Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2006-01. Aug. 25, 2006

Interruption of the Goan Voice UK Service
From Eddie Fernandes: I will be leaving for Goa on 5 Aug to attend a funeral and do not expect to return till 19 Aug. There will be a reduced service in this period but do continue to send contributions to me at eddie@fernandes.u-net.com Urgent communications should be copied to sneha@goacominsys.com as well. Apologies for any inconvenience.

UK: Roque Fernandes: 'I still do not know what red mercury is’
3 Aug: Edgware Times (UK). One of the three men acquitted at the Old Bailey last Tuesday has described how the case has left his and his family's reputation in tatters. Roque Fernandes, 45, spent 22 months in Belmarsh prison after allegedly trying to get hold of 'red mercury' with two other men … Despite being supported by his family and friends, he says the case has damaged his family. "My three children are traumatised because the police came to check my home," he said. My whole reputation, my family's reputation, have been damaged completely.” … Photo and full text, 540 words, at the link below. Click here.

Suruchi fined over mice and cockroaches
5 Aug. Evening News (Edinburgh). An award-winning Indian restaurant has been fined £1800 after it was found to be infested with mice and cockroaches. . Proprietor Herman Rodrigues had originally been charged with the offence but his not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown. Click here.

UK: New Event Listing – Book Now
Sun. 15 Oct. Colva Union, 33rd Anniversary of the Feast of Infant Jesus. Venue: Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, Streatham, SW16. Mass at 12.30pm followed by the Social. Tickets: Adults: £12. Children up to 12 years: £5. For Tickets contact: Bento Fernandes (020) 8672 0283; Hilary Dias (020) 672 5528; Fiona Fernandes (020) 8489 1183; Arlene Fernandes (020) 8930 7679

7 Aug. Mississauga, Canada. REMY DE MELLO. (exTanzania, Air- India/Kuwait Airways, aged 72.) Husband of Maggie. Father to Evon (Everard), Evet (Carlton), Evelin (Keith) and Elizabeth; beloved grandfather to Kevin and Katelin. Dearly loved by brothers Francis, late Jules, Santan. Remy was a talented jazz musician who brought joy to many people through his music and fun-loving nature. His family will receive friends at The Simple Alternative Funeral Centre (1535 South Gateway at Dixie Rd, Mississauga, 905-602-1580) on Friday, August 11, 2006 from 2 – 4 p.m. and 7 – 9 p.m. Rosary at 8:15 pm. The Funeral Mass will take place on Sat. August 12 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church (921 Flagship Drive, Mississauga, 905-270-2301). Private Cremation. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Credit Valley Hospital – Ward 1E, would be appreciated by the family (www.cvh.on.ca). [Info from Kevin D'Costa].

4 Aug. Basingstoke, Hanys, UK. JOANITA GOMEZ. Wife of Oscar. Mother of Audrey and Carl. Grandmother to Holly Jessica Pyne. Sister of Olive, Leandro, Alex, Alba, Bertha, and Marjorie. Funeral will be held on Fri. 18 Aug. at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Basingstoke, at 11.00hrs, and burial at Worting Road Cemetery and thereafter the wake at The Hampshire Centrecourt Hotel. Condolences to marjiefernandes@hotmail.com

4 Aug: Nairobi, Kenya. ALFRED ANTHONY D'SA. Husband of Teresa (UK). Father of Carol and Brian (UK). Bother of Eddie & late Cynthia (UK), Hector (Australia) Funeral was on 9 Aug.[Info from Dr.Joyce Shamshudin]

30 Jul: Zanzibar. SEBASTIAN DIAS. aged 97. He is survived by his wife, son Lazarus, and Daughters Margaret, Audrey, Doris and Electra. Condolences to electra72tz@yahoo.com [Info from Claude Fernandes].

Tourists Coming to Goa on Chartered Flights Can Stay Longer. By Pamela D’Mello
5 Aug: Asian Age. Restrictions that curtailed the stay of travellers on chartered flights to a maximum of four weeks have been dropped … Goa airport is to operate 24 hrs. A series of measures have been initiated to ease air connectivity to the tourist state of Goa, deputy chief minister Wilfred de Souza announced here. With the Dabolim airport cleared for international scheduled flights, it will operate 24 hours this coming season, … 256 words. Click here.

Go to Goa
5 Aug: Ohmy News (Korea). On the west coast of India lies Goa, famous for its exotic beaches, Portuguese-style old villas and historical churches. Text, 347 words and 9 photographs. Click here.

On your bike
5 Aug: The Times (UK). Jewel in the Crown has 14-night packages to Goa pedalling gently through 300 miles (500km) of tropical scenery, with the reward of two days on the beach at the end. The first tour leaves on December 28 and costs Pounds 1,430 for flights, bike hire and B&B stops in tents, lodges and hotels. Click here.

Keeping it legal: how to buy safely in Goa
5 Aug, The Telegraph. (UK). There is one guaranteed way of owning property legally in India, and that is to open a properly registered business. Colin Waters, 45, from Oxford, moved to Goa almost two years ago. Using an established agent in India, he registered a company, Bluewatersgoa, in order to run a small guesthouse with two apartments … Bob and Jennie Marsh, sold their house in Nottingham and after some careful checking by the Indian High Commission in London, bought an apartmen in Goa … but now the Commission has refused to issue her with an "X" (extendable) visa which could be renewed over there … Keeping it legal: how to buy safely in Goa. Photographs and text, 670 words. Click here.

Trouble in paradise. Peter Foster reports
5 Aug: The Telegraph (UK). Thousands of Britons, drawn by the tropical climate and easily affordable lifestyle, have bought houses in the Indian state of Goa. Now, some may face investigation for a possible breach of the property laws - and the threat of losing their home. … It is estimated that about 5,000 foreigners, including as many as 3,000 Britons, have properties in Goa' … a small but vociferous group of Goan nationalists are saying it is time to put a stop to the latest foreign "invasion". 1,463 words. Click here.

Goa: Happy Home Hunting Guide
3 Aug: Gomantak Times (via GoaNet). Humour column By Cecil Pinto. This week we review the 2nd Edition of Cecil Pinto's classic tome, "House Hunting in Goa". The original 1994 edition met with a tepid response at the time. The 90s building boom was reaching its peak and nobody wanted advice on how to buy a house. 1093 words. Click here.

Goa: Front calls for scrutiny of ration and voter cards
5 Aug: Herald. Lashing out at the government for its “migrant-friendly” attitude, advocate Aires Rodrigues on Thursday sounded he would press for scrutiny of all ration, voter cards released in the State and for “keeping on hold” all new ration cards to be issued. Speaking at a press conference, Rodrigues said he would carry out a “battle”, along with like-minded Goans through the Save Goa Front (SGF), the formation of which was announced today. 360 words. http://oheraldo.in/node/17372

15 Aug: Express Hotelier. Recently, a very prominent plot in Goa owned by settlers of Portuguese origin managed to free itself from the hands of a crooked politician through the intervention of its embassy … the politician decided to literally tear panchayat records in order to claim that land as his own … However, strong resistance and intervention by an international government helped the owners to save their land. Click here.

Chicago woman searches for missing father
2 Aug: Times of India. US-based Freda Sarita is in Mumbai with her husband Savio Pinto (37) and children Jude (6) and Rachel (3) to search for her father Frederick William Fernandes, who would now be 66. Fernandes disappeared from the family home in on September 22, 1970, the day Sarita's mother Theresa passed away. 442 words. Click here.

Powerful and provocative
3 Aug: The Hindu. Asif Currimbhoy's play, Goa explores the concepts of nationality and independence. "Goa" is a very special play … The play shows Goa just before and soon after it becomes part of India in 1961 and features a prostitute, her daughter Rose, and their respective lovers … "Goa" was premiered in Michigan (1965) and later staged on Broadway. 372 words. Click here.

8 Aug: The Hindu. Ignatius Camilo, or Iggy, is a DJ, a supermodel and is on the cover of Cosmopolitan as the hunk of the month … Going into flashback mode, Iggy says he was introduced to the sound back home in "Goa where lot of travellers and visiting foreign DJs would play it.

The term 'God fearing' has featured quite a lot in recent Goanet posts. It has been discussed in relation to "good" and "evil". However, do Goan Voice (UK) readers feel that the term 'God fearing' has any currency in this day and age? Readers are most welcome to join the ongoing debate on this issue on Goanet.
Some GV(UK) readers are likely to have purchased property in Goa in recent years as an investment or as a holiday home etc. However, very recently, there have been a number of Goanet posts questioning the wisdom of such purchases. Apart from some legal uncertainties in people's minds, about how safe such investments are, others have begun to provide evidence of a financial nature that, such purchases are barely profitable compared to investments of the same monies in the UK. Find out much more detail about this recent conundrum.
In an unusual piece by Borg Costa, we are asked "I wonder what would happen if we treated the Bible like we treat our cell phones?" Borg then goes on to offer a fascinatingly detailed account of what would occur if we did just this.
Once again, Domnic Fernandes provides interesting insights into the world of yesteryear Goa. This time, his focus is on evil spirits and traditional medicines for a large range of ailments. Also, there are fascinating details of stories for children some of which seem pretty frightening.. Find out much more by reading the whole article.
Finally, Rahul Alvares, is an expert on wild creatures, and especially, on all kinds of dangerous snakes. In his latest contribution to Goanet, he describes how he 'captured' a giant bronze back snake from up a tree. It happened to be heavily pregnant and so Rahul nursed it at his home and played midwife! In the process, the snake laid fourteen eggs which in a fairly short while hatched and fourteen young ones emerged. For his trouble, one of the new hatchlings bit Rahul and injected some venom into his finger. However, Rahul did not mind greatly and has beautiful photographs of the mother snake and the young ones!

More details can be found at the Goanet archives at http://www.goanet.org Or to subscribe to Goanet, send an email to subscribe@goanet.org

Sun. 13 Aug. South East Goans Summer Sizzler 12-7pm. Hurstmere School, Hurst Road Sidcup, Kent. Food Stalls £30 each. Food, music dancing & sports. Come and enjoy the festival. It was good last year and will be even better this year. Contact Chris 01322 400 732 or Ron 0208 303 3386

Sat. 26 Aug South East Goans Day Trip to Dunkirk & De Panne. Family & Friends day out. Shopping and Seaside Tour - picnic at the beach. Closing date- 29-05-06. Contact Chris 01322 400 732 or Ron 0208 303 3386

Sun. 27 Aug. G.O.A. Sports Day at Archbishop Lanfranc School. Contact: Peter Rodrigues 020 - 8399 4883. For stall applications: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457

Sat. 2 Sep. G.O.A. Ruby Thames Boat Cruise & Disco in conjunction with YLGS. Reporting time 6.15pm, sailing at 7.00pm. Contact: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457, Alison Braganza 07799 586793 or any member of the Social Committee.

Sat. 10 Sep. G.O.A. Ruby Whist Drive from 1pm – 7pm at St Boniface Social Club, Tooting. Contact: Diego Pinto 020 - 8767 0663, Felix Pereira - malawifelix@hotmail.com

Sat. 30 Sep. G.O.A. Ruby Shopping Extravaganza. Day Trip to France. Pick up points at Greenford, Tooting & Norbury. Contact: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457, Bernie Gracias 020 – 8723 1322.