Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2008-19. May. 08, 2008

Joaquim Monteiro: A Very Special Centenarian

19 May: G.O.A. (UK) website. By Marci Pereira: Joaquim Monteiro was born in Cortalim, Goa, on 19 May 1908, trained and became an expert Ladies' Tailor. In 1932 he arrived in Mombasa, Kenya, married Maria in 1945 and set up home in Makadara, Mombasa and opened his own tailoring business in Salim Road, Mombasa, in 1949. He has five loving children: Celine/Laz, late Hilary (Leo)/Liseth, late Maggie/Jess, Theresa/Leo and Francis/Theresa. The family arrived in the UK in February 1975 and settled in Manor Park, London. Amongst his many notable accomplishments are the co-founding of the St Francis Xavier's Goan Tailors Society in Mombasa and the Founding Member of the St Francis Xavier's Union in London. Congratulatory messages to celinapereira@rogers.com
For full text, 2083 words, click here.

UK: Kent: Mimi and Andrew D'Costa are building their dream house

19 Apr: The Telegraph (UK). Kevin McCloud is helping Mimi and Andrew D'Costa build their new house in Headcorn, Kent … Mimi, a mother of two, has become a mine of selfbuild knowledge and she is the project manager…they plan to demolish their existing bungalow and build a modern, family house … their construction timetable is a breakneck 16 weeks … their story will appear on screen next year. 1994 words. Click here.

Goans in East Africa. By Prof Adolfo Mascarenhas
30 Apr: GoaNet Reader. Prof Adolfo Mascarenhas of the University of Dar-es-Salaam delivered a lecture on the Goans in East Africa at the History Hour held at the Xaviers Centre of Historical Research, Goa on April 30, 2008. It has been reproduced with the permission of the speaker. To read the full text, 3077 words, click here.

Gavin Fernandes: London College of Fashion Exhibition

1 May: Vogue (UK). Celebrating the 60th anniversary of India's independence, London College of Fashion will host a new exhibition, State of Independenz, in its Fashion Space Gallery this month. Featuring photography, poetry and fashion from students at both London College of Fashion and India's National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), the show is a result of a series of lectures conceived by Gavin Fernandes … State of Independenz runs from May 8 to May 23 at LCF's Fashion Space Gallery, 20 John Princes Street, London W1. Click here.
Gavin was born in Nairobi, the son of Marshall and Milly Fernandes; brother of Lynette Hickman and Ramona Fernandes. His bio, portfolio etc can be found at his website www.gavinfernandes.com

UK Local Elections: Rabi Martins wins
2 May: Watford Observer. For the Central Ward, Rabi Martins from the Liberal Democrats was re-elected with 620 votes. For the GVUK Rabi Martins supplement click here.
UK Local Elections Morel D’Souza loses
2 May: Kent & Sussex Courier. In a closely fought race the Conservatives won the Maidstone local elections after 25 years of a hung council … Labour lost two seats, including that of leader Morel D'Souza … For the GVUK Morel D’Souza supplement click here.

Goa will study migration impact
2 May: Express India. Goa will initiate ‘migrant monitoring study’ to judge the impact of migration on state’s demographic, social and economic fabric … Unofficial statistics revealed that more than 300,000 people have migrated from Goa, mostly in Middle East countries … the study will also scan impact of migration on social sectors such as education and health and will contain special reports on the elderly, women and children left behind. In addition, the study will address the problems encountered by emigrants in the countries of their destination … 238 words. Click here.

How Goa is going out of favour.

3 May: Gulf News (Dubai): By Joseph Marques. Diana Quelhas is a Briton of Goan descent. The 23-year-old medical student had made up her mind to return to Goa this year after spending her holidays there last December … Safety concerns have since forced a change of heart … her fears are not unfounded coming in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of Scarlett Keeling ... Diana has now decided to go to Australia instead. 884 words. Click here.

News from Mombasa Goans
5 May: From Maureen De Souza: Goan Community Mombasa Newsletter: We wish to ask our members to pray for Mrs. Charlotte Mendes, Mr. Franklyn Pereira, Mr. Alwin Tavares, Miss Nicolette De Souza and Ms. Maureen De Souza to get their strength back and recover soon from the illness they have had within the last few weeks.

Canada: Calgary: Fif Fernandes: Finding joy in funny bones

5 May: 24 Hours (Calgary). Fif Fernandes is a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Teacher who shares the power of happiness with Calgarians. Through interactive games and cheers, Fernandes evokes laughter from her crowd, wherever she goes. "The secret is laughter because it brings people joy, peace, harmony and love," Fernandes said … Free laughter sessions are held every Sunday. www.laughingpeace.com For full text, 293 words, click here.
Fif also works as a Therapeutic Clown "Jumpa", at the Alberta Children's Hospital and Peter Lougheed Center in Calgary. There are less than 50 Therapeutic Clowns working in Canada, and Fif / Jumpa is the only one who is of a non-European background. She can be contacted thru www.laughingpeace.com or www.fcrc.sacyhn.ca

Goan owner of AirAsia in battle to control Malaysian skies
6 May: Malaysia Sun. The Goan-Portuguese owner of the budget airliner AirAsia, Tony Fernandes, has announced two subsidised offers to counter Malaysia Airline’s (MAS) Zero Fare campaign. Fernandes announced that AirAsia would pay the difference to any of his passengers if they can find any MAS airfare that is lower than the cheapest offered by AirAsia, and his second offer was a sub-Zero Fare campaign … Fernandes also revealed that his airline would introduce chicken rice and satay soon. 304 words. Click here.
For the GVUK Tony Fernandes supplement click here.

Cardinal Ivan Dias: Vatican lends hand to the Anglican Church
6 May: The Guardian (UK). As the Archbishop of Canterbury arrived in Rome yesterday for a private meeting with the Pope, it was announced that Cardinal Ivan Dias would be among the speakers at this summer's event, which brings Anglican bishops together in London once every 10 years … Dias has been touted as a possible future candidate for the papacy … Cardinal Dias's presence is proof that the Vatican wants to be supportive of Rowan Williams. 352 words. Click here.

Interview: Dinesh D'Souza
6 May: Dartmouth Review. Q: Can you tell our readers a bit about the reason Christianity has taken precedence in your work of late? A: It’s odd, when I look back at my own life, I was raised Christian, my family comes from a part of India called Goa that was Christianized by Portuguese missionaries going back a couple of centuries. 3497 words. Click here.
The Dinesh D’Souza website is at www.dineshdsouza.com

Neil D'Souza: Toronto Catholic District School Board Faces Stark Choices

6 May: Toronto Star. Eliminating full-day kindergarten and making cuts to literacy programs to balance the budget will end up costing the Toronto Catholic board more in the long run, parents told trustees last night … The Toronto Catholic District School Board must cut $14 million in order to be balance the books for the 2008-09 school year … Neil D'Souza, the board's senior co-ordinator of business services, said that, under-enrolled schools are a drain on finances, as are the 20 closed schools the board needs to sell. Trustees take a final vote on cuts next month. 536 words. Click here.
Neil D’Souza traces his Goan roots to Saligao though he grew up in Kampala, moved to London, UK in 1966 and then to Toronto in 1981.

Kuwait: Beauties to vie for May Queen crown
7 May: Gulf Daily News (Kuwait). Top beauty queens from Kuwait and Qatar will compete in the Young Goans Club (YGC) Splash May Queen 2008 beauty pageant on May 22 at the Marina Club poolside, Manama. The event is being choreographed by YGC member Kevin D'Cunha and is open to women of all nationalities aged between 15 and 28. 283 words. Click here.

Toronto: Bassist Ian De Souza performs on May 30

7 May: Bancroft Today (Ont. Canada). Bassist Ian De Souza is a member of LAL, a collective of musicians representing Uganda, Bangladesh, Barbados, and India. Other members are vocalist Rosina Kazi, laptop musician, Nicholas (Murr) Murray and touring percussionist Rakesh Tewari. They will perform at Maynooth’s Arlington Hotel on May 30 … Click here.
Born in Kampala, Uganda Ian has recorded and performed live in almost every musical idiom. His understanding of his instrument informed by the music of Africa with an equal dose of New York City, and over 20 years of experience, makes Ian one of the most sought after bassists in Canada …

Toronto: Joanna de Souza performs May 8 & 9

8 May: The Toronto Star. Entertainment. Page E05. Here are some of the events taking place during the week … Horizons 3 "the narrative in Kathak" has works from Rina Singha and the Kathak Institute and Joanna de Souza. Tonight & Fri. 8 p.m. ($20 at 416-504-7082). St. Stephen's in-the-Field, 103 Bellevue Ave.
Joanna is married to Ian, the son of Norbert, all from the distinguished Kampala musical family. For profiles of Ian and Joanna de Souza click here.

Feasts, Feni and Firecrackers By Mel D'Souza

Mel has written a book about his schooldays in the late 40's and early 50''s. The book is selling for C$12.80 in Canada (incl. postage). For mailings to the U.S., the total price will be C$14.00 and £8 to U.K. addresses (including postage by air mail). All the proceeds from the sale of the book (approx. $5 per book) will be donated to his former school - Mater Dei Institution. To order the book in the U.K., send £8 to Tony Fernandes who can be contacted at rockrambler@gmail.com or tel: (H) 020-8923-1131 (M) 079-0432-3198.
Writer/cartoonist Mel D'Souza was born in Dar es Salaam in 1937 and worked in Caltex 1953-71. He is married to Lineth and they have two children, Helen and Gillian, and two grandchildren. He has been in Canada since 1971 and traces his Goan roots to Saligao. Fred Noronha has written about him and provided links to some of his illustrations - click here.

Goa: Tourism: The Luxembourg Model: Editorial
1 May: Navhind Times. Tourism is saturated … However, Goa cannot survive entirely on tourism. We have to develop other service industries, such as finance, insurance, banking and IT. Let us look at Luxembourg. Like Goa, it is a favoured tourist destination but it has diversified its economic activities … 505 words. Click here.

Inflation may take heavy toll on foreign tourists
1 May: Economic Times, India. Inflation may steal much of Goa's foreign tourism with many other international tourist destinations chipping in with cheaper tariffs, fears industry experts. 249 words. Click here.

Govt, industry differ on what makes Goa's tourism expensive
1 May: Economic Times (India). The state tourism department, which admitted that Goa is fast becoming expensive as tourist destination for a common man, said that it for the related industries to cut their costs and solve the problem … The Govt claims that everybody should chip in with their contribution to reduce prices … 267 words. Click here.

Overtaxed Goa may lose out winter tourism
2 May: Asian Age. By Pamela D’Mello. Goa risks pricing itself out of the international winter tourism market segment, travel agents and hoteliers have warned. Over taxation of up to 50 per cent, are driving up hotel tariffs to unsustainable levels … The region’s charter market though continued to boom — despite a November 2007 dip caused by visa outsourcing delays at India’s London High Commission. Wintering Britons comprise 60 per cent of Goa’s charter market, followed by Russians … 345 words. Click here.

Goa choking on its tourist success
2 May: IANS. Goa's infrastructure is beginning to crumble under the load of visitors, says the tourism industry that has called for an immediate upgrade of facilities. 544 words. Click here.

Australian agency to be roped in for beach safety
5 May: Herald. As part of the ambitious lifesaving and beach safety management schemes proposed by the State Tourism Ministry, Australia-based Surf Life Saving is likely to be taken on-board to assist in the assessment of Goa’s beach belt for demarcation of safe swimming zones. 535 words. Click here.

Indian Airlines to restart UAE-Goa service
6 May: Rediff. Indian Airlines has decided to resume its direct flight between United Arab Emirates and Goa from next week, four months after it stopped the services between the two destinations … Indian Airlines used to operate two direct flights to Goa in a week from Sharjah until March 30 … More than 50,000 Goans live in the UAE. Click here.

Staying at the Beach Capital of India
6 May: American Chronicle (California). A Portuguese colony until 60s, Goa has a romantic confluence of cultures of the occident and the orient … Goan people are lovely and hospitable. With their warm, broad smiles and affectionate hospitality, you will be swept off your feet … 537 words. Click here.

United States Travel Advisory to India
7 May: US State Dept. Travelers should be aware of a number of scams that have been perpetrated against foreign travelers, particularly in Goa, Jaipur, and Agra. The scams generally target younger travelers and involve suggestions that money can be made by privately transporting gems or gold (both of which can result in arrest) or by taking delivery abroad of expensive carpets, supposedly while avoiding customs duties. The items are always fake, and if they were real, the traveler could be subject to arrest. Click here.

Dubai: Direct flights to Goa resume next week
7 May: Gulf News (UAE). Dubai Expatriate Goans yesterday rejoiced on the resumption of direct flights to Goa … Direct flights from Dubai to Goa will operate every Thursday and Saturday …There is a large presence of expatriate Goans in Dubai and neighbouring emirates and their estimated numbers are 75,000. Click here.

Malaria Adds To Tourist Woes
7 May: Evening Standard (London). The Malaria Awareness Campaign said the number of cases in some tourist hot spots has trebled in a year - in Goa, for example, almost 800 people were diagnosed in the first six months of last year - up from 240 in the same period in 2006 … Holidaymakers are urged to visit their GP for advice before travelling and when they arrive to apply insect repellent with at least 50 per cent Deet and use mosquito nets. They should also take anti-malarial medication before, during and after travelling. Click here.

Sussegad in Goa!
8 May: Times of India. Goa is almost an extension of Mumbai for Bollywood’s glam citizens to wipe off the grease paint and be sussegad over the weekends. 634 words. Click here.

Getting to ‘Know India’ by train
8 May: The Hindu. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will operate two trains from Kerala. The first trip will begin on Aug 11 from Thiruvananthapuram and will have stops at Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Delhi, among other centres, and return a fortnight later. The Rs.7,216 package will include accommodation, food, tourism information, and vehicular transport to visit spots at each location. The second trip to Goa, Allahabad, Varanasi, Gaya, Kolkata, and Bhubaneshwar will commence on Sept. 7. The 15-day tour will cost Rs.7,730. Click here.

No full stops in Goa
1 May: Livemint, India. Converting a 150-year-old house called Raj Angan (royal courtyard), located in the heart of Siolim, into a “perfect modern home.” 671 words + photos. Click here.

Film: Three Nights Four Days to hit box-office in June
2 May: Navhind Times. Goan-born Ryan Semelhago has produced his latest bilingual film ‘Three Nights Four Days’, which will hit the box-office in the month of June. The movie is entirely shot in Goa, with friendship as a theme … It will have a worldwide launch in the second week of June. 371 words. click here.

Moira and Aldona Acron projects rejected
3 May: Navhind Times. Tremors of the controversial Acron project, being shown the door by the villagers of Aldona unanimously at its gram sabha meeting held last Sunday, were also felt in neighbouring Moira … Acron had acquired nearly a lakh square metres of land near Moira church with the plan to accommodate 15 3-storied bungalows with each bungalow priced at Rs 2.2 crore … 679 words. Click here.

Cricket: England slams India for excluding Goa from match venue
3 May: Indian Express. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has lashed out at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over changes made to the proposed itinerary for their upcoming tour in November-December this year … The ECB is upset that Goa has been taken off the list. “It is a great shame for our travelling supporters that BCCI proposes removing Goa as a venue … Goa’s last three allocated ODIs were 2001, 2006 and February 2007. 549 words. Click here.

DKA Award for Bonaventure D’Pietro

4 May: Herald. Bonaventure Peter Fernandes, popularly known as Bonaventure D’ Pietro in the field of Konkani literature will be awarded prestigious ‘Dalgado Puroskar 2008’ by Dalgado Konkani Akademi (DKA) for his sacrificial and invaluable life-time contribution to Konkani language … For his lifetime contribution to Konknni, Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim honoured him by conferring on him the prestigious ‘Fr. Antonio Pereira Konknni Puroskar 2004’… 337 words. Click here.

Book celebrating Goa to be launched on May 13
8 May: Navhind Times. Goa: Aparanta, Land Beyond the End, a long-awaited, lavishly illustrated, hardcover coffee table book celebrating Goan life, culture and history, will be launched on May 13. Dreamed up by Mr Dattaraj V Salgaocar and his teammates Mr Mario Cabral e Sa and Mr Wendell Rodricks, the book was long in the making, and involved the combined efforts of 51 contributors, many of them world-renowned specialists in their field. It runs to 250 oversized pages, and is priced at Rs 3,500 a copy. 526 words. Click here.

Goa: RP 2021: Task Force moots eco-sensitive zones
4 May: Herald. The interim report of Task Force on the Regional Plan 2021 has mooted eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) to preserve forests, khazan lands and heritage sites from mining and any other development activities … the coastal belt with its existing infrastructure is unable to cope with the increasing tourist- related population … social amenities available in Goa (public transport, sanitation, health, education etc) need to be upgraded … The draft Regional Plan will be submitted on June 30 with public responses by September 15 and final report on November 15. 584 words. Click here.

Goa: Blood and Gore

4 May: The Telegraph. Despite a ban on bull fights, buffalo fighting is flourishing in pockets of South Goa, Reena Martins looks at the bloody slugfest. Click here.

Domestic violence not a male preserve’
4 May: Herald. Domestic violence is perpetrated by both men and women, though in the vast majority of cases the man is the culprit said Commissioner for Non Resident Indian Affairs Eduardo Faleiro while speaking at a debate titled ‘Domestic violence’ … Adv. Jos Peter D’Souza said every relationship starts with an engagement ring, a marriage ring and then suffe-ring … 321 words. Click here.

Goa: The Feast and the Fury
5 May: Herald. Tension ran high as a police team of five found themselves outnumbered and beaten black and blue when they went to pacify two warring factions ironically celebrating the Our Lady of Poor Church feast symbolizing unity at Tilamol-Quepem. 289 words. Click here.

Video: The Story of Trance in Goa

6 May: NDTV. Psydellic electronic music was called Goa Trance … Trance started in Goa in the late 60’s … 3m. 45s. Click here.

Editorial: A Dangerous Trend
6 May: Navhind Times. On April 4, violence broke out in Tilamol, Quepem after the parish priest Fr Lucio Dias was assaulted in the matter of rent of a shop of the Our Lady of the Poor Church … on May 4, the people of Tilamol targeted the police for arresting the persons who were engaged in the fight in the grounds of Our Lady of the Poor Church … Goan society is gradually but systematically turning to violence as a means of resolving disputes. Click here.

This week in religion history
6 May: Peterborough Examiner, Canada. On 6th May 1542, St. Francis Xavier arrived in Goa in his quest to bring Christianity to the Far East. Click here.

WiMax - Wireless Broadband Internet in Goa soon
7 May: Navhind Times. Goa will become the first state in the country to get WiMax enabling people with laptops to be able to access wireless broadband Internet connection in Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, Vasco, Ponda and coastal areas of tourist importance … speeds will range from 2mbps to 8 mbps … 453 words. Click here.

Goa Edition of Times of India Launched 7 May 2008

7 May: Goa Times. A 24 page edition was launched today. The e-paper edition has the same layout as the print edition with photographs, advertisements, etc. To view this select Goa as the City from the pull down menu after clicking here.
For the traditional internet edition of the daily paper click here.

Times of India: Goa News: 7 May:
Goa to have wireless web worlds.
Goan parents for sex education in schools. By Preetu Nair.
Get set to pay and park in Panaji.
Villagers unite to pull plug on mega projects. By Govind Kamat Maad.
Death of Russian detective bares drug, sex trade in Goa. By Preetu Nair.
For links to the full text, click here.

Goa church trendsetter for social issues
8 May: Times of India. By Ashley D'Mello. The social activism of the Catholic Church in Goa is increasingly being seen as a trendsetter by Church groups in other parts of the country. 473 words. Click here.

'Indians low on sexual pleasure'
1 May: Times of India. An international survey on sexual well-being claims that only 46% Indians experience an orgasm almost every time they have sex … However, while 55% of Indian males almost always climax during sex, women get a worse deal with only 26% almost always achieving orgasm … The Durex Sexual Well-being Survey found that, globally, 58% of those who usually achieve orgasm were content with the emotional aspects of their sex life … 347 words. Click here.
For the full Durex Sexual Well-being Survey click here.

Australia: Amy Fernandes: From India, with love
1 May: Port Douglas & Mossman Gazette (Aus). Hot on the heels of new 12-hour direct flights from Bombay to Sydney, high profile Indian journalist Amy Fernandes was on her way to Port Douglas and Daintree, courtesy of Tourism Australia. She writes for a large number of mainstream newspapers in India … Ms Fernandes said the wildlife was another major attraction. As well as the Australian attractions of koalas and kangaroos, here you find tree kangaroos and crocodiles too. 254 words.
1 May: Economic Times (India). Amy Fernandes visited the game reserves in Kenya and came away with vignettes of ‘human behaviour’ among ‘wild’ animals … For photos and text click here.

Indian docs win legal battle against UK govt
1 May: The Times (UK). The House of Lords has told the Government that it must ditch its policy of preferring British and European doctors for NHS jobs over doctors from further afield. The effects of the ruling will be to guarantee around 4,000 to 5,000 overseas-trained doctors already in the UK equal chances of winning training posts … UK-trained doctors will simply have to face the fact that for the next four to five years, competition for training places will be tough… 907 words. Click here.

Oliver Sean: Master of Melody

2 May: Express India. If there ever were a musical sorcerer, then his shoes would fit Oliver Sean to a tee. A rhythmic illusionist and conjurer of rhyme and substance, Sean is simply sensational … His upcoming English album Getting Around, is also set to release this year … Though he is mixed up with his lineage, belonging to multiple ethnicity-Italian, Portuguese and Indian heritage-, having grown up in Goa, he considers Goa as his hometown and his perennial destination for peaceful contemplation … Sean is also the owner of two recording companies – W.O.A Records and Sevenz Records. He figures in a band called the Oliver Sean Band … For text,593 words, click here.
The Oliver Sean website is at www.oliversean.com

Souza’s The Red Road fetches £580,500 in London auction
3 May: Malaysia Sun. A painting by Francis Newton Souza fetched the top price of £580,500 - outperforming old masters … The painting, tilted The Red Road, was hotly contested by at least seven bidders before selling to a client on the telephone, Sotheby's said … Click here.
For a photo of the painting showing the Red Road – Porvorim to Calangute - at the Saligao Church junction. Click here.

Illeana: I do not have time for romance

4 May: Sify. Illeana D’Cruz without doubt, is the numero uno star in Tollywood. And one of the highest paid actresses in South India. She commands huge following among the current generation actresses. She says, “My dad is from Goa and my mom is from Mumbai. I was in Mumbai for the first ten years of my life and then we shifted to Goa”… Click here.

Novel set in Goa shortlisted for Prize and Film
5 May: The Western Mail (UK). Gee Williams’ first novel, Salvage, has been nominated for the James Tait Black Memorial Prize … The novel, set in Wales and Goa is now in the hands of the UK Film Council for consideration as a film … Salvage is to be published on July 25, price £9.99.
For details of the book and sample pages, click here.

When Goa met Meg Ryan, quietly for five days
6 May: Indian Express. … Hollywood star Meg Ryan, famous for her roles in such superhits as When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, spent about a week enjoying the summer sun in Goa … So uneventful was her visit that it almost went unnoticed until she presented her credit card after splurging on Indian designer wear at Wendell Rodricks’s boutique in Panaji. Ryan came to Goa with her three-year-old adopted daughter, her nanny and an unidentified male friend … She became the latest Hollywood celebrity to step into the boutique after Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. 547 words. Click here.

The unsung Indian jazz artists
6 May: NDTV. Hip hop may be the in thing, but what once ruled the charts was the notes and compositions of Mumbai's jazz musicians … 80 year old Joe Pereira or Jazzy Joe … Anthony Gonsalves … Sebastian and Chic Chocolate … Merlin D'Souza and her son Rhees who plays a saxophone … 558 words. Click here.

Scientists Find Indian “Fat” Gene

6 May: BBC. Scientists have pinpointed a reason why people with Indian ancestry may be more prone to weight problems. They have found this group is more likely to carry a gene sequence linked to an expanding waist line, weight gain and type 2 diabetes. The sequence, discovered by a team led by Imperial College London, is carried by 50% of the population - but is a third more common in Indian Asians … 460 words. Click here.

UK: Basmati rice prices soar, set to remain high
7 May: The Guardian (UK). Wholesale prices for Basmati rice are set to remain high after doubling in the last 12 months with demand surging and production costs climbing … demand had risen as consumers in Europe, America and the Middle East developed a taste for the variety. Indian consumers have also become more affluent and have moved to Basmati … Record oil prices have also contributed to rising costs … production has failed to keep pace. 453 words. Click here.

Epic drive across India
8 May: South China Morning Post (Hong Kong). Two Hong Kong policemen, John Morgan and Tim Worrall, will set off later this year on a two-week journey driving rudimentary Indian Ambassador cars on a gruelling route through the hill range called the Western Ghats … Fifty teams from around the world will begin the event in Goa and finish the 2,000km route in Cochin.

Glasgow: Goanese chooza
7 May. Metro (Glasgow). …Chillies Indian takeaway has expanded to include a new tapas-style restaurant. With 60 seats inside and 20 outside, Chillies has the looks to match its modern menu. A typical dish is the Goanese chooza: chicken flavoured with honey, peppers and sweet mango (£4.25). 176-182 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, daily noon to 12.30am. Tel: 0141 331 0494. www.chillieswestend.com

Edinburgh: Herman Rodrigues: Ghosh, it wis sic a braw nicht
8 May: The Scotsman. ... an eclectic gathering of curry connoisseurs, musicians, lexicographers and software consultants met at Edinburgh's Suruchi restaurant on Tuesday evening for the introduction of what it claims is Scotland's first fully live, online Indian take-away order system … also in the offing aided by the restaurant's proprietor, Herman Rodrigues, is an Indian-Scots cookbook … Two regulars spoke fondly of a Scots-Indian restaurant they discovered in Ontario run by ex-Glaswegian-Asians - although it didn't stretch to haggis pakora … 240 words. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/opinion/The-diary.4061297.jp

Scarlett Keeling: mother for Scotland Yard inquiry
1 May: Asian Age. By Pamela D’Mello. Fiona MacKeown, mother of murdered British teenager Scarlett Keeling, wants Britain’s Scotland Yard police brought in to handle the case, as India’s Central Bureau of Investigation is "too busy", she claimed … To lobby for this, she would have a meeting with British deputy high commissioner Vicky Treadell shortly … 182 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: organ repatriation delay
1 May: BBC. The mother of murdered teenager Scarlett Keeling has been told that repatriating her daughter's missing organs could be complicated and costly … The Goa Medical College has agreed to release them to her, but undertakers in Goa have told her she will not be allowed to take them out of India without a certificate authorising repatriation. They have told her this could cost hundreds of pounds. 338 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: Organs are still missing

1 May: The Sun (UK) + hundreds of newspapers worldwide. Fiona MacKeown has blasted the authorities in Goa for failing to hand over her daughter's missing organs … despite being told yesterday that she could have them, the doctor does not want to hand over the organs as he is worried about the legal side … "It is buck passing, there is no paperwork," she said … If she had to return without the organs, she said she would ask the Goan authorities whether they would fly them back to the UK … Mrs MacKeown said she would keep returning to Goa to pursue justice for her daughter… 391 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling murder inspires Bollywood film
2 May: France24, The murder of Scarlett Keeling has inspired Prabhakar Shukla, a Bollywood director to make a film exposing the drug scene in Goa … For the role of Scarlett he has approached leading Bollywood beauty Katrina Kaif -- who was brought up in London and whose mother is British. Shukla plans to begin shooting in July. 274 words. Click here.
2 May: The Star: At the Zee Cine Awards 2008 … British Bollywood babe, Katrina Kaif, won the British Indian Actor of the Year award, which was presented by Keith Vaz. She said, “My family lives in London; my mom is British and my father is Indian.”

Mother of Scarlett Keeling says she will not bury 'incomplete' body
3 May: AFP (France). Fiona Mackeown said Saturday she would not bury her daughter's body without her missing organs, which authorities have still not released … British police are carrying out another autopsy on Keeling's body, but have said they cannot proceed without the missing vital organs, which include the teenager's kidneys, pancreas, spleen and stomach … MacKeown, who is due to depart on Sunday, has said she will return in a few weeks to follow up on the case … 458 words. Click here.

UK media draws flak for putting India in negative light
3 May: PTI. The British media which is giving blanket coverage to the murder of 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling in Goa has drawn flak for its negative reporting deriding India and the coastal state … Many readers point out that the Indian news media do not pass similar judgments on British society when Indian citizens die in Britain … Placido Carvalho, a suspect arrested on Wednesday, has reportedly confessed to the crime … 500 words. Click here.
[From Eddie Fernandes: The author of the article appears to be ignorant that a) the furore in the India and International media is caused not by the murder but by the ham-fisted attempt at a cover up and b) that Placido Carvalho was released on bail on grounds that there was no evidence provided by the police against him].

Goa Death in paradise
4 May: ABC (Spain). The murder of Scarlett Keeling uncovered a dark web of police corruption … In a new twist to this sordid 'soap opera', forensics have discovered that the body was missing vital organs … The situation is so serious that the central government has taken action in the matter … 1054 words in Spanish. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling’s mother: I Know Who Killed Her
5 May: Press Assoc. Fiona MacKeown believes she knew the identity of one of her killers who is a “powerful person” with money and connections in Goa … She said that she hoped the CBI would invite Scotland Yard to become involved in the investigation ``I was approached by many people who told me this man's name. It is common knowledge out there it seems. People are saying that they have had enough of him and his group and they want something done about it. I don't think he will get away with it once the CBI take over because they don't take instruction from anyone.'' She added that Goa Police “are doing everything they can to try and stop it being investigated properly. Everything is so deep and so dirty.'' … Goa has a problem with rape and is not a safe country for foreigners, especially women, to visit … the authorities have used “tactics of intimidation” and have tried to wear her down by making her wait for hours and pushing her from “pillar to post”. 1375 words

Scarlett Keeling: Family condemn plans for a Bollywood movie
5 May: Daily Mail (UK). The family of Scarlett Keeling condemned a Bollywood filmmaker's plans to make a film about her murder … The new film, "Rave Party", will have song and dance sequences … But Scarlett's family fear it will be fiction dressed up as fact … 621 words. Click here.

Mother: I know who killed Scarlett
5 May: Press Association. … Fiona MacKeown claimed the authorities have tried to cover up what happened to her daughter because the man responsible was a "powerful person" with money and connections in Goa … She said that she hoped the CBI would invite Scotland Yard to become involved in the investigation in a bid to bring Scarlett's killers to justice … She added, "I was approached by many people who told me this man's name. It is common knowledge out there it seems. People are saying that they have had enough of him and his group and they want something done about it." 293 words. Click here.

Video + Text: Scarlett's Mother: 'I Know Who Killed Her'

5 May: Sky News. The mother of Scarlett Keeling, the British teenager murdered in Goa in February, says she knows the identity of one of her daughter's killers. Fiona MacKeown alleges Indian authorities want to cover up what happened because the man responsible is a "powerful person" in the state. She made the claims upon her return to Britain last night following a failed attempt to bring Scarlett's internal organs back home. 2m. 38s. Click here. Click here.
Video + Text: 5 May: BBC News. “We have had confirmation that a certain person is involved. He is a powerful person with money.” 3m. 11s. Click here.

Video + text: I know who murdered Scarlett: Mother
6 May: CNN-IBN. Fiona McKeown said, “Some of the organs are in Goa Medical College and some of them are with the Forensics Department in Mumbai. I have to write a letter to the Chief Secretary and he said that if possible he will get it together and get it up to the Mumbai airport, then a flight will be arranged and it needs to be collected at my end. 1m. 55s. Click here.

Scarlett funeral is stopped over row
6 May: The Sun (UK). The mother of murdered Briton Scarlett Keeling yesterday told how she is refusing to bury her daughter until Indian doctors return her organs … “They took her uterus, kidneys, lungs, stomach, parts of her brain, even her ovaries without asking or telling me why.” … Fiona said she knows who was really behind her daughter’s death. The mum-of-nine, from Bideford, Devon, added: “He is the son of a senior politician who drank in the same bars as Scarlett. I have passed his name to police but they have failed to act.” 207 words. Click here.

Video: I know who killed my daughter: Fiona
6 May: India Times. 1m. 02s. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: Goa govt seeks CBI takeover
6 May: PTI. The Goa government today issued a formal notification seeking takeover of the Scarlett Eden Keeling murder case by CBI. 407 words. Click here.

Video: Scarlett’s Mother Speaks

6 May: CNN World News. The mother of British teenager murdered in Goa fights for justice for her daughter … Goa Police would not comment … CNN’s Emily Chang reports. 2m..33s. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: Mother Helped by “locals in Goa, as well as by Goans in UK.”
7 May: Times of India.Police are weighing the possibility of summoning Scarlett Keeling's mother to Goa so that she can reveal the name of the 'powerful person' involved in the rape and murder of her daughter … Supporting Fiona's stand, her counsel in India, Vikram Varma said, "Besides the evidence provided by the Goa police to Fiona, she has also been provided with considerable information by the locals in Goa, as well as by Goans in UK."… 317 words. Click here.

Rave Party not just about Scarlett
8 May: NDTV. Director Prabhakar Shukla, who is attracting media attention with plans to make a film on Scarlett Keeling who was raped and murdered in Goa, says the film is not just about her but also on the larger issue of drug abuse … Shukla says: "I am planning to visit Britain next month and I will talk to MacKeown there and discuss things with her. I will surely show the corrupt officers in the film. But I will also show how the drug mafia exploits tourists and what happens at rave parties. Goa is a tourist paradise, but I want to show the darker side of the popular tourist spot. People like watching reality; so I have decided to show reality in my film … 366 words. Click here.

Miguel Braganza informs us that "the public settings of ad hoc Committees of the Goa Legislative Assembly have commenced. The Public is permitted to make suggestions in advance by filling in a Form and waiting for the Chairperson to invite suggestions. Specific times have been allocated for items such as Transport, Agriculture and Husbandry, Fisheries, Tourism etc." Clearly, for a State where corruption is deemed to be at a high level in all walks of life, the opportunity to raise issues with the Legislative Assembly should help to bring about changes.

The theme of 'Migrant Dangers to Goa' has featured much among Goanet posters. A range of issues have been raised and taken very seriously. However, not all are persuaded that there is indeed a major danger from migrants entering Goa and the contrasting positions are quite illuminative about the depth and breadth of discussion on this issue.

In a post by Frederick Noronha and referred to as Brief FN Encounters...we are taken on a voyage of discovery into "a few moving images from Goa, which seek to depict diverse forces of this region." An illustration of what is to be found in this article includes...understanding history, looking at Goa's art, village Life, studying Goa and the case for Romi Konkani. More information is available at fn.goa-india.org

'JoeGoaUK' provides Goanet with a very large number of photographs of Goa as well as video clips taken by himself and others. Many of these are an excellent record of a traditional, as well as a fast changing Goa. Goan Voice (UK) readers may wish to avail of such photographs for their own collections. Please visit http://is.rediff.com/profilevisitor.php?mem_id=48419

Finally, we learn that coconut prices have been falling in Goa and "planters of this versatile nut are looking for alternative ways to enhance their incomes. Options are growing too. Some successful coconut ventures include coconut water-based health drinks, vinegar and miscellaneous food articles available in global markets." Find out more from a very interesting and informative article titled 'Coconut searches for new, better uses for its many products'.

FILM: Young Winston. BBC 2 London
Saturday 10th May. 16:45 to 19:00. Lavish rendering of Winston Churchill's early life, from his school days, through his adventures in Africa, to his first days in Parliament. It begins with Churchill as a junior officer in India out to make a name for himself. 1972. Director: Richard Attenborough.

FILM: East Is East. Channel 4.
Date: Saturday 10th May. 21:00 to 22:50. Om Puri is George Khan, a Pakistani immigrant who, with his wife Ella, is trying to run his fish and chip shop while coping with their seven children.

TRAVEL: Tall Ship Explorers. Travel Channel.
Sunday 11th May. 00:00 to 01:00. The Son of The Sinbad. A 5.000-mile sea voyage from the Sultanate of Oman by dhow that used to trade their riches with India and Africa.

TRAVEL: Extreme Dreams with Ben Fogle. BBC 1
Monday 12th May. 03:45 to 04:15. Uganda II (Part 1 of 5). Check programme guide for the other episodes.

DOCUMENTARY: Divided Britain. BBC Radio Four. Also Online.
Tuesday 13th May. 20:00 to 20:40. Teaching Tolerance. Gerry Northam reports from Marsden Heights Community College in Pendle, Lancashire, opened in 2006 as part of a radical reorganisation of local schools designed to improve performance and help to integrate the white and Asian population of the area. Two years on, is the college achieving its goals? (Repeated Sunday)

DOCUMENTARY: Monsoon Railway.BBC 4
Thursday 15th May. 23:45 to 00:40. First of two films painting an affectionate portrait of the Indian railway culture.

DOCUMENTARY: Living the Dream Revisited. BBC 2
Thursday 15th May. 20:00 to 21:00. Restaurant In The Sun. What happened when the Darar family left cold and rainy Ayr in Scotland to open an Indian Restaurant in the Spanish Costa Blanca?

DOCUMENTARY: Storyville. BBC 4
Thursday 15th May. 21:00 to 22:00. Flipping Out - Israel's Drug Generation. Yoav Shamir's documentary looks at why so many young Israelis go backpacking in Goa, with a high proportion experimenting with drugs and consequently suffering mental breakdowns.

TRAVEL: Globe Trekker. Travel Channel 2
Thursday 15th May. 21:00 to 22:00. Ultimate India. Megan McCormick blows herself away with the hot native cuisine; Holly Morris gets a close up view of Indian sanitation; Andrew Dado tries yoga;

Sat 10 May. 6 pm. Swindon. Punjab Community Hall. Wembley Goans U.K presents “American Ghorkar” Konkani Tiatr. A Tribute to Alfred Rose. PROFESSIONAL CAST FROM GOA. The artistes are: Director, Menino De Band; Legendary Rita Rose, Antonette De Calangute, Comedy Queen Janet, London Favorite Kenny, Bab Andrew, Goans Choice Francis De Tuem, Rising Star Master Junior Chico, Master Character Ben Evangelisto and the Guinness Record holder, Norman Cardozo. Contact Peter Bala 0751 553 1092. For flyer click here.

Sun 11 May. Margao Union UK – Feast of THE HOLY SPIRIT. Mass at St. Boniface Church, 185 Mitcham Road, Tooting, at 1.30pm. thereafter a get-together at the Church Hall. Price including snacks and buffet £ 10.00. Band “DIMENSION”. Contact: Bella-020 8372 1253, Rosalind-020 8767 8652, Lucas-020 8967 7471, Agnela-020 8646 6996

Sun.11 May BMX REUNION (Ex Students of Britto's, St Mary's and Xavier's) 1.30pm to 8pm at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Proceeds will go to worthy causes. Everyone is welcome. For tickets contact - Bernie Gracias 020 8723 1322, Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 8771 4457, Ilona Fernandes 020 8300 5347, Proto Carvalho 020 8640 3135, Jaime Rodrigues 020 8684 0456, Liz Coutinho 020 8647 6387. For the flyer click here.

Sun 18 May. 2 pm. Wembley. Copland School Hall. Wembley Goans U.K presents “American Ghorkar” Konkani Tiatr. A Tribute to Alfred Rose. PROFESSIONAL CAST FROM GOA. The artistes are: Director, Menino De Band; Legendary Rita Rose, Antonette De Calangute, Comedy Queen Janet, London Favorite Kenny, Bab Andrew, Goans Choice Francis De Tuem, Rising Star Master Junior Chico, Master Character Ben Evangelisto and the Guinness Record holder, Norman Cardozo. Contact Tony 020 87951 121, 0783 4639 420 or Felix 020 8421 5542, 0798 545 7108. For flyer click here.

Sun. 18 May. Goan Chaplaincy Day. Thanksgiving Mass at 1.15 pm followed by a social get together at Archbishop Lanfranc School Hall, Mitcham Road, Croydon. CR9 3AS. Music by Rainbow's End. Tickets: Adult £15.00* Child £ 7.50* *Early Bird Discount (Adult £ 12.00/ Child £6.00) if completed form and cheques are received latest by Wednesday, 30th April 2008. For forms and other information please contact the Goan Chaplaincy on 020 8665 2176. Tickets include snacks and food. Email- goanchaplaincy@yahoo.co.uk
Donations and Raffle Prizes will be greatly appreciated. Cheques should be addressed to 'Goan Chaplaincy'

Sat 31 May. 7pm. GOA Anniversary and May Ball. Wandsworth Civic Suite. Crowning of May Queen and May King. Music by Mellow Tones and Nite Life. Further details from Norma Menezes Rahim 020 8771 4457 Rosy De Souza 020 8677 0390 Rose Remedios 020 8658 7769 Claire De Souza 01784 421421 and Bernie Gracias 020 8723 1322. For full details click here.

Sun.15 Jun. Siolim Union (London) celebrates the feast of St. Anthony of Padua at Archbishop Lanfranc School Hall, Mitcham Road, Croydon CR9 3AS. Commences with Holy Mass at 12noon followed by dancing to the music of Maz and Co. Licensed Bar. Tickets which include snacks and lunch cost £10 for members & £12 for guests. Children under 12 free admission (meal tickets £3). No tickets will be sold at the door. Dress: Strictly Formal Contact: Edwin Athayde 020 8679 5514, Eugene Fernandes 020 8665 4773, Tony Fernandes 020 8540 3566.