Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2008-10. March. 06, 2008

Coralie D'Souza: Bringing Skilled Immigrants to Ontario

28 Feb: The Victoria Strand. Last year, Ontario, under the leadership of Premier Dalton McGuinty introduced a program to enable the province to select immigrants with skill sets matching market need. Coralie D'Souza expressed her thoughts on the matter: "International students come to Ontario and fall in love with it. They bring culture, new insights and so much more. These students are going to be the bridges between Ontario and the rest of the world." For full text click here.
For details of the Ontario Pilot Provincial Nominee Program - Bringing Skilled Immigrants to Ontario, click here.
Coralie D'Souza was born in 1984 in Nairobi, the daughter of Pepito (Nairobi) and Mary Ann D'Souza (ex-Kisumu); sister of Nicola. The family home is in Mississauga. She currently handles media relations and works as the Minister's Lead Speech Writer in the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration as part of the Minister's team. You may contact her at coralie.dsouza@utoronto.ca. For a profile of Coralie click here.

Dr Errol De Souza appointed Bionomics Director

28 Feb. Australian Stock Exchange. Bionomics Ltd [www.bionomics.com.au/] appointed Dr Errol De Souza as non-executive director on February 28, 2008. Dr De Souza is president and chief executive officer of Archemix and was president and chief executive officer of Synaptic Pharmaceuticals. Click here.
Dr Errol De Souza received his PhD in neuroendocrinology from the University of Toronto and held appointments at Aventis, Du Pont Merck, Archemix Corp. and Synaptic. He was the winner of the 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. For his bio data click here.

Susie Coelho at the Overland Park Convention Center, Kansas, USA

29 Feb: The Kansas City Star. We get her, babe. The ex-wife of Sonny Bono, Susie Coelho will appear at this weekend’s Johnson County Home & Garden Show … She’s also the author of the recent book Secrets of a Style Diva… Click here.
Susie Coelho born in England of Goan parents was one of the hot models in America in the 1980s and had adorned the cover of many mass-circulated magazines. For the Susie Coelho scrapbook click here.
For the Susie Coelho website go to www.susiecoelho.com and do check out the video clip!

Corryn Rayney’s family in court for appearance
29 Feb: The West Australian (Perth). Murdered mother-of-three Corryn Rayney’s family attended the Perth Magistrate’s Court this morning as a matter regarding her husband Lloyd Rayney was addressed. Mr Rayney was not required to attend the court, where he is facing one count of interfering with telecommunications installation. The matter was adjourned until April 11. 122 words. Click here.

New York: Allan deSouza: Talwar Gallery
29 Feb: New York Times. Allan deSouza, born in Kenya of Indian parents, has lived in California for years, commuting between a home in Los Angeles and a teaching job in San Francisco … One group of works is of runways, of other planes, of a wing outside a window — taken from planes preparing for takeoff … The second group is of collages, made from mid-air shots of clouds and landscapes … The exhibition is at the Talwar Gallery, 108 East 16th Street, through to 29 March. 283 words. Click here.
For a photo and profile of Allan deSouza click here.

Ohio: Bertram de Souza: Hilary Clinton is the most qualified

1 Mar: Rocky Mountain News. Bertram de Souza, veteran columnist for The Vindicator newspaper in Youngstown, remembers seeing Clinton speak in town in late 2006. "It almost came across like she was already the nominee," de Souza said last week. "It was a different tone . . . Even in the crowd, there was an anticipation that they were looking at the next president." … De Souza still thinks she's the most qualified. But perhaps she was looking too far ahead, he said … Click here.
Bertram was born in Uganda, the son of the late Damascene and the late Amy de Souza; brother of Herman (Ottawa) and Annabelle Halliday (UK). For a profile of him from the American Journalism Review click here.

Tony D’Souza: The Konkans

2 Mar: New York Times. When the Portuguese conquered parts of the western coast of India in the 16th century, Jesuits captured the local Hindus and rubbed their mouths with raw pork, instantly transforming them into untouchables. The Roman Catholic Church then embraced these outcasts via mass baptisms, creating a large population of converts. This, Tony D’Souza shows us in his second novel, “The Konkans,” was just one of the methods used by the 252-year Goa Inquisition, and partly explains the continuing existence of a significant Catholic, pork-eating minority in and around Goa … 912 words. Click here.
For the Tony D’Souza website with contact info, book details etc. go to www.tonydsouza.com

The Quebec Goan Association
2 Mar: The Quebec Goan Association/Association Goanaise du Quebec held its 31st Annual General Meeting at Forest Village Community Hall in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec on March 2, 2008 to elect a new President and committee. Rose De Souza was re-elected President of the QGA and selected a team of young and experienced committee from the Goan community in Quebec. Vice-President and Social Secretary – Mary Silveira; Treasurer – Priscilla Fernandes; Assistant Treasurer – Ivan Paes; Secretary – Melissa Fernandes; Directors: Olivia De Mello, Lourdes D’Souza and Bruce D’Souza. For photographs, visit the QGA flickr site, click here.

Arambol, Goa
27 Feb. Baltimore City Paper. Uli Loskot revisits Arambol after 17 years … 1016 words. Click here.

Hot Spot
1 Mar: The Sun (UK). Goa is 35 degrees C. Two-star Resort Village Royal is £469pp based on two sharing for 14 nights. Includes breakfast, flights and taxes. See www.jewelholidays.com or call 0870 067 2352.

Go solo in Goa
Mar 1: South Wales Echo. Unattached singles aged 30-59 years can join Solos Holidays nine-day holiday to Goa. Based at the three-star Highland Beach Resort on Candolim Beach the cost of this break is £999 per person and departs on March 21. Price includes return flights from Gatwick and seven nights’ accommodation in your own room with private facilities. Call 0870 499 2288 or visit www.solosholidays.co.uk for more information. Click here.

Goa to spend £20m to keep beaches safe
1 Mar: The Telegraph (UK). Tourism authorities in Goa have pledged £20m to improve safety on the region's beaches, following the latest in a string of fatal accidents involving foreign visitors to India's smallest state. The move follows the death of 16-year-old Scarlette Keeling Eden, from Devon, whose body was found on Anjuna beach around 4am on February 18. Police are treating the death as suspicious … 263 words. Click here.

Five Best Goan Beach Retreats
1 Mar. The Guardian. 1 Montego Bay, Morjim … 2 Otter Creek Tents, Arambol … 3 Villa River Cat, Mandrem … 4 Vivenda dos Palhacos, Majorda … 5 Pousada Tauma, Calangute … 268 words. Click here.

Late breaks
2 Mar: Wales on Sunday. Goa: Cosmos (0871 423 8560) offers 14-nights' B&B at three-star hotel in Calangute ex-Manchester Mar 8 for £509, incl flights.

'Buy a boat in Mumbai and park it in Goa'
2 Mar: Economic Times. …The best yacht harbour close to Mumbai could be Goa … "Owners can park their vessels in Goa,” suggests Umaji Chowgule, MD Goa Yacht Haven Pvt Ltd, which has proposed to build a 300-boat marina in Goa with an investment of Rs 100 crore. "One can easily fly to Goa in the morning, sail throughout the day and reach Mumbai by the evening flight," he says. Click here.

Trip to India wraps up in Portugal-flavored Goa
2 Mar: the Statesman Journal (OR, USA). By Linda and Michael Wooters: … As a former holding of Portugal, Goa is unlike the rest of the country. Not surprisingly, it's less Indian and more European … Jenny revealed that she is divorced with no expectation of remarriage. Indian men want to marry only "untouched" women, which is one main reason the divorce rate is so low … 1065 words. Click here.

Lates 'N' Breaks
2 Mar: Daily Star (UK). Goa: Two weeks' bed and breakfast at the three-star Kamat Holiday Homes in Calangute costs £475. Flights are included and depart from Manchester on March 8. To book visit www. sky. com/travel

Goa’s Package Holiday Appeal
4 Mar: The Times (UK). The deaths of two British holidaymakers in Goa this week is unlikely to dent the appeal of the destination to British holidaymakers. Goa’s appeal lies in its beaches, food and cheap resorts, which attract up to 230,000 British package holidaymakers a year, paying as little as £350 for a week-long holiday. 444 words. Click here.

Golf superstars have designs on Indian boom
4 Mar: AFP. Golf's superstars are heading to India in increasing numbers … Vijay Singh, a Fijian of Indian heritage, said he already had plans to design a signature course in the tourist state of Goa … Click here.

Learning to Relax
4 Mar: The News & Observer (USA). By Greg Randolph. … An opportunity to teach brought me to Goa with two American expatriates -- anthropologist Carroll Dunham and photojournalist Thomas Kelly … Photos and text 843 words. Click here.

Another tragedy in Goa as Briton dies of suspected drug overdose
5 Mar. The Independent (UK). By Andrew Buncombe in Goa. Michael Harvey 34, from Manchester, was found dead in his room at Laura's Guesthouse in the Goan resort of Ashwem Beach on Saturday morning, having checked in the night before, sweating heavily and "appearing drunk or something", according to the owner. A postmortem examination concluded Mr Harvey died from a pulmonary and cerebral oedema and police are now investigating whether a drug overdose was the cause. 878 words. Click here.

Foreign tourists’ arrivals below expectation
5 Mar: The Navhind Times. Everything does not seem to be alright for the tourism industry in the state … 725 words. Click here.

The 'maharaja' of casinos opens in Goa next month
5 Mar: MSN News. An offshore casino with "no-limits" tables, touted as the biggest in South Asia, will open in Goa next month … It will initially conduct operations from 6 pm to 6 am and within a month offer round-the-clock services and will be anchored around 20 metres off the Mandovi river in Goa's capital Panaji. Two boats will ferry the patrons to the offshore casino. 524 words. Click here.

Video: Sanjay-Manyata revoke their marriage in Goa
28 Feb: CNN-IBN. Actor Sanjay Dutt on Wednesday withdraw his marriage declaration, filed with Manyata, before the South Goa Sub Registrar. Click here.

Lawlessness in Anjuna
28 Feb: Ekstra Bladet (Denmark). … Goa is lawless and mob rule prevails. Jonas Frantsen, a Dane, experienced this on a trip to Anjuna …One night the locals caught a thief and they tied him up and beat him. They would have burnt him alive if the police had not arrived but as they took him away in their car they could be seen clubbing him. Text (in Danish) and photographs. Click here.

Well! It’s 2000 litres
29 Feb: Herald. Officials of the Indian Oil Corporation admitted that about 2,000 litres of a petroleum product were found in a well at Bogmalo, Goa … Admitting that petroleum products had seeped into two wells an official said that the samples would be sent for analysis. 367 words. Click here.

The rise and rise of Goan football
1 Mar: India Interacts. … Dempo deserved the Rs.50 lakh cheque that went with the ONGC I-League title and the additional Rs.10 lakh for the Super Cup victory … their twin triumph emphasizes the shift of power in Indian football from Kolkata to Goa. Of the 10 clubs in the elite professional ONGC I-League as many as four belonged to Goa, namely Dempo, Churchill Brothers, Sporting Club de Goa and Salgaocar … 817 words. Click here.

Football: Bob Houghton
2 Mar: The Observer (UK). Bob Houghton is head coach of India and formerly national manager of China and Uzbekistan. He says, “Let me tell you something that was absolutely dreadful. Last October, Manchester United had 5,000 kids in the Nehru stadium here in Goa to select 11 boys to go Manchester for a week's training. It was horrendous, because they were all believing that they'd end, after three days of judgment, playing for United. That sort of marketing thing is in nobody's interests.” … Houghton's preference for the wider world also extends to his 'home'. When not living wherever his job lands him - he has a stunning villa near Margao in Goa … 1382 words. Click here.

Goan Gangfight
2 Mar: The Pioneer (India). The chain of events on February 19 left Goa shaken. In what began as a gangfight in the village of Taleigao snowballed into a whole controversy. It was a rally led by Taleigao MLA Atanasio Monserratte demanding the arrest of persons involved in the kidnapping of one of his supporters that sparked the violence. Monserratte's men closed in on the Panaji police station, injuring 30 policemen. Within minutes, the police retaliated in a manner that was unbecoming of a law enforcement agency … 570 words.

Why marriages are made in Goa
3 Mar: Daily News & Analysis. … for those planning their big day, Goa may have more than just romantic beaches on offer. Goa, the only state with a uniform civil code, is governed by Codigo Civil Portugues or the Portuguese Civil Code (PCC), 1867. Under the provisions of the Communion of Assets Law, the wife has equal ownership of her husband’s property … 348 words. Click here.

Goa: Meet asks politicians to stop meddling with cops
3 Mar: Herald. Speakers at the meeting organised by Utt Goenkara to deliberate the February 19th incidents at Panjim and Taleigao condemned police for their behaviour against Monserrates but politicians were not spared, either … Presiding over the meeting former chief secretary of Goa Dr J C Almeida said there is a need for change in the system … Utt Goenkara spokesman Adv Aires Rodrigues called for a police – public partnership in protecting society and maintaining law and order. 294 words. Click here.

The survivor
3 Mar: Business Standard. Goa's 15th chief minister, Digambar Kamat, is known for following a strict fitness regime. He plays a daily game or two of badminton and also swims regularly — perhaps these skills also help him remain afloat in the treacherous politics of Goa. 614 words. Click here.

Goa cops forced to return bribe
4 Mar: Deccan Herald. Two corrupt officials of Goa’s anti-narcotics cell (ANC) were compelled to return a bribe of 800 euros they had extracted from a tourist after the intervention of the local MLA … turf wars being are being fought by drug mafias … Russians are operating in Morjim, the Israelis have a hold on Vagator and Anjuna, the Kenyans have stepped into Palolem … 290 words … Click here.

Blessed Alphonsa to be second Indian saint

28 Feb: Indian Catholic. Blessed Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, from Kerala, would be declared a saint on March 1 at the Vatican Apostolic Palace by Pope Benedict XVI. She will become the second saint in the 2000 years of Indian Catholic Church. The first Indian saint is Gonsalo Garcia who was crucified in 1597 in Nagasaki, and who was canonized in 1862. 279 words. Click here.
For a Wikipedia bio of her click here.

Currying favour with Delia Smith
28 Feb: The Wharf. Delia Smith has brought curry lovers flocking to an Isle of Dogs restaurant. Memsaheb On Thames in Amsterdam Road received a whole page in her acclaimed new book, How to Cheat at Cooking, with a reprint of one of its dishes, the Goan Lamb Xacuti … Memsaheb's owner, Moni Das, said: "When she was here once Delia said she loved the Goan Xacuti dish … "This is a very complicated dish," said Moni. "We use 24 different spices … “The recipe was first brought to the restaurant by a Goan chef and has remained a favourite ever since. See www.memsaheb.com for more information. For text of article, 357 words click here.

Pakistan: A new wave of extremism falling on Christians
28 Feb: AsiaNews. Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, the archbishop of Lahore, who chairs the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, speaks out on new forms of violence against the country’s minorities: forced conversions, abductions and discrimination … What is more distressing is the plight of Christian girls who are abducted and forced to marry their captors and change their religion. 325 words. Click here.

Happy Birthday Press Dispensary
29 Feb: Press Dispensary is now a thriving company based in Lewes, East Sussex, with six staff and a team of writers and clients running into the thousands … it was originally founded in 2002 by Greg Bourne … Web technology allows the company to operate virtually as well as physically and allows director Greg Bourne to divide his time between homes in Brighton and Goa … Click here.

Greg Acuna : Calling Earth!
1 Mar: MidDay. Greg Acuna had come to Goa, seven years ago, with a mission to pen down his bizarre spiritual journey in the form of the book Buddha’s Dead. Once the book was done, he found something else that made him stay on … So he gave birth to Earthlings, a unique animated series that combines animation and live action into an educational entertainment experience for kids all over the world … Earthlings is the story of four animated aliens who come to Earth and meet four live-action children … 562 words. Click here.

Pupils tune in to raise funds for charity
1 Mar: Portsmouth News (UK). Five pupils from the City of Portsmouth Girls' School, aged 14 and 15, will become the city's youngest-ever music promoters, putting on a night of raucous rock to raise cash for the charity Faith and Football … The group judged most successful earns a visit to Goa in India, where Faith and Football carries out charity work … For details, visit www.myspace.com/serenity_uk

Toronto: Indian fusion with moments of brilliance
1 Mar: Globe & Mail. The circumstances under which chef and partner Brad Moore left Xacutti in November are mysterious … Moore's new venture, Eleven, opened in January … Eleven is at 11 Jarvis St., Toronto … Click here.
1 Mar: Toronto Star. Xacutti rebranding attempt unrewarding. Click here.

Toronto: Finding humour in English and Indian
1 Mar: Toronto Star. An e-mail flap at Queen's Park this week put Indian English in the spotlight, proving yet again there's something about subcontinental speak that gets people talking … Click here.

100,000 Indians take UK govt to court
2 Mar: Times of India. Likening the British government to Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, 49,000 mostly Indian professionals and their families are to get a court hearing next week over their bid to block changes to the terms of their stay in Britain on the grounds of human rights and race relations. 571 words. Click here.

Canadian bank woos NRIs through cricket
2 Mar: Times of India. With the advent of Twenty20, cricket is coming to Canada with a bang … the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) will provide cricketing facilities to hundreds of schools which most South Asian students attend … Indo-Canadians, or people from the Indian subcontinent, number over 700,000 and constitute about three percent of Canada's population. 411 words. Click here.

Antidote: Holmes rolls in Goa
2 Mar: NewIndPress. Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr Watson holidayed in Goa recently, enjoying a few days of r&r. After a leisurely walk along Palolem beach, Holmes remarked: “Watson, it seems perfectly apparent to me that tonnes of ganja gets smoked in Goa every day. This calls for a deeper, private investigation.” … 1068 words. Click here.

India to pay poor families to bring up girls
3 Mar: The Guardian. The Indian government has announced a scheme to pay poor families to give birth to and bring up girls in an attempt to stop families nationwide aborting an estimated half a million female foetuses a year. Families in seven states are set to benefit from cash payments amounting to 15,500 rupees (£193) to keep and bring up their female children. Click here.

Recipe: Goan-Style Shrimp Curry
5 Mar: New York Times. Based on the one served at Devi restaurant, 8 East 18th Street, New York. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling dies while on holiday on Goa
28 Feb: North Devon Journal (UK). Scarlett Keeling, 15, was found dead on a beach in Goa last week … the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said a post mortem revealed she had died from accidental drowning … 149 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling’s mother alleges foul play in probe
29 Feb: Navhind Times. … Ms Fiona, the mother of the deceased said that police are not prepared to accept the fact that it has been a case of sexual assault or rape and they have denied that the body was bruised … 360 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling’s death still under cloud
29 Feb: Herald. … The victim’s mother believes that her daughter was drugged, sexually assaulted and later thrown into the sea to make it appear that she had drowned … 387 words. Click here.

Video + text: Cops says Scarlett Keeling drowned, family cries murder

1 Mar: CNN-IBN … CNN-IBN has been able to access the results of Scarlette's autopsy, which clearly state that there was enough bruising to suggest she had been murdered … 1m. 35s. Click here.

Mother of Scarlett Keeling alleges foul play
1 Mar: PTI. Fiona Mackeown has sought a senior police officer's intervention to solve the mystery behind the death of her daughter in north Goa. 265 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling was “raped and murdered”

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2 Mar: Mail on Sunday (UK). By David Orr in Anjuna. Fiona MacKeown, 43, has no doubt that Scarlett was murdered … Anjuna Beach in Goa has a seedy underside … every year there are up to 20 mysterious deaths of tourists in Goa … tourists are urged by the police not to pursue reported crimes and to return to their native countries … Scarlett had been in the care of Julio, a local tour guide in his 20s. … Scarlett's diary makes it clear that she was sleeping with Julio. It was Julio who alerted Mrs MacKeown to Scarlett's death in a mobile phone call … Dr Silvano Dias Sapeco confirmed that Scarlett had recently had sexual intercourse, though whether it was coercive was unclear … Sub-Inspector Nerlon Albuquerque said, “Anjuna is a peaceful place where no one would harm foreigners." Text 1231 words and three photographs at click here.

No breakthrough yet into Scarlett Keeling’s murder
2 Mar: Herald … Sources revealed that the accused got in touch with some local politicians in an effort to pressurize the police … Click here.

Scarlett Keeling raped, killed on Goa beach
2 Mar: Hindustan Times … “The police is not here to protect us as tourists and make Goa safe,” her mother said. “They are just here to make money. There must be more awareness of the dangers that exist in this beautiful place.” 289 words. Click here.

UK mom says Scarlett Keeling was killed
2 Mar: Daily News & Analysis. By Lionel Messias. … the second post-mortem indicates that no water was found in either her stomach or lungs … Police said Scarlett befriended a mysterious youth who goes by the name of ‘masala’ who could well be a non-resident Indian possibly living in England or Finland … 373 words. Click here.

Anjuna police yet to achieve breakthrough in Scarlett Keeling case
2 Mar: Navhind Times. … A reliable source in Anjuna said that the police are regularly interrogating one Samson, who allegedly had close links with her … journalists from the UK have descended on Anjuna in the past few days, the case is sure to have international ramifications with tourism in Goa likely to take a beating … 223 words. Click here.

Indian police to probe possible murder of Scarlett Keeling
2 Mar: Reuters (UK). … On Sunday, authorities in Goa said they had asked the police to look deeper into the case after Keeling's parents demanded a second autopsy …Tourist industry officials were worried. 313 words. Click here.

Mother accuses Indian police of covering up Scarlett Keeling’s rape and murder
3 Feb: The Times (UK). Jeremy Page in Goa. The mother accused local police of covering up her rape and murder, adding to fears about the safety of women tourists in India … the police in private tell journalists she drowned … Many rapists are let off because of corruption in the police and judiciary … Scarlett had struck up a friendship with Julio, a 25-year-old local tour guide … 714 words + comments. Click here.

Mother of Scarlett Keeling accuses police of 'cover-up'
3 Mar: The Independent (UK). By Andrew Buncombe in Delhi. … Vikram Varma, a Supreme Court barrister said the family would produce further evidence that would prove Scarlett had been murdered … In January, a British woman said she was raped in Panjim. In January 2007 Denise Higgins from Oxfordshire was murdered in the south of the state, while in December 2006, the body of Steven Bennett, from Cheltenham, was found hanging from a tree after he went missing on a train travelling between Goa and Mumbai. 471 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling Murder: Find My Girl's Killer
3 Mar: Daily Mail (UK). A grieving mother has won a new investigation into the death of the daughter she believes was raped and murdered. Scarlett Keeling, 15, was found virtually naked on a deserted beach in Goa … Some sources in Goa say police routinely cover up suspicious deaths of visitors, many of them hippies and New Age travellers drawn by the drug scene. Officially, there were just two murders last year, both still unsolved. 420 words + comments. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling ‘Raped and Murdered’
3 Mar: The Sun (UK). … Scarlett was last seen alive in Lui’s beachside cafe at about 4am on February 18. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Local police are investigating but we are not speculating while the investigation is going on.” 303 words + comments. Click here.

Witness saw Scarlett Keeling being sexually assaulted
3 Mar: Evening Standard (London) The mother Scarlett Keeling claimed today that a British tourist saw her daughter being sexually assaulted hours before her body was found on a beach in Goa. "This tourist was so shocked to see the intensity of the assault and felt so helpless to assist my daughter, that he informed two of his friends the details of the assault and immediately left Goa in fear of his life and liberty," said Mrs MacKeown … Mrs MacKeown believes it is even possible police were involved in Scarlett's rape and murder. She said: "Three weeks back an Australian female tourist was relaxing in the south Anjuna Beach after dark. She did not possess any contraband but was bodily searched and then raped by men in uniform … Mrs MacKeown told how Scarlett had fallen into a holiday romance with 25-year-old guide, Julio Lobo, a local tour guide … 833 words + comments. Click here.

Minister assures justice to family of Scarlett Keeling
4 Nar: PTI. Assuring justice to the aggrieved family of Scarlett Keeling found dead in a beach in Goa, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said the case is now being monitored by the Chief Minister of the state … 291 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling “used to pay for drugs in kind …”

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4 Mar: Times of India. By Preetu Nair. … According to the police, 15-year-old Scarlette was last seen at Lui Cafi [a cafe] in Anjuna in the company of two men, a restaurateur and a local drug supplier, both from Anjuna, who were known to her … Locals allege that there was a darker side to her personality. “She was heavily into drugs. She used to pay for the drugs in kind as she had no cash” … Click here.

Scarlett Keeling’s mother cries for justice
4 Mar: Navhind Times. Ms Fiona Mackeown addressed a press conference in Anjuna and regretted that even the Anjuna police were now ill treating and abusing her … 590 words. Click here.

Second Briton found dead in Goa in a fortnight
4 Mar: The Telegraph (UK). By Pamela Timms in Delhi. A second British tourist, Michael Harvey, 34, has been found dead in mysterious circumstances in Goa … last year Stephen Bennett was found hanging from a mango … Last month, Martin Fraser, was found dead by police who said he had drowned, but his family said his body bore scratch marks which suggested he too had been attacked … In the last few years, Russian and Israeli mafia gangs have fought with local villains for control of Goa's increasingly lucrative drugs and rave club scenes while corruption among the state's police is rife. 411 words. Click here.

Pictures back claim that girl was murdered
4 Mar: The Independent. (UK). By Andrew Buncombe in Goa. … Autopsy photographs released for the first time yesterday and seen by The Independent show her head, legs and upper body with extensive bruising … The mother says she is aware many people will be critical of her decision to leave her daughter when she travelled out of state. "We felt we had got to know these people," she said. "We had been to their house and had dinner with the aunt. She was a strict Roman Catholic." … 681 words. Click here.

Mystery Briton knows who raped and killed my girl, says mother
4 Nar: The Times (UK). Jeremy Page in Goa. Fiona MacKeown believes a man witnessed the rape of her daughter, Scarlett Keeling, 15 but he had since left in fear of his own life … The case highlights the darker side of Goa … Martin Fraser, another British citizen, died in Goa last month, officially by drowning. His family's lawyer said there were injuries on his corpse suggesting he had been assaulted … 742 words. Click here.

Video: Goa Cops Covering Up Scarlett Keeling’s Death
4 Mar: Sky.com. Fiona MacKeown tells Sky's Colin Brazier they are covering up her death. 1m.20s. Click here.

Goa chief rounds on naive female tourists in wake of deaths
5 Mar: The Times (UK). By Jeremy Page, Goa. … Digambar Kamat, Goa’s Chief Minister, defended his Government’s security record … “Foreign tourists have to be careful,” he told The Times. Foreign residents of Anjuna said that locals had been supplying young foreign women with cocaine and MDMA and then trying to have sex with them - often by force … 759 words + comments. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling Murder: Goa Govt breaks silence
5 Mar: Herald. Increasing adverse publicity has prompted the state’s tourism ministry to break its silence assuring that the government will leave no stone unturned to get to the root of the incident and ensure justice … It fears that a threat is looming of cancellation of bookings from the UK over the recent incident. 196 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling Murder: 24 quizzed
5 Mar: Herald. Anjuna police, who have faced much flak for their handling of the Scarlet Keeling case, have recorded statements and questioned 24 people into the British teenager’s mysterious death, even as it is learnt the second autopsy on her body is likely to be done on March 5. 264 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling death: Goa police "an embarrassment"
6 Mar: The Telegraph. (UK). By Pamela Timms in Goa. The Indian government has ordered police to reopen the investigation into the death with two Ministers calling the way local detectives had handled the investigation "an embarrassment". Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said, "I condemn what has happened. It is shocking and embarrassing. There will be a full investigation." 569 words. Click here.

Rajiv Desai in his article "Re--" colonisation of Goa" (sic) indicates his disappointment at how the new-comers to Goa are not only buying up properties but changing the culture of Goa into a collection of bits of the Bahamas, Thailand-style developments and a surfeit of kitch with marble and granite palaces in garish style. Do read this illuminating piece about rapidly changing Goa. One of his particular concerns is that the new-comers are setting up enclaves in Goa that "block out the locals and the local culture."

The 'Rise and Rise of Goan football' by K Datta tells us that "Goa has a well organised professional league, with clubs having their own junior age group teams. Further, that when Indian football is in the process of going professional, Goa has already stolen a march on it". However, others have been less sanguine about such a claim and argue that foreign players now constitute significant numbers in Goan football teams. There is of course, further news that the UK Arsenal football club is to coach youngsters across India and no doubt, Goa will be well featured in this new endeavour.

For those wishing to buy or sell property in Goa, the current market situation is explained fairly lucidly by self-styled JoeGoaUK. Clearly, the Goa property business is a sellers' market and purchasers are at hand with much ready cash at their disposal particularly for properties in much prized areas. However, we need to watch out for those who seek a cut at the whiff of any transaction in the offing.

If we thought that 'nostalgia ain't what it used to be' do read Cecil Pinto's resume of Village schooling in the Seventies in Goa. One contribution was from Alisha who wrote about many fascinating things but the one that stood out was about the "sadist teachers, mostly alcoholics, who would devise punishment methods that would have found approval with Torquemada of the Inquisition." Clearly, there were many 'dens of iniquity' that students had to put up with in those unenlightened times and no doubt, Cecil Pinto would very much like to hear more from us GV(UK) readers about their unusual school experiences in Goa.

Finally, while infallibility in the Roman Catholic Church has generally been accepted as a papal prerogative on matters of doctrine, some interesting discussion has emerged on the "infallibility of priests.”This is addressed as a serious issue by several posters but one post by Venantius Pinto has particular gravitas about it. Find out more about this unexpected theme on Goanet.

Sun. 23 Mar. Konkani Dramatic Association proudly presents 'Easter Dance' at St John’s Church Hall, Bourne Hill, Palmers Green, London N13 4DA. From: 2.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Music provided by Nite Life. Tickets, (includes buffet meal): adults £10.00 Children £5 (5-16, under 5 free). Dress: Formal (Strictly NO Jeans or Trainers). For tickets & further details call the following: Antonio - 0208 4529406 / 07988896904; Judy - 0208 76302606 / 07949403741; Domacian - 0208 3761609 / 07940501196; Rosy - 0208 8352 9450; Johnny - 0208 7693168

Sun 6 Apr. 1pm – 8.30pm. Charity Dance in aid of Osteoporosis Brittle Bone Disease. Venue: Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 3AS. All proceeds will go to St. George’s Hospital Tooting. Featuring Music by Dimensions Band. Disco by ‘Say One Do One’. Plus Cabaret shows. Admission: Adults - £13 with food; Children (4-10 yrs) - £5 with food. For tickets, please contact: Derrick Pereira – 020 8952 8899; Clare D’Souza – 01784 421421; Irene Mendonca – 020 8767 2762; Hazel Rodrigues – 020 8357 6776; Bernie Gracias 020 8723 1322.

Sun 4 May. 12:30pm- Cortalim Union (UK) 30th Jubilee Celebrating the Feast of Sts. Philip and James at Irish Centre, Pretoria Rd, London N17. Holy Mass followed by the social. Music provided by Nite Life. Also hosting the May Queen and May King. Smart dress essential. For tickets, (includes snacks, meal & desert): adults £12.00; Youth (11-17yrs) =£6 Children (2-10yrs) =£2.50, under 2 free. For further info call Maria 0208-803-5146, Melissa 0208- 888-0393

Sat 31 May. 7pm. GOA Anniversary and May Ball. Wandsworth Town Hall Contact: Norma Menezes-Rahim Telephone 020 8771 4457.