GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS December 30, 2004 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "Zonn eka munxeachi iad tachi khasgi videa.)" (Everyman's memory is his private literature.) "domnic fernandes" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
GOA A SAFE DESTINATION: Even as Thailand and Sri Lanka reel under the enormity of the tragedy that has befallen them, European travel companies, having already committed to clients, are desperate to recover from the disaster with as little losses as possible. The answer, they feel, lies in Goa because it offers sunny, palm-fringed beaches and atmosphere, which is on par both Thailand and Sri Lanka. Moreover, Goa escaped the disastrous effects of the Tsumani and is considered a safe destination. However, the State is unable to absorb the few thousand tourists who would be diverted to Goa if the operators had their way. As Travel and Tourism Association of Goa president Charles Bonifacio put it, "We do not have the capacity to handle the existing in-flows. We have been receiving, 3,000 more passengers per week as compared to the last season but there hasn't been a proportionate increase in rooms." (GT) ARMY MOUNTS BIGGEST PEACE-TIME OPERATION: The country's armed forces have mounted their biggest operation in peace-time to provide succour to people in the country's tsunami-hit areas, with 4,000 troops and scores of ships and aircraft joining the effort, the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee said on December 29. (IANS report in NT) SCRAP THE FILM: Though Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that the government would be amenable to any changes to the VCD on Goa's Freedom Struggle, the Congress Party's Vichar Vibhag has stated that the film was beyond repair and should be scrapped to pre-empt any misuse now or in future. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Vichar Vibhag chairman Uday Bhembre said the government's motive in producing the documentary is a deliberate and malicious attempt to pursue the communal agenda of the Sang Parivar under the pretext of presenting the history of Goa's freedom struggle. (GT) A BRIDGE IN DARKNESS: During the past fortnight (the state-of-the-art cable stayed) bridge (between Aldona and Corjuem) and the approach road are thrown into darkness with not a single light being lit.The place becomes pitch dark in the night and the place is so barren without hoses nearby that any untoward incident, especially involving girls, is just waiting to happen. (Anthony Soares, Corjuem, in a letter to the editor of Herald) RTO OFFICIAL FACES AXE: The vigilance department has decided to suspend Assistant Director of Transport GS Narvekar for allegedly manipulating investigation records and colluding with the police apparently with the intention to let a pick-up van driver go scot-free in an accident case in which one motorcyclist was killed at Guirim, Bardez. (H) TB CUNHAS'S PORTRAIT SHOULD BE PLACED IN PARLIAMENT: EDUARDO: The Rajya Sabha member from Goa and former Union minister, Mr Eduardo Faleiro, has requested the Lok Sabha Speaker that the portrait of Dr Tirstao Braganza De Cunha, who played a prominent role in Goa's liberation struggle, be placed in the Parliament House along with that of other national leaders. (NT) SECOND GOMANT VISHWA SAMMELAN: About 500 delegates, including 100 NRIs, are expected to participate in the 3-day second Gomant Vishwa Sammelan, organised by the NRI Facilitation Centre, and set to begin at the Kala Academy complex, Panaji, on January 3, 2005. This second conclave of world wide Goans will focus on two issues - healthcare and agriculture. The conclave will also bring out a "report card" on what action has been taken on the recommendations of the last conclave which had deliberated on five thrust area of agriculture, education, tourism, industry and healthcare. The inauguration will be followed by a presentation on the "Cultural History of Goa" by Dr Nandakumar Kamat and a seminar on "Emerging Identity of Goa". (NT) GOA MARRIOTT EMPLOYEES CLEAN UP BEACH: Employees of Goa Marriott Resort rolled up their sleeves to cleanup Miramar beach in yet another "Spirit to serve" the community initiative on Friday. The enthusiastic group of 35 people collected a total of 20 bags of plastic waste and miscellaneous garbage, after the closing ceremony of the IFFI. (GT) BOOKED FOR VIOLATING SMOKING ACT: In a major raid on December 29, the flying squad of North Goa District booked forty-seven cases against violators of the Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act 1997. Fines to the tune of Rs.23,400 were collected in the raid which concentrated entirely on the sandy shores of Baga. (H) COPS IDENTIFY DEAD 'WAITER' AS ENGINEER: In an unusual case of mistaken identity, the waiter who was murdered in a bar-cum-restaurant has now been identified as an engineer who was working in the Kaiga project at Karwar. The matter came to light when police discovered a diary of the deceased man two days back on which some phone number were written. The body was identified by the company officials working on the Kaiga project as that of their engineer Mukesh Kumar from Bihar. Police now suspect that the waiter, Sahil Khan, may have a hand in the murder incident of the engineer since he was missing from the time of the incident which occurred a week ago. (H) COPS FOCUS ON DRUNKEN DRIVING: As accident rate rises during the year end, the traffic police have decided to use Alcometres to check drunken driving in the major cities of Goa. (H) UNACCOMPLISHED IN EDUCATIONAL SECTOR: In the field of education, there seems to be nothing extraordinary in the year 2004 with many institutions, both government aided, still struggling to have better infrastructure facilities, electricity, drinking water, toilets, laboratories, libraries, etc. (H) WOMANIST PARTY IN GOA: Womanist Party of India, the third autonomous women's party in Asia, which contested elections in nine assembly constituencies in Maharashtra recently, is keen to open a branch in Goa. (GT) POLITICAL PARTIES MUST BE LIMITED: GOVERNOR; Describing politics based on caste and community as 'most dangerous', Governor SC Jamir felt that political parties in the country should be limited to two or three, in order to achieve progress. (H) 'OLD MAN EXTORTIONS': Canacona unit Sanatan Sanstha chief Paresh Bhagat has urged people to avoid any sort of extortion on the pretext of the 'old man' celebration on the night of December 31. (H) PALOLEM LOCAL DIES IN MISHAP: On December 23, Francisco (Habby) D'Costa was proceeding to Panjim in his Maruti when he collided with an oncoming KTC bus at Verna. He sustained grievous injuries and was move to the GMC where he succumbed to his injuries. It may be recalled that Francisco's brother, Nicolau, his wife Jennifer and his daughter Joyce died on the spot on September 4, 2003, at the Verna junction in his Maruti while they were returning from Pilar. Nicolau's son Praniel had succumbed later at the GMC on September 6. The grief stricken mother of Nicolau died of a heart attack a few days later. (H) RABBI SHERGILL IN MANDREM: Rabbi Shergill, a sufi artist - with his great hit sufi song "Bulla ke Jaana" - will perform in Goa at Dunes, Mandrem beach on December 31, from 9 pm as pat of his promotion concert for his debut CD. (H) EXPO ON JOSEPH VAZ: The exhibition on 'Glimpses on the life of Blessed Joseph Vaz' set up on the first floor of the parochial residence of Se Cathedral at Old Goa, has been attracting people from all walks of life. The exhibition in beautifully painted pictures by the staff and students of Milu 's Art Centre, Fatorda, is on the complete life and death of Blessed Joseph Vaz. (H) MARIA CARDOZO ELECTED: Maria Cardozo was elected on December 29, chairperson of the Quepem Municipal Council, becoming the eighth chairperson in the present term of the council. She was the only councilor to file her nomination to the post. (H) DR VAIDYA IS DEMPO RESEARCH FELLOW: A six-member experts' panel has selected Dr Ajay Vaidhya as the Dempo Research Fellow for the year 2003-04. The fellowship includes grant of Rs.1 lakh to Dr Vaidya for researching and preparing a cultural atlas of Goa. Dr Ajay Vaidhya is a well known name in the field of theatre in Goa and beyond. He is well known as eye surgeon and is associated with the Mustifund Saunstha, Samrat Academy, Kala Academy, Kala Shuklendu and many more. (GT) S P O R T S RAITURA IN SEMIS: Raitura SC, Rachol, defeated Verna SC 1-0 to storm into the semi-finals of the St Rock's Super Cup football tournament at Calata grounds, Majorda, yesterday. (GT) D E A T H S 26 Dec: London. PETER BRAGANZA (aged 90; ex-Entebbe, Uganda and Mapuca); Husband of Addy; Father of Melwyn, Cynthia, Hazel. At the request of the family - no flowers please but a donation to a nominated charity welcome. Condolences to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or tel. Cynthia 020 8301 3431. For funeral details check http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/ (when confirmed). 28 Dec: Velim-Carxeta: PLATINO MENINO FERNANDES; husband of Savitri, father of Sharif, Patwiskc and Sheldon. 29 Dec: SUDHA ANAND ALWANDE: wife of Anand, mother of Vishnuprasad, Vijaykumar and Nisha S Gaitonde. No Condolence visits please. 29 Dec: Cunchelim-Bardez: PHILOMENA LOBO; wife of late Alex, mother of Cressy/Johnny, Fatima/George and Menino/Ramona. 29 Dec: Chinchinim: ROMEO E FERNANDES; husband of Juliet. 29 Dec: St Inez: FELIX CARVALHO; husband of Remy, brother of Rafael/Antonette (Doha Qatar), Alfredo/Maria, Manuel/Carmelina, Anthony, Rosa, Cajetan. G O A W E A T H E R Max temp: 30.8 degC; Min temp: 18.3 degC; Relative Humidity: 89% Weather: The weather appears a bit dull and cloudy this morning in Goa. Courtesy: GT=Gomantak Times; NT=The Navhind Times; H=Herald; WE=Weekender. JOEL D'SOUZA, Assagao, Bardez, Goa.
