COMMUNITY NEWS

Please print this newsletter and pass it to someone you see regularly at the weekend Church Service.

Unclaimed raffle prizes at the Easter Monday Celebration of the Goan Community Association (North London): Ticket No. 991 - blue - serial no. AB2FCQ4H - Air Ticket Ticket No. 50 - blue - serial no. AB920045 - Six Bottles of Wine Ticket No. 591 - orange - serial no. AA8T0Q4L - Travelling Case Luck Programme Prize - Programme No. 65 - Bottle of wine Any claimants to get in touch with Candy Fernandes 020 8245 4513. e-mail: candyrose2000@hotmail.com www.goasports.com has been launched by Kenyan born Goan, Mario Fernandes, currently based in Leicester. Assisting him is Francis Xavier Janim Ribeiro, a senior sports journalist in Goa. Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1964, Francis returned to Goa in 1970, along with his mother and brother Savio, when his father, Alu alias Alex Ribeiro, a well known sportsman in East Africa, decided to retire and return to his roots -- the lovely and peaceful village of Saligao.

Brothers Blaise and Savio Fernandes and 4 other members of the Centenary Park Pitch & Putt Club (Harrow) are off to Barcelona on 1 May to represent Great Britain in the European Pitch & Putt Championships. The current holders of the title are Ireland. They won the event 2 years ago when the championships were held in the UK.

For details of the North American Goan Reunion, California, July 4-8, 2001 see http://www.goacom.com/goa-sf/july2001/

From Tony Correia-Afonso tonyca@goatelecom.com in Goa: The next International Goan Convention will be held on Saturday, 29th. December 2001 at the Kala Academy, Panjim. It is proposed that the theme will be: "Goan Cultural Heritage - what of the future?" It will embrace all aspects of culture viz. tradition, history, art, architecture, music, literature etc. and papers for presentation on these topics are invited. The agenda will also provide for discussion of practical problems of concern to Goans abroad.

From: Eugene Correia gene_correia@yahoo.com in Toronto: The Goan Overseas Association (GOA) Toronto, held its AGM on April 22. Oscar Furtado was re-elected for a second two-year term. The GOA posted a handsome profit just under $50,000. One important decision was to have a new "single" membership at $25. The "ordinary" membership is $40 annually.

DEATHS

23 Apr. Dublin. FR. MICHAEL KEATING, (The Holy Ghost Fathers) ex. Mombasa and Nairobi.

25 Apr. London. ALDA CARVALHO (ex-Nairobi) wife of the late Anthony Carvalho died peacefully after a sudden illness. Alda will be sorely missed by her daughter Judith, son-in-law Manfred and two grandsons, Thomas and Rui. The family wish to thank the many friends and relatives who prayed for Alda during this time.

GREETINGS

Thursday 26th April 2001. A Happy 65th Birthday to LIZY MARY D'SOUZA of South Ealing. London. With endless love and kisses from her loving daughter Matilda, son-in-law Abel, niece Melanie her boyfriend Steve, niece Melissa and pet dog Tiger.

FLIGHT CORNER

Bargain Holidays, Tel. 029-2033 0052, has 7 days one way flights to Mombasa - Dep. Gatwick or Manchester on 29 Apr for £79. See: http://www.bargainholidays.com/static/flights/MBA/

NEWS HEADLINES
(mainly from Joel D'Souza in Goa, courtesy of GOACOM, e-mail: goanow@goatelecom.com )

Speaking at the two-day All India Konkani meeting in Goa, Fr Freddy D'Costa, lamented that Goan Christians preferred English to their mother tongue even at nuptial ceremonies. Uday Bhembre stressed the need for conscious efforts and planning to evolve a common script for Konkani literature.

Mango prices are down. In Panjim market Mancurado are Rs 8 each while Alfonso are priced at Rs 6 to 7.

Albela, the Bolywood blockbuster is to be released in India on 27 April. It stars former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai and Govinda seen on the recent BBC 2 Bombay Blush series. The film is set in Goa, Mauritius and India and is a comedy about a rich, young beauty in search of her mother's grave who arrives from Austria and asks a tourist guide to show her around Goa.

In the wake of a slump in Goan ore exports, a delegation of mine owners went to Istanbul to explore the possibility of finding buyers at a Symposium being held there. Shivanand and Dattaraj Salgaocar, Shrinivas Dempo, M V Rebello, Theodore Kremer, M Kanezashi (Sesa Goa) and S Shinde, were among the 120 odd persons held hostage by 13 gun-wielding Chechen rebels. The hostage-takers, surrendered to the Turkish police and released all the captives unharmed after a 12-hour drama.

IN THE NEWS
(e-mail eddie@fernandes.u-net.com for the full text of items marked *) .

19 Apr. India Business Insight. Goa proposes to establish a high-technology home on a 70- acre plot at the Bambolim. The State also plans to set up a 1,000-acre infotainment city at Morjim in northern Goa. It intends to merge its traditions of tourism, arts, culture and music with the need of e-governance and emerge as a centre for information technology-enabled services.

21 Apr. Leicester Mercury. ...pupils will give a drama presentation to mark the launch of www.goasports.com which aims to forge links through sport between Goa and Leicester. In July, footballers from the Goa sports academy will visit on an exchange trip to Leicester. It is hoped some players from the city will return the exchange.

*22 Apr. The Hindu. Sarah John writes on the Goan presence in Portugal. 1504 words. Photograph of EKVAT (who will be performing in London on 13 May - see below) at http://www.the-hindu.com/2001/04/22/stories/1322106l.htm

23 Apr. BBC1. 6 p.m. The three minute video clip about Goa Tourism shown as part of the BBC News programme on Monday 23 April can be seen at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1290000/video/_1293287_goa18_mcgivering_vi.ram Goa going, gone? Tourism could destroy the famous Indian beauty spot

*26 Apr. Times of India. Fred Noronha on "Portuguese return to rediscover Goa" …"a group of mainly senior citizens from Lisbon have arrived to take a fresh look at this idyllic coastal state." 528 words http://www.timesofindia.com/today/26mpan1.htm

*30 Apr. The New Republic (Israel). Replicating Goa in Israel. Nitzanim Beach in Israel, near the Gaza border, has become home of the commuters to Goa. A fantasy Goan village has been created there with "Chai shops"--wooden tables on the sand--offering spiced tea. Goa trance music, nudism, drugs and brightly coloured Indian fabrics are part of the scene. 875 words. Full text at: http://www.thenewrepublic.com/043001/halevi043001.html

FORTHCOMING

29 Apr. Rocky's Trook Tournament. Near Oval LT Station. Rocky Fernandes 020-7274 3585.

6 May. 5 p.m. The Goan Cultural Society UK proudly presents a modern comedy Konkani play, " FARICPON" written and directed by Larryboy. St Monica's Church Hall, Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London N13. Tickets: Adults £ 6, OAPs £ 5 and children under 14 years £ 5. Contact: Rosy 020 8352 9450, Bella 020 8352 0373, Ida 020 8881 2921 or visit our website: www.goanculturalsociety.com

6 May. 12:00 - 8:00 pm. Saligao Feast. Mass followed by Social. Bishop Thomas Grant School, Beltrees Grove, Streatham, London SW16. Band: "Take Note". Non-member Adult £12, children £7. Includes Meal and Snacks. Zemira Fernandes 01895 259947

13 May 3.00pm - 6.00pm The Goan Musical Society (GMS) presents "EKVAT" LIVE IN LONDON. This 22-piece Goan cultural group from Lisbon performs at the ADT College Hall, 100 West Hill, Putney SW17 2UT . Excellent Goan and Portuguese song/dance/instrumentals - not to be missed! Tickets £6. Information and tickets: Joao Paulo Cota 020 8646 6390 (07905 147 637) joao_cota@hotmail.com Paulo Colaco Dias 020 764 8348 paulod@iname.com Felix Pereira 020 8640 4151 http://www.geocities.com/g.m.s/ekvat.htm

20 May. Malawi Goans. 25th Anniversary Reunion.

27 May. 12:00-20:00 Cortalim Union. Feast of St. Phillip & St. James at White Hart Lane School Hall. Wood Green. London N22. Music by Mustang & Nite Life Disco. Tickets (Include Meal) Adults £7.00, Children 11-16 yrs £4.00 and Children 10 yrs & Under £2.50. All Welcome. Book early to avoid disappointment. Contact:Luis Fernandes 020 8889 2278 luisf@lineone.net, Maria Alfonso 020 8803 5146, or Melvyn Fernandes 020 8809 1128. Further info at: http://home.earthlink.net/~nsequeira

27 May 1 - 8pm.The members of the Assolna, Velim and Cuncolim Union (AVC) will celebrate their annual feast at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Streatham. Dancing to the music of Guava Groove band and disco. Details: Colin Almeida 020-7228 4405 or Marina Veigas 020-86564217

27 May. 1.00pm to 8.30pm. 3rd Bakuli Reunion ( Uganda) at Jasmin's Club, 202 Upper Tooting Road, SW17. Music by Zodiac plus disco by Ben's Formula 21. Tickets £10 and £5 children (2-13 yrs.). Includes snacks and buffet. Contact Tony Lobo 020-8542 0528, Reg Da Cunha 020-7732 2659, Edmund Dias 01666 824122 or Theo Pinto 020-8302 5385.

2 Jun. Goan Association. 35th Anniversary Dance.

17 Jun. 12:00- Siolim Union. Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Merton Hall, 76 Kingston Hall, London SW19 (Tube: South Wimbledon) Music by Breakthru. Derick Fernandes 020 8395 1084.

23 Jun. Noon - 4:00 p.m. The Millennium International Goan Pilgrimage to Aylesford Priory. Kent. Art and craft, drama, story telling, music and debate workshops, culminating with Mass. Contact Shirley Gonsalves xuelian55@hotmail.com 01634 843510. South East Goans Coach Contact Rosario on 01322 432487 after 7pm or southeastgoans.d-souza@virgin.net

24 Jun. 1.45 p.m. - 6 p.m. Asian Chaplaincy. Festival of Our Patron Saints - Multicultural Programme at the Asian Chaplaincy, 55 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith. Tel. the Chaplaincy 020-8563 9102