Daily Goa News Clips: 03 DEC 2006

SAVE GOA movement kicks off
PANJIM, Dec 3: Politicians may jolly well think what they feel like. They have been doing their will for far too long! They long to do the same with the Regional Plan for Goa. But Goans have eventually realised that if allowed to be passed without objection, the Regional Plan would prove totally disastrous to Goa. Hence they have decided to put up a stiff opposition and ensure that the Plan is revoked. At Don Bosco High School hall, a number of NGOs and concerned citizens met this morning, to formulate a well coordinated effort to thwart the plans to convert green and peaceful Goa into a concrete jungle. Dr Oscar Rebello has been unanimously elected the Chief Convenor of the Save Goa movement, which will organise a mammoth rally in Panjim on December 18. People, who had been involved earlier in the Konkani Porjecho Adhar and others have also pledged full support to the movement. [GoaNewsClips]

AICHEA DISAK CHINTOP
(Thought for the Day)

Bhukek tonddak lavnk naka; nhidek uxem naka.
(No appetizer is needed when in hunger; no pillow is required when in deep slumber.)
DOMNIC FERNANDES <jyodom@hotmail.com>

Come what may, next IFFI will be in Goa: Rane
PANAJI, Dec 2: The Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsingh Rane, today said that some people are not comfortable because the International Film Festival of India is being held in Goa, but come what may, Goa is going to have the film festival, next year. Mr Rane said that the state government is going to improve the festival and Goa will definitely make a mark as one of the best locations on the global level as far as the venues of the internationally held film festivals are concerned. The International Film Festival of India has just entered its third year in Goa, and we will make it as successful as the Cannes Film Festival down the years, he stressed. He also stated that experts in the field of cinema would be included in the Entertainment Society of Goa to improve its working. [NT]

MLA’S and MP’s need legal literacy: Aires
PANJIM, Dec 3: Save Goa Front Convenor Aires Rodrigues today expressed the need of organising legal literacy camps for Goa’s MLA’s and MP’s. Speaking at the Legal Literacy camp organized by the Colva Legal Cell of Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law at a packed Colva’s Lions Club hall this morning, Adv Rodrigues stated that the average Goan was quite aware of the laws but that there was need of such camps for the benefit of elected MLAs and MPs. He suggested that Margao’s Kare Law College hold one such camp for South Goa MLAs while Panaji’s Salgaocar College of Law could hold one for the North Goa MLAs. Rodrigues stated that instead of NGO’s and social activists having to fight against corrupt and despotic politicians for the rest of their lives it would be better for the Goan electorate to get to the root of the problem and elect the right MLAs at the next assembly elections. [GoaNewsClips]

Navy committed to welfare of Goans: Rear Admiral
VASCO, Dec 2: The Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area, Rear Admiral, AVSM NM, Sanjay Vadgaokar, said that Navy being an integral part of Goa is strongly committed to welfare of Goans and despite severe shortages in trained manpower, it has opened the Dabolim airfield for 24 hours of operation since September 2003. Rear Admiral Vadgaokar was interacting with the press at INS Gomantak, as a part of Navy Week celebration organized by the Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area and Flag Officer Naval Aviation on Friday evening. He also stated that the navy has assets of Rs 75 crore in Goa and Rs 1,000 crore has been spent on infrastructure. He further said that Dabolim is the largest airbase of Indian Navy and is operating six different types of aircrafts. He opined that the navy is a risk-oriented profession and it’s strength is about 6,000 in Goa. [NT]

BACAIM TO VASAI released
PANJIM, Dec 02: In her latest book "Bacaim to Vasai", Goan chronicler Dr Teresa Albuquerque traces the saga of the word of the Lord sown in 1543 by pioneering Portuguese missionaries in Bacaim on the west coast of India. Though seven splendid churches erected by them within the fort city were vandalised and battered, the nine village churches, which the missionaries set up at various points beyond the ramparts to serve those they had baptized on the outskirts, have survived. Goan priests stepped in to minister to the flock entrusted to their care in the spirit of true dedication. These nine churches of the sixteenth century still retain a wondrous glimpse of byegone baroque magnificence. The colourfully illustrated book, published by Wenden Offset Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, was released by Metropolitan Bishop Felipe Neri Ferrao at the Pilar seminary chapel, where the western region Bishops are in a conclave. Incidentally, with "Bacaim to Vasai," Dr Albuquerque completes a wonderful dozen of very informative books dwelling on micro-historical studies, largely with a deep Goan undertone. [GoaNewsClips]

No takers for Dabolim night operations
MORMUGAO, Dec 2: Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area and Flag Officer Naval Aviation Rear Admiral Sanjay Vadgaonkar has stated that night operations are yet to find takers at Dabolim airport, even as civil flights enjoy most of the flying time at Dabolim airport. Claiming that the airport was handed over to the Navy by the Indian Government after the exit of the erstwhile Portuguese regime, Rear Admr Vadgaonkar highlighted the role played by the Navy in Goa since then. Claiming that the Navy has spent around Rs 75 crore to upgrade facilities at the Dabolim airport, Rear Admr Vadgaonkar said that the Navy has also spent around Rs 40 crore for expansion of the runway which is extended to 3.1 kms to cater to any aircraft. [H]

Utorda resident booked for rape
VASCO, Dec 2: The Verna police have registered an offence against Avinash Anthony Fernandes (20), a resident of Costawaddo, Utorda, for a raping a 15-year-old girl. According to police, the complaint was lodged by the victim on December 1 stating that the accused was sexually abusing her from May to November. Consequently, she became pregnant. [NT]

CCP fails to contain IFFI stink
PANJIM, Dec 2: Tonca, the first and the last of the Panjim city corporation’s waste disposal site for residual dry waste, is in the dumps with its virtual hijack for the IFFI’s garbage. The well managed site for the last six months was forced to play host to garbage of all sorts for the last seven days even though the city Corporation had initially resisted from complying with requests on waste disposal from the State IFFI organisers. [H]

IFFI-2006 better than previous one: Dev Anand
PANAJI, Dec 2: Dev Anand, the evergreen actor of Indian screen who today visited the venues of the International Film Festival of India, said that this year’s festival is an improvement on the last year and would do a lot better for India as well as the Indian film industry. Dev Anand, whose latest film ‘Mr Prime Minister’, was screened later in the day to commemorate his sixty years in the film industry, said that he is looking forward to visit Goa for the next festival. [NT]

Goan artists mourn the demise of Consul General Adao
PANJIM, Dec 2: The Consul General of Portugal in Goa, Dr Pedro Cabral Adao, maintained a very friendly equation with local artists during his short-lived stint here. The 37-year-old diplomat even pioneered a premier exhibition of paintings by 20 of the best Goan artists recently. Naturally, they have been shattered since hearing about the passing away of Portugal's most popular Consul in Goa - Dr Pedro Adao. Yesterday evening, several of them gathered at a Mass at the Church of Immaculate Conception in Panjim, to pray for the repose of his soul. Fr Antimo Gomes officiated at the Mass (in Portuguese) while a beautiful choir sang the hymns in English and Latin. A small recording of Adao's voice (from an FM interview) was also played on the occasion. [GoaNewsClips]

Councillor squats on floor, disrupts council meet
QUEPEM, Dec 2: In an attempt to grab attention, a councilor of Quepem Municipal Council, Mr. Narayan Gaonkar squatted on the floor of the municipality before commencement of the council meeting on Thursday and stalled proceedings for nearly thirty minutes. Mr Gaonkar resorted to such tactics to protest over what he termed as a “partisan attitude” of the chairperson while distributing the forms of the Sahara Insurance schemes. [NT]

Parking of vehicles irks residents
PORVORIM, Dec 2: The parking of new vehicles at a site near the ACDIL high school has surprised residents and Penha-da-Franca panchayat alike. At a recent gram sabha meeting in the community hall at Alto-Betim, Agnel Pereira asked the panchayat if they had given permission for the automobile dealer to store new vehicles in the open space near the ACDIL high school. [H]

Germany's chief immigration officer Maureder coming
The Chief Immigration Officer of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mumbai, Ralf Maureder, will be visiting Goa to apprise all travel agents and tour operators and public interested in visa formalities, Schengen regulations, short stay, transit visa, airport travel visa and others. There will be a meet on December 6 at Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Panjim, on the 3rd floor, at 5 pm. [WE-GT]

Construction of new bridge included in widening of NH-17: Union Minister
PANAJI, Dec 2: The Union Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr K H Miniappa, has said that construction of a new bridge has been included in the widening of National Highway 17 to four lanes under National Highway Development Project, phase III. In a written reply to a question as regards to the closure of Zuari bridge by Mr Shantaram Naik, the Rajya Sabha member from Goa, Mr Miniappa, stated the bridge was closed for all the traffic other than light vehicles by the Highway Administration, Goa, under National Highway (traffic and Land) Control Act, 2002 based on the assessment made by an expert from IIT, Mumbai. [NT]

Water filling points required to help avert major fires
MARGAO, Dec 2: Time and again due to non-availability of a fire hydrant, in the rural areas, during major fire incidents, fire engines are forced to travel considerable distances to replenish their tanks. Considering this aspect, Mr Prakash M Parab, assistant divisional officer, district fire station, South has sent the letters to village panchayats from Salcete to make provisions for water filling points. [NT]

Attitude towards disabled needs to change
PANJIM, Dec 2: Times were, in Goa and elsewhere, when the birth of a child with disabilities (whether physical or mental) was believed to be a punishment for some sin by any family member. Empatising fully with such victims of social injustice, in the early seventies, a zealous Pilar priest, single-handedly pioneered what appeared to be an impossible project, on the Kadamba Plateau in Old Goa - a residential vocational training centre, with a handful of disabled youth. In the course of time, other concerned individuals and groups took initiatives and now there are 10 other similar institutions in Goa. [H]

Mumbai Archbishop Calls on Indian Government
MUMBAI, Dec 01: The new archbishop of Mumbai has asked for “sensitivity” on behalf of the authorities in India when it comes to tearing down churches and cemeteries. Archbishop Oswald Gracias, who has just taken over the diocese from Cardinal Ivan Diaz, made this plea after Mumbai municipal authorities announced that they plan to tear down churches and part of a cemetery in order to widen and improve a local road. The ecclesiastical units in question include the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Holy Cross and the burial grounds of St Andrew’s Church in the western neighbourhood of Bandra, and parts of the compound of St Peter’s Church on Hill Road, also in Bandra. India’s Catholic community “has always taken into consideration the needs of society at large. Catholics have shown tremendous responsibility and dedication to the common good,” Archbishop Gracias said. For this reason the “government should be sensitive to things they hold dear such as structures of sentimental value, very ancient monuments which have been in place for generations built by their ancestors.” [Alfred de Tavares" konkanicatholics@gmail.com]

Konkani Musical Show “NATALANCHO KUNSVAR" in Bahrain
As scheduled, the Konkani Musical Show “Natalancho Kunsvar” under the patronage of Young Goans Club was staged at the Baan Saeng Thai Restaurant in Adliya, Bahrain on November 30, 2006. The following artists participated in the show: Ophelia and her daughter, Babli, William de Curtorim, Jose Rod and Francis de Tuem, Domnic Fernandes, Benny (singer, composer and drummer), Jr. Luis, Santan, Lorvino, Caesar, Lurdin, Norita, Kishod, Ophelia (local), Slenzitha, Claud, Albin, Chris Noronha, and Pio Fernandes (Director.) The show was a great success; each one of the singers and actors did well. I am sure those who missed the show will now have regrets. Somehow, the crowd in Gulf countries feels more confident with troupes flown in from Bombay/Goa than with the local artists, but the former is not always justified as far as performance is concerned and this fact was proven with Pio’s musical show on last Thursday. The musical show package consisted of 25 melodious songs [domnic fernandes <jyodom@hotmail.com>]

Good news for Goan seamen!
MARGAO, Dec 2: There’s good news for the thousands of Goan seafarers working in the merchant navy. MP Churchill Alemao on Saturday announced that the Union Cabinet has decided to protect the interests of the seafarers, whose hard-earned Provident Fund was misused by some unscrupulous elements. What’s more, Alemao announced that the National Union of Seafarer’s of India (NUSI) is seriously contemplating to enhance the monthly dole to retired seamen and their dependents. Alemao said that NUSI general secretary Abdul Ghani has informed of the Union Cabinet’s decision to protect the interest of seafarers vis-à-vis misuse of Rs 92 crore Provident Fund. [H]

Thieves decamp with valuables from showroom
PANAJI, Dec 2: Some unknown persons effected entry into a Sony showroom, Souza Towers, here and decamped with valuables worth Rs 10 lakh approximately. The owner, Mr Prakash Sankhwalkar, informed the police that he had closed the shop yesterday evening at 8.30 p.m. The following morning he discovered that his shop had been burgled and it was locked from outside with a new Godrej lock. The police said that the thieves decamped with 54 digital cameras and 30 mobile handsets, all worth Rs 10 lakh. Further investigation is in progress. [NT]

Bed sheet near body baffles cops
MARGAO, Dec 2: A bed sheet found near the body of the murdered woman at Sonsodo on Thursday night has baffled the police, even as the post mortem examination report indicated that Virginia Silveira died due to 7-8 stab wounds inflicted on her by the unknown killer. The police appear baffled over the bed sheet found near the victim’s body as family members of the deceased have told the police that the bed sheet was hanging on the compound wall of their house on that fateful night. [H]

Pooja Bhatt discharged
PANJIM: Noted film actress-producer Pooja Bhatt, who suffered a hairline rib fracture in an accident at Bogmalo on Friday, was discharged from a private clinic, here yesterday afternoon. Pooja was injured after the Maruti Zen in which was travelling collided against an oncoming Maruti van. A British national identified as Luisa Thowman has suffered fracture to her hand. [WE-GT]

Goa Pavilion bags silver medal at IITF
PANAJI, Dec 1: The Goa Pavilion was awarded the silver medal among the small states and Union territories at the recently concluded 26th India International Trade Fair (IITF), held from November 14-27, 2006 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, says a press release issued here. The IITF is the largest exhibition of its kind in Asia, organised by Indian Trade Promotion Organisation. All states, various central ministries, public sector undertakings and foreign countries participated in this 10-day mega event. The Goa Pavilion was co-ordinated by the Goa IDC on behalf of the government of Goa, and was set on a 200 sq mt space, with the theme of promoting the state as a premium investment destination. The elaborate pavilion was conceptionalised, designed and executed by Mr Kedar Dhume and Mr Clive Sequeira, directors of Media Promotions Private Limited, Goa’s leading event and exhibition company. [NT]

‘Artfully’ destroying Panjim sand dunes
ANJUNA, Dec 2: Does creativity mean that the organisers have the licence to violate the laws of the land. Sadly that has happened at the sand dunes at the Art Park, Campal, which was opened with much fanfare by Chief Minister Pratapsigh Rane on January 26, 2006. Keeping Subodh Kerkar’s artworks company is a Kamasutra bar with neon Bacardi hoardings, in the sand, which can be seen from Betim... the dunes have been leveled in a large area at the river end of the sand spit. If that were not bad enough, stone tiles have been laid over the tamped down sand, to make a pathway for tourists to amble down to this ‘arty’ bar and have a quick snifter in the evening. [H]

All for the love of Goencho Saib
BELGAUM, Dec2: About 1,000 pilgrims from across the neighbouring districts of Belgaum, Sindhudurg and Kolhapur will reach Old Goa on Sunday, to participate in the feast of St Francis Xavier. These pilgrims will reach Old Goa after a three-day pad yatra (walking pilgrimage), a tradition started by Fr Constance Francis Xavier Drago alias Swamy Prabhudhar SJ (71), a gritty and robust Jesuit, in 1980. The aim was to offer gratitude to St Francis Xavier, whom the Goan settlers above western ghats and Sindhudurg district, respectfully address as ‘Goencho Saib’ in Konkani, their mother tongue which they have affectionately conserved for over four decades after the inquisition, after which they left Goa. “With a humble beginning of seven pilgrims from Ajara the number has multiplied over the years. Pilgrims from several other villages and towns from the above districts together with their parish priests visit Goa every year,” said Prabhudhar. A large number of Hindus too join the pad yatra, he said adding that many are in receipt of the favours they have asked from the Goencho Saib. This year, a group of over 100 Catholics and Hindus from Madwal village in Belgaum district left for Goa during the wee hours of November 30, accompanied by Prabhudhar. The group is walking a distance of about 192 kms from Madwal, where Prabhudhar has taken up a challenging work in his ripe age. [LOUIS RODRIGUES, Herald]