Goanet meets in Goa: December 27, 12 noon and January 7, 4 pm (meeting point: Kala Academy canteen). See you there! ------------------------------
GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS 25 Dec 2003 We wish all GoaNetters A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS USHERED IN: Carol singing, chimes of church bells, fireworks and solemn midnight religious services ushered in the Christmas celebrations throughout the State. Despite the chill wind and fog, Catholics all over Goa attended midnight mass in their respective parishes which was followed by get-togethers and parties which continued till the early hours of the morning. Christmas trees and cribs were set up at strategic places unfolding the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ. (H) MASSES, DANCES AND FUN: Christmas celebrations began at midnight with mass at churches all over the State and followed by dances and various entertaining programmes. The choirs were echoing in the streets, city circles and houses, bringing to the common man the message of the birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem. (GT) FESTIVAL OF LOVE AND BROTHERHOOD: Christmas descended on Goa as on the whole world to the song of angels, now an ageless yuletide anthem, "Glory to God on high and Peace to men on earth". The midnight mass was held outdoors at the Mary Immaculate Conception church in Panaji. In his homily, the parish priest, Fr Antimo Gomes, used the anecdote of a man who roamed the whole world seeking an answer to his question: What language does God speak? (NT) GOVERNOR, CM GREET PEOPLE: The Governor, Mr. Kidar Nath Sahani and the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar, have extended warm greetings to the people of Goa on the occasion of Christmas. Mr Sahani said, "At a time like now when the world is witnessing many problems affecting peace and order, Jesus Christ's message of human compassion, love and brotherhood are becoming more and more relevant to be followed by one and all". Mr Parrikar said, "It (Christmas) is time for introspection to strive for spiritual growth as commanded by the scriptures". (NT) VAILANKANI STATUE, CROSS DESECRATED: In a shocking incident on Christmas eve, a roadside cross and statue of Our Lady of Vailankani were desecrated by vandals in Ponda city in the wee hours on December 24. In a police complaint, Daniel Fernandes said that when he went to open his service station, located near the cross at Upper Bazaar, he was shocked to see the cross and the statue desecrated. (H) MUMBAI GIRL DRUGGED IN BUS, ROBBED: A Goa-bound passenger was relieved of her gold ornaments worth Rs.13,000, after being drugged with a biscuit offered by a co-passenger. Nancy Pinto (26), employed in Mumbai boarded the bus at Santa Cruz (East) to come down to Nagoa-Bardez for Christmas. A male passenger, seated next to Nancy, befriended her and offered her a biscuit. Shortly after eating the biscuit, Nancy lost her consciousness. When she woke up at about 4 am, she was stunned to find all her persons belongings-a gold chain, two bangles, two rings, credit card-as well as the co-passenger, missing. (H) RAIDS YIELD HUGE CACHE OF DRUGS: Food and Drugs Administration inspectors conducted raids at Vagator and Anjuna and seized a large stock of sedatives, sex-boosting drugs and anesthetics worth Rs.2 lakh. While some of the drugs were unlicensed, others had expiry dates erased from the label. (GT) BLACKENING OF GU PROF'S FACE CONDEMNED: The Goa University Teachers' Association, Taleigao, yesterday expressed shock at the incidence of face blackening of its colleague Dr Joe D'Souza, attached to the Department of Microbiology, during office hours by some student activist on December 23. (GT) MAN FOUND MURDERED: Anthony Gonsalves from Vasco, believed to be a security guard, was found brutally murdered on December 24 afternoon at the Candolim beach. The victim had grievous injuries on the neck. (H) BODY FISHED OUT: The Curchorem Fire Brigade fished out the dead body of one Nagraj Samu Sindhigar of Guddamal, Sanvordem, from the Zuari river at Mirabag in Sanvordem. Nagraj was missing since December 17. (H) 'GUTKHA' SEIZED: About 84 kg of Star Gutkha worth Rs.50,000 along with a Maruti van has been seized by Ponda police on Tuesday night. One Narendra Matkar has been arrested in this connection. (H) SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE FOLLOWING GT REPORT: Taking serious note of a report published by Gomantak Times, the Registrar of Co-operative Society, Panaji, yesterday served a show cause notice to the managing committee of the Navelim-Telaulim Service Co-operative Society Limited, asking why it should not be removed and an administrator appointed in its place. (GT) 'ISSUE ORDINANCE' TO SOLVE MUNDKAR ISSUE: The MGP yesterday demanded that the State government should issue an Ordinance to solve the Mundkars' issue in view of the Bombay High Court striking down two amendments to the Goa Mundkars (Protection from Eviction) Act, 1976. (GT) TAPS RUN DRY ON CHRISTMAS EVE: Five villages of the coastal belt from Colva to Cavelossim had to do without water on Christmas eve. Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues, when contacted at his residence, could not also say as to why the water supply was curtailed to these villagers. Water department executive engineer V Santhanam informed that the leakage was noted in Colva and his personnel were on the job of sealing it. (GT) TO PROMOTE E-GOVERNANCE: The State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of India to promote the State's E-governance initiatives. (GT) KONKANI ALBUM: At a glittering function held at Benaulim in South Goa, "Tujhya Veene", a Konkani album, was released at the hands of the editor of daily "Sunaparant", Sandesh Prabhudesai, who envisaged a new era of renaissance dawning in the field of Konkani music. The album consists of songs sung by leading Bollywood singers like Shan, Shankar Mahadevan, Bela Sulakhe, Swapnil Bandodkar and Vaishali Samant and is produced by Deep Karapurkar. (GT) SEX WORKERS REJECT REHABILITATION OFFER: With the deadline for demolition of cubicles at the infamous Baina red light area and rehabilitation of sex workers approaching near, the South Goa District Administration has geared up to comply with the High Court Order. However, the sex workers are in no mood to move out and get the benefit of rehabilitation. The Karnataka government deputed its team to hold an interaction with the sex workers from Karnataka. Karnataka has assured to rehabilitate the sex workers from its state. (NT) GOEMBAB LIBRARY: The inaugural ceremony of Shenoi Goembab Library cum Research Centre will be held on December 28 at 4.30 pm at the Konkani Bhavan, Vidyanagar-Margao. Writer Ravindra Kelekar will be the chief guest on the occasion. (H) BEYOND CHRISTMAS: From an inward-looking community, unsure of how to deal with a post-colonial situation and with the seemingly-incomprehensible wider Indian reality, members from the Christian community in Goa have increasingly been proving themselves at the broader pan-Indian level. And beyond. Admittedly, there was a class of expat elite Goan Christians, based outside the state for most of their lives, that has always been doing well for itself. But, as opportunities grew in post-1961 Goa, those from within Goa itself have been able to get their contributions noticed. Secondly, the Goa Church's reality must be among the most dramatic if untold stories of social transformation within a short period of time. From being an institution whose hierarchy was dominated by the Portuguese and which was closely aligned with the colonial state, the Church has transformed itself into a fairly forward-looking institution, which takes up causes for positive social change without much prompting, and which has even taken an active stance in taking head-on problems with casteism. (Edit in Herald) CLAWS OF CORRUPTION: Foreigners entering into restaurant business along the beach belt is not a new development; it has been going on for about five years. It has been observed that often foreigners lease in a house and convert it into a restaurant. There is no clearance from health authorities and the food and drug administration; so they avoid putting up a signboard and promote their business by word of mouth. In contrast, the local restaurateurs have to go through the time- and money-consuming business of securing many licences. (Edit in NT) PAINTINGS EXPO ON A BEACH: The first ever painting exhibition on a beach front was inaugurated on December 24, along the Cidade de Goa beach front. The painting works of Dr Jacob Thomas, IAS, was inaugurated by Geetanjali Mohanty, wife of MPT chairman PK Mohanty. (H) SANGEET SAMMELAN OFFICE: The office premises of the second All India Konkani Sangeet Sammelan will be inaugurated today at Patto Centre, Patto, Panaji, at 5.15 pm. The commissioner of City Corporation of Panaji, Mr Sanjeet Rodrigues, will be the guest on the occasion. (NT) KONKANI PARISHAD CHIEF: Noted Konkani writer and publisher, Basti Vaman Shenoy, has been elected as the president of the 24th session of Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad to be held in Calicut, Kerala, from February 13, 2004. (NT) BOOK ON WORLD CONSTITUTIONALISM: A book "Towards a World Constitution" by Dr Carmo D'Souza was released at the hands of Dr M Pinheiro, principal of VM Salgaocar Law College, Miramar, recently. The book advocates the creation of a subject or a course titled 'world constitutionalism' at colleges, universities and centres of learning. The desired effect of such an exercise will be the enactment of a world constitution. (NT) SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD: Ramchandra Shirodkar, known as Shashank Sitaram, has bagged the most prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award 2003 posthumously for "Parigh", a collection of Konkani short stories. Shashank Sitaram died in 1994, at the age of 41. A teacher by profession, Shashank was teaching in Nirakar High School in his Mashem village in the Canacona taluka. (NT) D E A T H S 23 Dec: Raia: CANUTE SYLVESTER ABREO: Husband of late Lena, father of Brenda/Neville Gracias, Brian/Aurora and Blossom/Osborne de Souza. 24 Dec: Benaulim: SR ARLINDA ALVARES, FHIC (Sr Armanda): of the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, sister of Alba, Damasceno and Amelia. 23 Dec: Margao: ELIZA GOMES: mother of Bonny. 24 Dec: Aldona: JOSE MARIA FERNANDES: G O A W E A T H E R Temp: 22.6 degC (72.7 degF) at 08.00 am today in Assagao. Max Temp: 31.8 deg C; Min Temp: 17.9 deg C; Humidity: 80% (Official figures for yesterday) Weather: Lovely, holiday weather. Courtesy: H=Herald; NT=The Navhind Times; GT= Gomantak Times JOEL D'SOUZA, Assagao-Goa-India. 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