COMMUNITY NEWS

The Herald (Goa) recently carried a feature article entitled, “Comfort and Companionship at St Anthony’s.” This refers to luxury Retirement Homes in Goa, the project of UK-based Jerome and Anastasia Mendes (jeromemendes@hotmail.com). They have invested substantially in Goa having developed Leonora’s complex in Goa which includes a pub modelled on UK lines. The Mendes were previously in Nairobi and have established successful businesses in the UK. For the special supplement created, containing brief biographical information and links to their projects and newspaper articles, click here.

24 Oct. Richmond & Twickenham Times. MP's mother whose work for the elderly was renowned.
26 Oct. Times of India. A farewell to Merlyn Verona Vaz
27 Oct. Leicester Mercury. Fond farewell to Merlyn.
The three articles can be found at http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/MerlynVaz.html

From Flavio Gracias: The first GOA (UK) Golf open tournament held on the 19th of September at the HoeBridge Golf Course in Woking Surrey was hailed as a huge success. There were 40 budding golfers from all over London, including two juniors aged 11 and 17. From comments made after the event it appeared that everyone enjoyed the day and are all looking forward to the next event that has been pencilled in for 11th July 2004. The Association is proud that Menino Mascarenhas and Jac D’Silva arranged this tournament in such a professional manner.

From Flavio Gracias: The G.O.A. Annual Trook Tournament of 26 Oct. 2003, organised by Jacinto Fernandes, was a successful event again this year with eleven teams participating. After a marathon 8 hours of playing, our congratulation go to the winners who were Ansel 5 and won the floating trophy donated by Bonnie De Souza when this tournament was initiated some twenty five years ago. Worthy runners-up were Lisbon House who put up a strong challenge. This card game is unique to Goans and it would be great if the skill involved can be passed to the youth of our community so that trook tournaments continue to be a feature of our sporting calendar for years to come. With this in mind, the Association intend to have "teach-in" sessions at our family days

From Frank Carvalho: Bureaucracy and corruption are the twin towers that prevent Goa from moving forward. To combat these obstacles, citizen and civic action groups have formed in various villages or group of villages. We can show empathy by getting involved. More information can be got by emailing goadesc@sancharnet.in the coordinating group who would put you in touch with the local group. They also have a electronic documentation service on www.goadesc.org.

Donations received.  £10: I.Pereira;  £50: Saligao Assoc. (London);  £100: Richard Vaz

DEATHS

28 Oct. Agassaim, Goa. ROSARIO VICTOR FERNANDES. Husband of Propercia. Father of Saira/Michael Pereira, Sarita/Zivio Mascarenhas (London) and Schubert.

23 Oct. Mississauga, Canada, FRANCIS (FRANKIE) D'SILVA (57, ex-Dar-es-Salaam), after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Husband of Alba (nee Lopez, ex-Nairobi). Father of Sandra/Jesse De Costa Grandfather of Sabrina and Robin. Son of Assumpta and the late Joseph D'Silva. Brother of Romeo/Marie, Edwin/Yolanda and Bryan/Goretti. Condolences to elfu_mbili@yahoo.com

30 Aug. Stevenage, (UK). ABU D'SOUZA (ex-Uganda) Husband of Margaret. Father of Ron and Richard. Abu was a keen hockey player. Condolences to udsouza@fpdsavills.co.uk

FLIGHT INFORMATION

25 Oct. The Guardian. India is shaping up to be the hot "new" destination for next year as long-haul travellers rediscover the sub-continent after three years of difficulties…Kuoni reports increased bookings, especially for packages to the Delhi triangle and Goa.

25 Oct. Birmingham Post. Goa: Jewel in the Crown (01293 533338) offers 14-nights B&B ex-Manchester Oct 30 and Nov 6 from £399, with two star accom near Baga in north.

27 Oct. Bolton Evening News. A two-week five star holiday to Goa is one of the items being auctioned at the Stephanie Jane Talent Competition, at the Reebok Stadium in Horwich on Friday, Nov. 7. See: http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/lancashire/bolton/news/BENTOPNEWS0.html

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

23 Oct. The Telegraph (Calcutta). Feasibility fears over Goa Skybus project by Fred Noronha. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1031023/asp/nation/story_2491214.asp

23 Oct. Deccan Herald. Goa resort alleges revenge behind minister’s action.
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct23/n7.asp

24 Oct. The Economic Times. A brief visit by Veronica Kayla, MD, Cannes Film Festival, to Goa this week has spurred a flurry of activities related to infrastructure development, as Goa seeks to emerge as the permanent venue for international film festivals.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=249177

25 Oct. Navhind Times. The Rave party scene in Goa today.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=mag&Story_ID=102515

26 Oct. Herald. Guardian Angel Polytechnic of Goa is promoting organic farming in collaboration with Niagara College, a Canada based culinary institute. This follows the visit by Fr Inacio Almeida, Fr Anthony Castello, and Fr Frank Mendes to Toronto in Sept, 2002. See:
http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/oct/msg00134.html

27 Oct. Mid-Day. East Indians fight to keep their identity. Excerpt: “Ursula Pereira’s bottle masalas are such a big hit with the East Indian diaspora all over the world.” Text, 540 words and photographs at
http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2003/october/67195.htm

27 Oct. Navhind Times. Paedophilia - A Shame for Goan Society.
http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/oct/msg00130.html

IN THE NEWS

23 Oct. Women's Wear Daily. Los Angeles-based Goa, the year-old company, known for its embellished velour track sets featuring studs, sequins, threads and Asian motifs worn by Britney Spears and Penelope Cruz, has incorporated the same style philosophy into a new spring line of denim that can fetch up to $200 wholesale.

24 Oct. Express & Echo (Devon). Police have vowed to catch Frank Searle, one of Exeter's most dangerous criminals who has gone on the run. Det Insp Burgan said: "We believe he has been abroad in places like Goa, and possibly Thailand. We are still using Interpol and other channels to find him.” For full text click here.

24 Oct. The Washington Post. Colin Gonsalves was honored this week by the International Senior Lawyers Project, based in New York and Washington. Gonsalves is India's Pioneer of Public Interest Law and founder of the India Centre for Human Rights and Law, He has set up a network of 500 lawyers around the country. Disability laws, women's rights, domestic violence, child labour and sexual harassment issues have all been revisited by his growing army of public interest lawyers. See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9122-2003Oct23.html [Gonsalves was honoured at the Washington College of Law on 21 Oct. and the Boston Bar Assoc on 24 Oct. For his bio see: http://www.ashoka.org/fellows/viewprofile1.cfm?PersonId=1414

24 Oct. Sydney Morning Herald. Restaurant Review of Viva Goa. Headline: Goan, get into it. Excerpts: Viva Goa is a flavour sensation… There are only a handful of Goan eateries in Sydney, and most offer only a few specialties alongside standard Indian fare. But former Kokum co-head chef, Gus D'Souza has re-opened with a focused menu offering authentic Goan cooking, blending Portuguese, Indian and even a touch of African influences. Amotik is a typical Goan fish dish, hot and sour with chilli and tamarind. The standout dish is choricou - a casserole of spicy Portuguese-style pork sausages and potato. 650 words. See: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/24/1066974306093.html

25 Oct. Herald-Sun. (Melbourne). Travel: Worst Journeys: Attempting to relax on a beach at Goa, India. Each morning tour buses would arrive full of locals in suits and saris who would stroll along the sand and unashamedly ogle at the western tourists in their skimpy swimwear. I don't mean a surreptitious sideways glance: I mean a full-on perv. One group spent so long standing in front of us that my wife ill-advisedly quipped "Why don't you just take a photo?" and a dozen cameras and video recorders appeared. (I believe the results can still be viewed on a New Delhi website.)

25 Oct. Seychelles Nation. Groupo Alegria a cultural group from Goa will be arriving in the country on Oct. 25 to participate in Festival Kreol. The eight-member troupe will tour the entire region. Groupo Alegria is one of the most popular folklore groups in Goa with a high international profile, having performed in several countries like Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Russia. Groupo Alegria will leave Seychelles on November 2 for Mauritius. For full text click here.

26 Oct. San Francisco Chronicle. (Magazine). Headline: Ann Getty spins antique collecting into a full-blown business. Among the hand-carved pieces which are exact reproductions of the original, is a Goan Claw Foot Ottoman. Ann is married to Gordon, the fourth son of J. Paul Getty, Sr. For the magazine article, click here.

28 Oct. East African Standard. Come back, President Kibaki of Kenya tells Asian exiles who left Kenya in the run-up to the last General Election. See: http://www.eastandard.net/headlines/news281003009.htm

28 Oct. Indian Express. Pankaj Advani won the World amateur snooker title in China last Saturday intends to turn professional and return to the UK to fine tune his skills. See: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=34229 See also http://www.hindu.com/2003/10/28/stories/2003102807702100.htm Michael Ferreira, his coach (born in Bombay, 1938), was himself four times World Billiards champion. In December 1978, he created history by becoming the first amateur to cross the 1000 point barrier by making a new world record break of 1149. For a profile of Michael Ferreira see: http://www.dimdima.com/sports/show_sports.asp?q_aid=18

29 Oct. Toronto Star. When Krishna Jamal, executive chef of Vancouver's Rubina Tandoori Restaurant was approached by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada to write her recipes, she came up with HeartSmart Flavours of India in 1998. The collection includes “chicken piri piri (a Goan and Portuguese concoction).”

FORTHCOMING

Click here for help in locating Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon

SOLD OUT! Sat. 1 Nov. G.O.A. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TRIP TO FRANCE. SOLD OUT!

Sun. 9 Nov. G.O.A. MASS FOR DECEASED at 1.00 pm followed by FAMILY DAY at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Free to all members and their guests. Three course meal available at £6.50 per head. ADVANCE BOOKINGS ONLY. Contacts: Bernie Gracias 020 - 8723 1322. Nina Pinto 020 - 8767 0663

Sun. 9 Nov. St Diogo's Association (Guirim / Sangolda) Feast at Bishop Thomas Grant School.

Sun. 9 Nov. Nuvem Feast at White Hart Lane School. For tickets contact: Greg Carvalho 01245 261302 - e-mail: greg@god.co.uk

Sun. 16 Nov. The Union of Navelim. Feast of our Lady of Holy Rosary at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Streatham. Mass at 12.00 pm followed by a social. Band Maz and Co and disco by Nitelite (Xavier). Contact: Sandra Fernandes-Allen 020 8395 5462; Antonetta Fernandes 020 8298 0804; Gabe Menezes 020 8947 0290.

Sat. 22 Nov. 06:00am. South East Goans Sports & Social Club. Day trip to France via Le Shuttle departing Folkestone 08:45. Members and guests at £20. First come first served basis. Please send form details and remittances to Chris Pinto, 4 Plaxton Road, Erith, DA8 1NL. Contacts: Chris: 01322 400732; Victor: 020 8303 5106

Sun 23 Nov. 2.30pm. Fr Agnelo’s Day. St. Georges Cathedral, Westminster Bridge Road, Southwark. Tube: Lambeth North.

Sat. 29 Nov. 7pm to midnight. Goan Association (UK) Disco Fever for ages 16 and over. Say One Do One playing all your favourites. Bina Banqueting Hall, 4-8 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 (opposite Tooting Bec Station). Licensed bar. Entrance: £5 including snacks. Contact: Lily/Tony D'Souza 020-8644 5310; Wilma/Cedric D'Cruz 020-8954 1596.

Sun. 30 Nov. Moira Feast at ATC Hall, South Wimbledon. Contacts: Anthony D'Souza 020 - 8689 6447.

Sun. 30 Nov. 2.00 p.m. Archbishop's Lanfranc School Hall, Mitcham Road, Croydon. The Konkan Dramatic Association of U.K. Tiatr "ROGTACHO FORS." Written and Directed by Mr. Zeferin Silveira. Tickets adults £9.00. Children under 11years £6.00. Discounts for group bookings. Please contact Judy Pacheco Ferdz on 0208 7632606/07949403741. Antonio Fernandes on 0208 4529406/07939500673 and John Fernandes 0208 4519370/07905038775.

Wed. 3 Dec. 7pm. Special Holy Mass to commemorate the 451st anniversary of St Francis Xavier at the Holy Family Church, Trelawney Avenue, Langley, Slough. The mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Oliver Antao s.f.x., and will be followed by a get together after the service. Further information from Ciril de Quadros (ph 01753-540981, e-mail dequadrosc@halcrow.com)

Wed. 3 Dec. 7:45pm. The South East Goans Sports & Social Club will be celebrating the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. St. Stephen Church, Deepdene Rd, Welling, Kent. Principal Celebrant: Right Reverend Bishop Charles Henderson. Food and refreshments will be available in the Church Hall after Mass. Contacts: Victor: 020 8303 5106; Bonnie: 020 8851 4677; Damaciano:020 8316 1473.

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