall, beside St. Ignatius Church, on Sunday and around 150 people attended. Event coordinator Camilo Fernandes said, “We also have lots of sports activities coming up, including table tennis and football and other events throughout the year,” … Thomas Cardozo, president of the Goan Heritage Club said that most Goans are Catholic … Photo. click here

Audio: Bombay Jazz

21 Apr: BBC Radio 4. Bombay had its very own thriving jazz scene in the 1930's that lasted three decades… performers such as Chic Chocolate [, Micky Correa, Teddy Weatherford and Frank Fernand - all regarded in India today as jazz legends. This cultural exchange produced music that wove threads into Bombay's story. These threads would later become inextricably a part of the city's own definitive creation: Bollywood, and its music in particular… Examining the music and legacy of the Indian Jazz legends he searches for their impact today and his journey ends in Goa, now regarded as the new 'Jazz Capitol of India' by music promoter Colin D'Cruz … [Alert by Clive Costa-Correa]. Programme online till 28 Apr. 2014. 28 minutes click here

First branch for Mother Teresa's missionary work marks 50 years
23 Apr: Times of India. The first branch for Mother Teresa's missionary work in Goa was set up in an old traditional house here donated by a devout priest … On Tuesday, April 22, 2014, the Sisters of Blessed Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity completed 50 years since their first arrival in Goa… In his homily the Archbishop said that Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata came to open a branch in Goa because she did hear the call from the Risen Lord Jesus Christ guiding her to 'Go and be my witness to the world' and 'Mogadan' the gift of love is the humble outcome of her great work. The sisters now operate from three other houses in Quepem, Cotto in Cuncolim and Panaji… At present they care for around 100 sick and abandoned women … click here

UK: New Forthcoming Events: Tiatr: Wembley & Swindon

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Goencho Avaz UK, presents Samuel Carvalho's 'Serkar' - Konkani Tiatr - "Serkar" - Wembley Sun: 25 May: at 2.30 pm. Venue: Copland Community School, Wembley, HA9 7BU. Contact details: Lulu Rego - 07961981792/ 07405021222/ 02089029975. S. Caitan - 07404814810/ 07949206355/ 02087951270. Caitan Braganca 07882009063. Pravin (Wembley Triangle Stores) - 07951813158/ 02089022884.
Swindon. Sun: 1 Jun: 2 Shows: 11.00 am & 4.00 pm. Venue: Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, SN1 1QN. Contact details: Monty - 07840135121/ 07417388762. Agostinho - Modern Cut Salon, 95A Manchester Road, Swindon, SN1 2AJ - 07873251335/ 07438265444. Vincent D'Souza - 07886657763/ 07438188421. Lulu Rego - 07961981792/ 07405021222/ 02089029975.

For the flyer, click here.

Weekly Weather & Exchange Rates
23 Apr: Goa Met.. Weather: Max = 34.8. Min = 26.7. Humidity = 80 %.

Exchange rates (Xcom): £ = 102.72 ; $ = 61.04; $Can = 55.33; Euro = 84.34. Aus$ = 56.67

News Summary

Dr Ribeiro Goan School Nairobi: Alumni Newsletter April 2014. Some Highlights

Dr. ACL de Sousa by Dr. Alan de Sousa Rodrigues… A Tale from Mum’s Memoirs by Mafalda-Anne deSa (Mafie)... My Time at DRGS: 1939 TO 1950 Reflections by Tony Dias, Class of 50… East Africa – ‘Paradise lost’ no more - by Julian Fernandes, Class of 65 … Where are they now? Photos from the Victor Nazareth's (Australia ) Archive … To download the issue, click here

Canada: Derek Lobo: Rental makes a quiet resurgence in Forest Hill
17 Apr: Toronto Star. … Derek Lobo has been an evangelist for the rental apartment sector for years, but especially since the recession… Since then he’s brokered a flurry of apartment sales and watched investors champing at the bit to buy up more, except newer buildings remain exceptionally rare: Developers essentially abandoned apartment construction after the Ontario government introduced rent controls in 1975… less than 10,000 new units have been built across the GTA since 2000, almost two-thirds of them in the City of Toronto, says Lobo, CEO of Burlington-based brokerage and research firm ROCK Advisors… click here
Derek Lobo is the husband of Celia; father of Vanessa, Rebecca and Teanna. He was born in Karachi and moved to Canada in 1966. For the Derek Lobo video, The 10 myths & realities about New Apartments click here

Canonization of Blessed Vaz expected in a year or two

22 Apr: Times of India. The day appears to be not very far away when Goan and Sri Lankan Catholic communities will rejoice and celebrate the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz. It is expected to take place in a year or two. Fr Vaz entered Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1687. On January 21, 1995, soon after he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Colombo, the canonization process followed with religious fervour, both in Goa (his birth place) and Sri Lanka, where he carried out his missionary works… click here

Marriage under special law in Goa kicks up row
22 Apr: Times of India. In the erstwhile Portuguese colony, where the common civil code is applicable, high profile non-Goans registering their marriages in the state has sparked legal controversies. The latest case is the registration of the marriage of legal luminary Harish Salve's daughter Saaniya under the Central Special Marriage Act by the state marriage officer. A complaint about the validity of registration of her marriage was submitted by social activist Aires Rodrigues before the governor on Saturday… click here
The ‘ Salve’ Marriage That The Law Cannot Salvage. By Aires Rodrigues. Herald. 22 Apr. 1042 words. click here

Implications of Goa winged bean crop are enormous

20 Apr: The Salinas Californian (USA). The winged bean has tremendous potential as a food and a market crop. The ideal crop for the next millennium has to be called a super-crop or the supermarket crop. The winged bean may be such a crop. Practically all parts of the plant are used for food. This tropical plant, variously called princess bean, asparagus pea, winged bean or Goa Plant, is a vine belonging to the family of plants called legumes, which include peas, strong beans, soybeans and similar other crops… from the standpoint of consumer preference, its rating will greatly vary from one part of the world to another… 521 words. click here
For the Wikipedia Goa Bean entry click here

Consumption rather than Karma
20 Apr: Die Welt (Germany). Previously Goa was a paradise for dropouts and hippies. Today, Indians increasingly make here from the middle class and package tourists from Russia holiday. Goa is changing. Unfortunately … Drugs are here, although officially banned … At the "Rose Garden" in Anjuna under the "No Smoking" sign you can have finely twisted Goa-grass smoke as in the days of Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. It is as if time has stood still here… Goa is becoming increasingly popular even among young Indians. Stark drunken locals characterize today the image of Goa at sunset: Spirits instead spirituality. Often the Indians spend their savings on a ten hour trip to Goa to stare at attractive young Russian women in bikinis or topless … 1412 words. Machine translation. click here
For the German original, click here

Forthcoming Auction: A Goanese carved hardwood oval table

25 Apr: Toovey's, West Sussex, UK. Lot 2259. A Goanese carved hardwood oval drop-flap Sutherland table, the top finely carved in relief with a border of dense scrolling foliage inhabited by various animals, including lion, snakes, dog and birds, the supports carved and pierced with a design of dragons above a similarly decorated stretcher and feet, length approx 68.5cm (repaired foot). Estimate: £400 - £600. click here

News Summary

Breaking News: India’s Top Court Ends Mining Ban in Goa With Output Limit

21 Apr: 12:46 PM GMT. Bloomberg. India’s top court today allowed iron ore miners to resume operations in Goa state after imposing a ban 18 months ago for environmental violations. Goa accounted for about half of the nation’s exports before the halt… The court ordered that 10 percent of proceeds from ore sales be used for welfare programs and asked the Goa government to prepare a report on how it plans to use the fund… 573 words. click here

Indian shares surge to record highs
21 Apr: 3:40pm IST. Reuters. Indian shares hit record highs on Monday … Sentiment got a boost after India's top court allowed resumption of mining in the state of Goa, sending shares in miners such as Sesa Sterlite Ltd surging. The benchmark BSE index provisionally closed up 0.6 percent at 22,764.83, while the broader NSE index provisionally rose 0.56 percent to close at 6,817. click here

Free Competition: Win a 6 week trip from Lisbon to Goa

Expedia is searching for The Modern Explorer who will travel for 6 weeks in the footsteps of Vasco da Gama, recreating his epic journey to India in our modern world – and sharing your experience… In a trip worth over £10,000, the Modern Explorer will travel from Lisbon, through Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, before rounding the Cape of Good Hope, stopping in Mozambique, Kenya and up to Goa – and all kitted out with the latest technology for The Modern Explorer. Enter by 12 noon on Wednesday 14th May … click here

Recipes: Anjum Anand’s Goan Chicken And Chorizo Stew
20 Apr: Gloucestershire Echo (UK). Chef Anjum Anand shows that Indian food can be easier than you think… Anjum's Quick & Easy Indian is packed with the recipes she regularly cooks at home for her own family… Some of her contain the Portuguese sausage chorizo, like her Goan Chicken And Chorizo Stew, Anand points out: "Chorizo was first brought to Goa with the Portuguese many hundreds of years ago, and the Indian, slightly spicier version is used extensively in Goan food." Recipes: Goan Chicken and Chorizo Stew … Coconut Souffle … click here

Valiant, vociferous Valanka Alemao

20 Apr: Deccan Chronicle. Valanka Alemao, daughter of South Goa former MP Churchill Alemao is a lawyer, budding politician but football rules her heart … Valanka says. While everyone wants to wear a Man U or Barca jersey, she asks, “Why not a Dempo, Mohun Bagan or Churchill Bros one?” … It must be noted that Churchill Brothers are a football club that has without much funds, achieved success, and her loyalties lie there… The 32-year old’s career started as a lawyer… Holding the reins of Churchill Brothers, was due to her father’s faith and trust in her. “Our club is like a family. A year ago, I was in UK at Leicester and someone shouted, ‘Oye Gaonkar’. Surprised, I looked up to see our striker of years ago, with his family waving frantically…” she says… 1011 words. click here

Water pollution at Cuncolim under scanner
21 Apr: Times of India. The Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) along with a team of experts from a Japanese agency, through JICA, visited the Cuncolim industrial estate in connection with remedial measures to be undertaken in view of water pollution at the estate… click here

Free sterilization of stray dogs kept on hold in Porvorim

21 Apr: Herald. If stray dogs have been posing all kinds of threat to motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and residents in Porvorim, the situation is likely to change, for the worse, in the near future. Thanks to the apathy of the State and Central governments, the free sterilization of stray dogs has been stopped by an animal rights group since the past two months due to shortage of funds. A surge in the stray dog population has become a major problem all over Porvorim, with a growing number of pedestrians, cyclists and two- wheeler riders frequently chased by stray dogs … click here

Hindu outfits call for changing Portuguese names of cities
21 Apr: Herald. All Hindu organisations under the banner ‘ National Hindu Movement’ appealed to the government to change the Portuguese names of cities, roads and places in the State… demanded to change the foreign names such as ‘Vasco- da- Gama’ to ‘ Sambajinagar’. All the Hindus present appealed the government to change the Portuguese names of cities, roads and places which are being maintained in the State, as it is a symbol of slavery... click here

News Summary

UK: Pensioner says he will kill himself if he is extradited to Goa over paedophile charges

20 Apr: Daily Star (UK). Raymond Varley, 66, could be extradited on five counts of child abuse – including buggery, ¬indecent assault and taking indecent photographs. The convicted sex offender is suspected of belonging to an international paedophile ring targeting youngsters in the resort of Goa. Prosecutors say some victims were kidnapped, violently abused and sold to depraved tourists. Many came from orphanages or lived on the streets. Varley, from Halifax, West Yorks, denies the allegations. He made his suicide threat in a statement during extradition proceedings at Westminster ¬Magistrates Court in London. His lawyers have argued that ¬sending him to India would breach his human rights… District judge Quentin Purdy was due to rule on Varley’s extradition a week ago but the case has been adjourned so prosecutors can ¬challenge defence medical ¬evidence … click here

Fish beyond Goans’ reach as prices rise, catch drops
20 Apr: Herald. Goa is grappling with sharply rising fish prices, given the declining fish catch, which fell by 13.80 per cent last year … the price of fish has gone way beyond the reach of the common man. Fish such as the ‘rano’ which was previously used for fertilizer, is now being sold for Rs 200-250 for four. The price of large mackerels has now shot up to Rs 100 for three, while kingfish is selling at Rs 650 to 700 per kilo… click here

Selma Carvalho: ‘Hidden apartheid’

20 Apr: Herald. Meena Varma is Director of Dalit Solidarity Network (DSN- UK), tells me of life so stripped of its dignity that people refuse to touch you, walk alongside the road with you, or even share a common burial ground. This story is common in India. Except Meena Varma and I are not in India but in South London, sitting in an office loaned to her by the Anti- Slavery Organisation … Caste discrimination is the ‘hidden apartheid’ which the Indian community in Britain refuses to discuss… here in Britain many if not most now belong to a professional class of doctors, civil servants and entrepreneurs. Despite their economic success they still face social discrimination, much of which begins in schools which are predominantly Asian … 1118 words. click here

Pealing of bells ushers in Easter celebrations
20 Apr: Herald. Pealing of bells in churches and chapels reverberated all across the state on Saturday night as the Catholic community joyfully participated in Easter vigil services to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ … The Catholic community also took the opportunity to greet their relatives and friends on the occasion of Easter. Messages were also exchanged by SMS, online chatting sites, emails and video/phone calls. click here

Roland Francis: G.O.A. Toronto and Canorient Merger : Part 3 - The Backdrop. Stray Thoughts of a Toronto Goan

It was the late 1980s. A group of senior executives of the two associations who were personal and social friends and kept in contact with each other for the sake of the community's affairs, floated the idea of a merger. It made sense to them that not only the two Toronto Goan Christian biggies should merge but also that a couple of independent Goan associations in other parts of the Ontario province should join the bandwagon in the form of chapters.

There were concerns then as there are now. What would be the name of the new organization? Would it lose the all-important acronym G.O.A, in deference to the non-Goan Christian members of Canorient who then comprised about 2% of that body and were mainly East Indians and Anglo-Indians. Huddles were held and those minorities confirmed that the name issue was not important to them. They were more concerned with full membership and voting entitlement. No objection was seen to that. Then there were rumblings from Canorient's parent body in Montreal. That too quietened down when the strategy of making the Toronto body independent of Montreal was ideated. Meanwhile there were some prominent Canorient members who voluntarily applied for G.O.A. membership in addition to retaining their Canorient status.

By that time G.O.A. had acquired a large piece of property on the outskirts of Toronto with various future plan options. The Canorient people wanted G.O.A. to divest itself of that property, bring in the proceeds of the sale into the new merged body and concentrate future plans on the Canorient's own asset. The G.O.A. thought it would have some time to do this, but then deep recession struck. Members were losing jobs, the sale price automatically depressed and would be less than the outstanding mortgage and this plan had to be quickly shelved. The property eventually became a millstone round G.O.A's neck and it would take many years for the club to be fortunate to get a business-minded young banker president to dig the body out of its financial hole aided by the generosity of several members who invested moderately large sums of money to be converted into bonds that would help to sustain the mortgage. It was only in this year and last that the final outstanding bonds were redeemed in full. With this unfortunate set of circumstances playing out, the idea of merger died a natural death. It was not due to opposition from any side, just the economic climate that affected them both.

I have given you the G.O.A side of the story in my last article. Now for the Cancorient's.

The Canorient comprises not only of the main membership, it also encompasses a senior's club that pays its own dues, part of which goes towards membership of the main body. In that it is different from the G.O.A. where the senior members do not have something of their own within the club and are an undistinguishable part of the whole where having paid membership for some years, they are absolved of future dues on attaining age 65. This automatically reduces the G.O.A.'s membership revenues. Dues are what sustains all 'not-for-profits', along with some government grants. There is a move to change the free-riding.

Back to the Canorient's seniors. They are a powerful but not unreasonable old guard of the club. They are not convinced of the need of a merger and need to be presented with a strong business and community case. They feel that the G.O.A. and the Canorient can present a united front for any need of the community without an outright merger. They are by no means a stubborn lot averse to change. A little work can bring them onside. The rest of the club shows no outright opposition at this stage. I find them liberal and more amenable to the idea of the merger than the G.O.A. who to all appearances is the conservative partner in this proposed marriage. I am not judging G.O.A., but I cannot get rid of an intuitive spasm that they are going into this, with full brakes on.

When asked about the slowness of their approach, G.O.A. sources say that it is from the necessity to exercise an abundant note of caution about convincing members without upsetting the apple cart, which in this case means shooing some members out the door of an already depleted list. There is a lot more work both clubs can do about getting in new members through some fancy marketing and a little appeal to the Goan Diaspora spirit. For example the Middle-easterners in Toronto are a large but largely ignored lot, left to licking their wounds about the East African domination, real or imagined. Deal with that better than so far done and you will see a spurt in new members.

We cannot let history repeat itself and bring in another set of circumstances that puts the merger again on the wayside.

For Part 1 see: Goan Voice, 31 Mar. 2014. For Part 2 see Goan Voice 14 Apr 2014].

Comments to roland.francis@gmail.com

News Summary

Toronto: Savio Barros: Leading... on the dance floor!

19 Apr: Herald. Savio Barros is an international ballroom dancer and instructor on starred cruise ships like the Cunard line … He fine tuned his skills at the International Ballroom Dance School in Toronto… he worked as manager in the Ministry of the Attorney General in Canada, he made time for dance, while completing his MA in English Literature and a computer applications course. Now retired, he continues to live in Canada … his early years were spent in Goa but in 1952, he moved to Tanzania and then in 1967 to Canada, where the opportunity to develop his dancing skills became a reality… He is a founder and ex- President of the Goan Overseas Association in Toronto … “I have done exhibition shows at the Goan Overseas Association 40th Anniversary Dance and West End Goan Seniors Club in Toronto,” he says… 711 words. click here

Goan movie to debut at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
19 Jul: PTI. `Mortoo`, a Konkani black comedy on a villager who cremates the dead, is all set for an international debut at the upcoming Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) in Australia… the film will be screened on May 5 in Beyond Bollywood section which is especially created for Indian regional films…Shot entirely in Goa, the film narrates the story of a village man who is involved in cremations and how he eventually goes through bad times… click here
Video. Mortoo. You Tube trailer. click here

Slumdog soccer star: Boy, 16, from back streets of India will train with Man Utd

19 Apr: Daily Mail (UK). Now 16-year-old ‘slumdog’ soccer protégé Rajib Roy is dreaming of becoming a millionaire – after being chosen to train with Manchester United. He impressed the Red Devils’ scouts during a school football tournament in Goa last month and, with 11 other talented young players spotted in India, arrives at the Premier League club’s Old Trafford ground tomorrow for 15 days of training with its coaches…. He lives in the family's single-room home in the Kolkata slum, the largest red light district in Asia, where he grew up with his prostitute mother (photo) and younger brother … click here

Parkinson's striking those under 50 in Goa
19 Apr: Times of India. Younger people are being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, an ailment that is most common in people above the age of 70, report neurologists in Goa … Consultant neurophysician Dr Dhananjay Duberkar says, "People with long time exposure to the manganese-rich soil of Goa, which is an environmental toxin, are more vulnerable to developing the disease at a younger age. However, it is a combination of genetic and environmental factors that determines the age on onset of the ailment," he adds… click here
High manganese level detected in Goa's prime reservoir. 19 Apr: PTI. High manganese level has been detected in the Selaulim reservoir in Goa, which supplies drinking water to 80% of the coastal state … PWD Executive Engineer S R Paranjape said that the manganese level in the water from the reservoir has risen up from 0.1 to 0.8 mg per litre, but there is no need to panic… click here

Medical tourism: Goa fails to make the cut

19 Apr: The Goan. There has been so much talk of medical tourism in Goa over the past few years. The presence of three top hospitals – Apollo Victor Hospitals, Manipal Hospitals and NUSI Wockhardt Hospital – fuelled the expectations that the sun kissed state would become a hub for medical tourism. However, the ground reality is different. If the planned visits of foreign patients for medical treatment are anything to go by, Goa is far from becoming a destination for medical tourism. Granted that a number of foreign patients are seen in hospitals across the state, but the truth of the matter is most of them are walk-in patients who had an injury while driving or a stomach infection after having food in a local restaurant. These are not planned visits and hence should not be considered under medical tourism… 1751 words. click here

Untouchable crown jewels
19 Apr: The Goan. Much has been written on the British occupation of Goa between 1799 and 1815, but far less is known on how, after that, London debated whether to purchase or invade Portuguese India, and how Lisbon resisted at all cost to give away its Oriental crown jewels… click here

Will we ever find Goa’s lost treasures?

19 Apr: The Goan. Since 2005, there have been a spate of robberies across 168 churches and 120 chapels in Goa, leaving the Church concerned. Since then, lakhs have been spend on CCTV surveillance and security guards at some of these places of worship but the breaking-in, the thefts, the selling of idols and disappearance or rare sacred statues is on alarming increase across the state. While the Archdiocese of Goa and the Police raise their eyebrows with these concerns, there seems to be no progress on breaking the back of this trend and Goan antiques from Churches are seen in museums in Germany, Paris and Portugal. Everybody seems clueless as to how they made their journey there from a distant Parra, Siolim, Guirim, Raia or perhaps the Margao Church… click here
Blank space in the canvas 19 Apr: The Goan. Beyond the sniffing and finger print experts, the Goa Police has never made a breakthrough in these cases and no antiques have ever been recovered. There is no doubt that these thefts are not the work of small time thieves … click here

A Message from The Elderly to the Young: We can live without you!
18 Apr: Goa Streets. It may seem sacrilegious in a country like India, where children have always taken care of their elderly parents at home. But guess what? A growing number of seniors are opting for luxury developments where they can live on their own and do whatever they please, surreptitious or not… Here in Goa there are 3 ‘luxury senior living developments’ already on the ground and another 3 under way. A brief visit to one of them seems to confirm that interest levels are high. The ‘senior living’ block of flats in a large multi-building apartment complex in Goa Velha was the first among all the blocks in the complex to be ‘sold out’… 1042 words. click here

A Goan Easter

click to enlarge

18 Apr: Goa Streets. After the pain, comes the pleasure! Two days after Catholics in Goa mourn the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in their most solemn holiday of the year, they’ll be digging into succulent slices of turkey or roast suckling pigs to celebrate His resurrection. This is the joy of Easter, the promise of renewal… many Goans themselves will only start partying after attending Easter Mass on Sunday.n As with other Christian festivals in Goa, there will be at least two Easters celebrated here - one for Goans and another for tourists. And then a few days later, visiting Russians will celebrate their own Easter, as per the Orthodox calendar … ‘Easter Parade 2014’ organized by the Socorro parish… There will be a unique display of ‘Easter fruits and flowers’ – mangoes, cashews, jackfruits, pineapples, jambul, karandas and bougainvilleas… 856 words. click here
Video: Good Friday in Goa In Goa News click here

NRI yoga guru held for rape gets conditional bail
19 Apr: Times of India. A non-resident Indian (NRI) and yoga instructor Krishna Sharma, who was arrested by the police for allegedly raping a German woman in December 2013, was granted conditional bail by a local court recently… The German woman had complained to the police that she was raped by a yoga instructor in Mandrem in December 2013… Sources said that Sharma and the woman were known to each other as the German, and some of her friends, were attending a yoga course conducted by Sharma at his yoga centre in Mandrem. Sharma's family is based in Norway and he has been organizing the yoga course for many years at a rented premise in Junaswada, Mandrem, police sources said… A regular visitor to Goa, the survivor had arrived in the state in October last year… click here
For Krishna Sharma’s photos and website, click here

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