PRIVATE BUSES DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS ON SCAN FROM OCT 1

PANJIM: The Transport department will start a drive against erring drivers and conductors from October 1.  The drive, initiated after private bus operators said that they have no control over erring drivers and conductors, will also keep a tight watch over passengers.

PHYAN CYCLONE VICTIMS GET NO RELIEF TILL DATE

PANJIM: The signs of devastation due to Cyclone Phyan that almost hit Goa coast last year are still visible in the shanties dotting Panjim. The lives of many are yet to be back on track after they lost their bread earners. And with government dilly dallying on compensation issue, the lives continue to remain tragic.

WOMAN ACQUITED IN MURDER CASE OF TADEU DINIZ

MARGAO: The South Goa Sessions court on Thursday acquitted Filsu alias Rani in the murder of history sheeter from Khareband-Margao Tadev Diniz for want of evidence.

GREATER GOA CREATION IS SENSELESS: SHANTARAM NAIK

MARGAO: Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Shantaram Naik said that there is absolutely no sense in the demand for Greater Goa by merging Konkani speaking areas of Karwar into the state,  instead Goa should insist on Special Category status for Goa.

KINGFISHER REFUSED LANDING BY DABOLIM AIRPORT

VASCO: In a shocking incident, the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) at Dabolim airport denied landing permission to a Bangalore-Goa flight carrying 51 passengers on Thursday morning.

NOT VERY PLEASANT READING FOR EVERYONE by Menino Franco

Goa has been re-colonised not only by the Brits, Russians and the Israelis but also by the bold and the beautiful and the rich and powerful from other parts of the country. By RAJAN NARYAN.

GOA POLLUTION BOARD CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL MINING

The fate of 51 open cast iron ore mines now hangs in balance as they carried on mining without proper clearances from the state pollution control board. The board will decide soon whether the mining operations at these sites will be allowed to continue.

GOVT. ASKS RPHM TO SUBMIT PROPOSAL TO REMOVE PRINCESS

PANJIM: The River Princess saga has no dearth of surprises. The state government has now asked the River Princess Hatao Manch ( RPHM)- a group of villagers from Sinquerim to submit a proposal for the removal of the ill-fated vessel.

GOA`S BULLFIGHTING SEASON: by N. Fernandes, London

I am under the impression that Bullfighting (Dhirio) of the “BOVINE” kind has been banned or made illegal in Goa.

RTI COMPLAINT AGAINST GCA: VERDICT ON 1ST OCT

PANJIM: The Goa State Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Motilal Keny will on 1st Oct pronounce his verdict on the complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues against the Goa Cricket Association for its refusal to furnish information sought under the Right to Information Act.

SUICIDE BY A CONTRACTOR AT CALANGUTE

CALANGUTE: A 59-year-old contractor from Kolhapur committed suicide by hanging himself to a ceiling in his resort flat on Wednesday.  According to Calangute Police, Bhairo Shankar Mishal, resident of Porba Vaddo- Calangute, was found hanging to the ceiling hook with the help of nylon rope at about 9 am.

REVENUE MINISTER JOSE PHILIP UNAWARE OF NAVY'S PLAN

VASCO: Claiming he is unaware of any proposal of Goa Navy to acquire islands off Arabian Sea, Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza on Wednesday said he would inquire if any such proposal is with the South Goa Collector.

GOA TOURISM WANTS TO PROMOTE "CRUISE TOURISM"

PANJIM: The Tourism Department is looking forward to promote Goa as hub of “cruise tourism” once the new cruise terminal at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) becomes operational by December end.

DEEPAJI RANE FILES NOMINATION FOR VALPOI, SETBACK FOR BJP

VALPOI: In a setback to the BJP, Deepaji Rane, executive member of State BJP Committee, on Wednesday filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate for the October 18 bye-election for Valpoi constituency.

INTERIM RELIEF IN PLEA AGAINST HOTEL PROJECT REFUSE BY HIGH COURT

PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa comprising of Mr Justice D G Karnik and Mr Justice F M Reis refused to grant any interim relief in the petition challenging the permissions granted to the Hotel Grand Hyatt project at Bambolim.

KAMAT SEEKS BLOCKING OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

PANJIM: Creation of fake profiles on Facebook has become a cause of worry in the state; a fake account in the name of Education Minister, Mr Atanasio Monserrate had already created a flutter some time back, and now it was the turn of the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, whose account was flashed on the social networking site by an imposter.

GOVERNMENT TO FIX exIGP'S CAR DAMAGED BY SON

PANJIM: In a shocking move, the state government has sanctioned.` 4.5 lakh for repairs of the police vehicle that was involved in an accident in December 2009 while being driven by the then IGP's son. "Government vehicles are never insured.

WAGES OF SIN-....SUPARI (RED BLOOD) by N. Fernandes, London

The Naiks will no longer enjoy the freedom , we decent & law abiding Goans do.They will have to keep watching their every step,move & backsides now. Roy Naik will have his "bulbous eyes"popping out even further now.Ravi Naik will also lose most of his sparse and limp hair in due course.  When one enters the world of "THE DRUG MAFIA",as a career, there is no code of conduct.  It is a lawless and violent organisation and a killing field too.As the saying goes..."you shall reap what you sow"....

WE WANT A GOVERNMENT IN GOA THAT GOVERNS! by Roger D'Souza

The time has come for every Goan to voice their opinion in a strong and clear voice and intensify the struggle to hold the Government of Goa accountable. RP2021 is nowhere in sight and it obviously serves the Government of Goa to keep Goan and Goans hanging in limbo all these years after Goans voiced their strong opposition and protests to repeal the Regional Plan that was sought to be hoisted on them.

MINISTER SUPPORTS WHOLEHEARTEDLY MINING IN GOA

PANJIM: Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, who will fight the Valpoi by-poll to retain the seat, on Tuesday said that he whole-heartedly supports the mining industry in Goa.  Rane, represents the Valpoi constituency and has a strong support in the talukas of Bicholim and Satari, where the people have been demanding ban on mining due to the air pollution and environment reasons.

VISHWAJEET ACCUSED BJP OF TRYING TO MISLEAD VALPOI VOTERS

PANJIM: Mr Vishwajit Rane, who is seeking re-election from Valpoi constituency on a Congress ticket in the by-polls to be held on October 18, has said that while he was trying to garner votes on the plank of development done by him as an independent legislator and Health Minister over the last three years, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to mislead the voters by engaging in sheer politics.

BJP CANDIDATE FILES NOMINATION FOR VALPOI POLLS

VALPOI: BJP candidate, Mr Santosh Aldoncar submitted his nomination form to the returning officer, Mr Raju Gawas in presence of Leader of Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, president of state BJP party, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar and others.

MONSERRATE'S SON SUMMONED BY HIGH COURT

PANJIM: The division bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa comprising of Mr Justice D G Karnik and Mr Justice F M Reis issued notice to Mr Amit Monserrate, son of Education Minister, Mr Atanasio Monserrate, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA), to appear before it.  The notice was issued while hearing a petition filed by Dr S P Deshpande, ex chief town planner.

DRIVE AGAINST BOGUS RATION CARDS FROM OCTOBER 15

PANJIM: The directorate of Civil Supplies will initiate a drive against bogus ration card holders from October 15 in the state. However, sufficient time would be allotted to submit and surrender such cards till October 14 to the said department or the concerned taluka mamlatdars or talathis, informed the director of Civil Supplies, Mr Gurudas Pilernkar on Monday.

VERDICT ON GOA'S SERIAL KILLER ON OCTOBER 1

PANJIM: The local court will give its final verdict on the charges of rape levied against serial killer Mahanand Naik on October 1. The district court in Panaji has heard the arguments in the rape case, which first brought Mahanand in the eyes of Ponda police way back in 2009.

FIVE STAR HOTEL EYEING HERITAGE STRUCTURES OF GOA

CANACONA: Five star hotel lobbies are behind a controversial amendment to a heritage conservation legislation which heritage protection groups Tuesday alleged would put historic monuments and sites at risk.

SIGNALMAN FROM MP MISSING FROM GOA

MARGAO : Two months after an army personnel from this town went missing after he got down at Madgaon station in Goa, army and Goa police were clueless about his whereabouts.

GOA TAR BALLS CREATED RIPPLES IN MOSCOW TOO

PANJIM : Extensive media coverage of tar balls swamping Goa's beaches has created a few ripples in far away Moscow too, a top tourism department official has said.

GOA`s PAIN & GOA`S HOPE by N. Fernandes, London

It is very shocking to see,hear and read, the extent of how all these politicians have milked Goa of its wealth for their personal ambitions and next of kin.  This has not been done with Business acumen...but by stealth & Corrupt acumen.However I hope if history has proved correct in many ways...these or their next of kin will have a price to pay someday or in the not too distant future.

INDEPENDENT NIZ GOENKAR CANDIDATE THE NEED OF THE HOUR by Johnads

I know, this might rouse the dormant to wake or even the deceased to be on a vigil however, I am not here for a debate.

DIGAMBER KAMAT MAY FACE BABU AZGAONKARs BROTHER

MARGAO: The brother of Panchayat Minister, Babu Azgaonkar has threatened to contest against the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat in the Margao constituency if justice is not done to him on the reservation of wards.

BOMBAY CJ URGED TO EXPEDITE PROBE AGAINST JUDGE NUTAN SARDESAI

PANJIM: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today urged Bombay High Court Chief Justice Mohit Shah to expeditiously hold an inquiry against North Goa District Judge Ms Nutan Sardesai for her having heard cases in violation of judicial propriety.

EARLY ASSEMBLY POLLS? by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

With so many politicians seen doling out bags containing goodies this Ganesh Chaturthi, it may be a sign that Goa is gearing up for early assembly polls which otherwise are scheduled for May 2012. In the run up to the elections the people will make the best of the bonaza. The voters of Nuvem, Benaulim, Navelim, Porvorim and Mayem amongst other constituencies may see some very good times.

PROMOTE A GOOD CAUSE by K. K. Swami, Panjim

RECEIVED BY EMAIL FROM SHYAM SAWANT, PONDA

I do not understand why the Sangh Parivar, VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal and the Sanatan Sanstha get excited over minor issues like the exhibition of Dr Jose Pereira and Subodh Kerkar. Don’t they have better work to do?

NEWS FROM GOA IN BRIEF

PARRIKAR: ACCUSED ABUSED ME

Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday submitted before a court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao that he was abused by accused in a 2004 case at Cuncolim.

HUNT FOR JOE BOY: GOA POLICE RETURNS EMPTY HANDED FROM MUMBAI

PANJIM: Goa police team on trail of Joe Boy in Mumbai has returned back empty handed on Monday morning. Sources told Herald that a team of three North Goa police officials returned back nearly five days after police chief DGP Bhim Sain Bassi had sent them to Mumbai in search of the suspected accused.

CHURCHILL CHALLENGES SARDINHA AND LUIZINHO

MARGAO: Just a day after Luizinho Faleiro and Francisco Sardinha made their presence in Benaulim constituency; PWD Minister Churchill Alemao has challenged both of them to contest from Benaulim in the next Assembly polls instead of supporting the candidature of aspiring candidates.

RAVI NAIK PRESSURED TO RESIGN BY BJP

PANJIM: In view of fresh information that absconding Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala might have escaped from India, the BJP has once again demanded resignation of the Home Minister, Ravi Naik alleging Atala’s escape was facilitated by Goa Police.

INDIAN NAVY WANTS TO GRAB TWO GOA’S ISLANDS FOR AIRPORT SAFETY

PANJIM: Two most beautiful and very popular with tourists islands of Goa, has been planned to be taken over by the Indian Navy due to the security threats to the nation according its officials who disclosed on Monday.

BJP SECRETARY WRITES TO UNION HOME MINISTRY

PANJIM: BJP's national secretary and Goa desk in-charge Arti Mehra has said that she has written to the union home minister about the police-politician-drug-mafia nexus in the state.

VANXIM FORMS ASSOCIATION TO FIGHT TOURISM RELATED PROJECTS

OLD GOA: In continuation with their opposition against the upcoming tourism-related project at Ilhas de Capao Island, residents of Capao-Vaxim on Sunday formed Ilhas de Vaxim Association, which will be headed by Margaret Silveira.

SARDINHA PROMISES TO HELP RETIRED SEA FARERS

MARGAO: South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has told retired seafarers on Sunday that the committee constituted by the National Welfare Board of Seafarers will soon submit its report on the hike in the monthly ex-gratia monetary assistance.

‘GREATER GOA’ FIRMLY OPPOSED BY LUIZINHO FALEIRO

MARGAO: Firmly opposing any moves for a Greater Goa by merging Konkani speaking areas into the State, former Chief Minister, Luizinho Faleiro has said he doesn’t want the ghost of merger to come through the back door in Goa and asked all the champions of lost causes to stop misguiding Goans on the agenda for a Greater Goa.

MOTHER-SON SUICIDE AT CHORAO: FIVE HELD

PANJIM: Old Goa police arrested five persons in connection with the death of 35-year-old Raghavi Wadekar and her minor child Manjunath, from Kerem-Chorao, informed the sub divisional police officer (SDPO), Mr Deu Banavalikar. The lady had allegedly torched herself and her child and died in her bedroom some days back.

NO TO ROAD ON MONTE HILLSAYS CURTORIM VILLAGERS

MARGAO: The Curtorim gram sabha held on Sunday, resolved to revoke the No Objection Certificate, issued to a private party for the proposed construction of a road from Alto-Dagualle to Monte Hill in Maina village, in the Curtorim panchayat area.

SANTOSH ALDONCAR DECLARED BJP CANDIDATE FOR VALPOI

PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party declared Mr Santosh Aldoncar, a long-time party worker from Valpoi representing Bahujan Samaj as its candidate, to contest the assembly by-election for the constituency, scheduled next month. Mr Haldankar is expected to file his nomination papers on Tuesday.

ABSCONDING DRUG DEALER IS BACK AT HOME

Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala, who jumped bail in Goa in June, has returned to his country, according to popular Israeli news website http://www.ynet.com/.  Atala is one of the main cogs in the police-politician drug nexus, in which state home minister Ravi Naik's son Roy is linked, according to a witness in the drug mafia case.

POLICE DRUG NEXUS CASE PROGRESSING OR DIGRESSING by Menino Fernandes

Where has the Police drug nexus gone? Gone with the wind or covered under blanket. Where are Ravi Naik’s professional Policemen who are investigating the case? The man who is investigating the case is as crooked as Naik himself. Apart from sabotaging the investigation Chandrakant Salgaoncar has done nothing more.

DEAD MEN FLYING by Prashant Shankarnarayan

THIS ARTICLE IS AN EXERPT FROM THE INTERNET

The Author of the Article is Prashant Shankarnarayan

One fine day, you get an opportunity to leave for foreign shores, to earn a livelihood or maybe to simply roam around. You approach the concerned officials to prepare your passport. Therein lies the twist. Say the authorities, that you do not exist in this country.

IS THE IGP AND HIS SON ABOVE THE LAW By Aires Rodrigues

Writing has never been easy for me. But as long as I can, I will continue to write openly and fearlessly about what I feel. While penning these lines I have to candidly admit that it pains me to speak about the former IGP of Goa. I have personally known him to be a gentlemen and who was kind enough to grace my 50th birthday earlier this year with his presence.

309 PERSONS BOOKED UNDER SEC 506 (THREAT TO KILL) SINCE 2007

PANJIM: 309 persons were booked by the Goa Police under the controversial Sec 506 of Indian Penal Code (threat to kill) from 2007 to date.

NO CHARGES FILED AGAINST IGPs SON

PANJIM: The director of prosecution (DoP) has suggested to the police not to file chargesheet against the former IGP's son as there is no evidence of rash and negligent driving of vehicle by the accused.

CONGRESS-NCP, BJP AND NIZGOENKAR by P. Cruz, Vasco Da Gama

I am happy and proud to be a part of Nizgoenkar and to fight against corruption is our goal. The question comes to my mind could we liberate Goa for second time from the corrupt politicians? We have two main National Party which ruled Goa and everyone is aware of the corruption they have created.

HC LAWYER HURLS ABUSES AT TRAINEE

PANJIM: A junior advocate has complained to the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa against a High Court lawyer for abusing her in the corridors of the High Court of Bombay at Goa.

GROUND FILLING IN COLVA by Sebastian B. Mesquita, Colva

This first part is the letter written to the Herald by the Colva Civic Forum

The proposed ground at Colva in front of the Church is an ill-conceived project. More than 31,000 sq metres of low-lying land has been acquired, without a plan in place. Development is needed, but one cannot ignore damage to the environment and other consequences.

CIDADE DE GOA APPROACHED BY GOVT FOR ROOMS FOR IFFI

PANJIM: Chairperson of Hotel Cidade de Goa Anju Timblo on Saturday clarified that it was the State government which approached the hotel for allotting rooms to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), and she did not have any intention of benefiting from the event.

WITHDRAW Z-SECURITY TO RAVI’S SONS DEMANDS UGDP

MARGAO: Saying that the party is disturbed over the Z-security provided to the sons of the Home Minister, the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) has called upon the government to withdraw the security provided for private persons or to demand payment for the same.

STATE DECIDES TO OPEN DIALOGUE WITH RPHM

PANJIM: With the Salgaonkar Mining Industry Private Limited refusing to accept the government condition of providing Rs 10 crore bank guarantee, sought before awarding the contract for removal of River Princess, the state authorities have decided to open dialogue with the other bidder, the River Princess Hatao Manch (RPHM).

COUNTO HONOURED WITH ORDER OF ‘MERITO’

PANJIM: The noted construction magnate, industrialist and philanthropist, Mr Anil Counto was honoured with one of the highest Portuguese civilian awards - the Insignia of ‘Commendador,’ Order of ‘Merito’ at the hands of the Ambassador of Portugal to India, Dr Luis Filipe de Castro Mendes, during a special ceremony held in the city, on Saturday.

NAVYs ATTITUDE OF GRABBING LAND MUST BE OPPOSED: SHANTARAM

PANJIM: Mr Shantaram Naik, MP, in a statement issued, on Saturday, has said that Indian Navy’s attitude of grabbing land in Goa needs to be opposed tooth and nail and therefore he will take up the matter with the Union Defence Minister, Mr A K Antony, very soon.

ACCUSED WAS TORTURED BY POLICE DySP IN LOCKUP

PONDA: Rajesh Desai, accused in the infamous Sameer Mapari case has been acquitted by the Ponda Court by upholding his contention that he did not attempt suicide but instead a DySP mercilessly assaulted him with a wire rope and rubber belt. The 30 year old accused had contended that DySP Mohan Naik and other Police officers hammered him at Ponda Out Post at Farmagudi on 20th August 2007.

EX MLAs SON TO FILE NOMINATION AT VALPOI

VALPOI: In an unexpected political development, Vishwesh Porob, son of former MLA Ashok Porob, who has been close to the Rane family for decades, has decided to file his nomination as an independent candidate for the Valpoi bye election on Monday.

Addressing a press conference late Friday evening, Porob made it clear that he would file his nomination as an Independent candidate from Valpoi constituency.

SPECIAL POLICE SQUAD HUNTS JOE BOY

PANJIM: Special police teams of Goa police have left for neighbouring States to trace the absconder Joe Boy, who is allegedly given ‘supari’ (contract) to kill Roy, son of the Home Minister Ravi Naik.

HARASSED BY RULING: MICKKY TO SHARAD PAWAR

MARGAO: Just two weeks later, after the CBI booked him for the alleged immigration and money laundering racket, former tourism minister, Mickky Pacheco has briefed NCP supremo Sharad Pawar that he is being harassed ruling party.

OPPOSITION AGAINST NAVY'S LAND ACQUISITION

MARGAO: Opposition is brewing in the Chicolna and Bogmalo villages over the proposed acquisition of two St George islands and Bimbvel beach by the Indian Navy.Urbano Rodrigues, sarpanch of Chicolna village panchayat, under whose jurisdiction the area comes, said the villagers are planning to meet shortly to garner support against the land acquisition.

FOR THE EYES OF GOANS ONLY

SENT BY SHYAM SAWANT (email)

Migrant problem by Manuel D’Costa, Raia

This refers to the letter by Flavia Sequeira (Herald 21 Sept). I think Flavia is unaware of the migrant problem in our state. Greedy mamlatdars have already given them the ration card and electoral identification for money, identifying them as citizens. They dominate and threaten Goans.  If this is the case, then Goans will soon be kicked out and migrants will rule Goa.

RTI REVEALS THAT SAG SPENT OVER 17 LAKHS ON GCA COACHES

The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) has spent Rs 17, 69, 252/- by way of salaries to the coaches spared to the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) from 2005 to date. This clearly further contradicts the stand taken by the GCA before the Goa State Information Commission that it had never availed any assistance from SAG.

CHURCHES, CONVENTS TO BE RENOVATED: CENTRE

NEW DELHI: The Centre is promoting renovation and upgradation of old churches and convents in Goa and the Goa circle of the Archaeological Survey of India has already spent Rs 3.32 crore in the last three years, Tourism Ministry claimed on Friday.

KTC TO BE MADE PEOPLE FRIENDLY: DHAVLIKAR

PANJIM: The chairman of Kadamba Transport Corporation, Mr Deepak Dhavlikar said that the Corporation is in the process of revamping its services to make them passenger friendly in the days to come even and added that additional counters for shuttle services will be introduced shortly at the Margao and Panaji bus stands.

BABU AZGAONKAR ASSURES PERNEM FARMERS

PERNEM: Stressing that fields are the real property of the farmers and the Pernem taluka still has number of fields which are being cultivated, the Panchayat Minister, Mr Manohar Azgaonkar requested the farmers not to stop cultivating their fields.

RAPE ACCUSED REFUSED BAIL

MARGAO: The principal district and session judge, South Goa, Mr U V Bakre, on Friday, rejected the bail application of Prashant Tari, who is under arrest for allegedly raping a girl at an isolated spot at Sonsoddo.

MENTAL TORTURE LED TO SUICIDE

PANJIM: Mr Sandesh Gawade, the brother of 35-year-old Raghavi Raghuvir Wadekar, who, along with her child, was found charred to death at Chorao, has lodged a complaint with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), that his sister was mentally tortured and physically harassed, that it led to her committing suicide.

NARROW ESCAPE FOR A LADY: WRONG BLOOD TRANSFUSION AT GMC

PANJIM: Alleged negligence by the doctors attached to unit I of the obstetrics and gynaecology department of the Goa Medical College, nearly cost a patient her life. Thanks to her stars the lady, however, survived after struggling for life for several days in the intensive care unit of the GMC and has since been discharged.

GOA ISSUES – ANSWERS WITHIN by Arwin Mesquita, UAE

We blame politicians who are looting/destroying Goa, its land, environment & Identity. But with all due respect, let’s first look within to see the major causes of the same.

GOVT APPOINTS TWO PROSECUTORS IN CASE AGAINST AIRES

PANJIM: In a late Thursday night development the Goa Government issued an order appointing Adv. Mahesh Amonkar as Special Public Prosecutor in the revision petition filed by Crime Branch Police Inspector Sunita Sawant in the High Court against the acquittal of Adv. Aires Rodrigues in the 2004 Ribandar Church case.

GOA`S DIRTY POLITICS by N. Fernandes, London

It has been reported on an online news report that the "SUPARI" offered to kill one of Ravi`s sons was instigated by a South Goa Politician. This information was passed to the Goa Police by "Joe Boy", who is a well known "Goon" / hit man". Joe Boy apparently is a "career criminal". He is part of a criminal fraternity or "brotherhood of criminals.

UNDERGROUND CABLING LAUNCHED BY CHIEF MINISTER

MARGAO: The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, on Thursday, inaugurated the Rs 80-crore work of underground cabling of electrical connections starting from the other side of the railway tracks, near Damodar College in Margao. The Power Minister, Mr Alexio Sequiera was also present.

DEAL MADE WITH JOE BOY TO KILL ROY NAIK

PANJIM: History-sheeter, Michael Fernandes, presently in custody, disclosed that Joe Boy, who is wanted in many cases and is presently absconding, was offered a huge sum to eliminate, Mr Roy Naik, son of the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik.

POLICE ARREST TWO FOR MURDER AT ANJUNA

CALANGUTE: Two persons have been arrested on Thursday by the Anjuna Police in connection with the murder of Samprit Malwankar at Anjuna Samprit aged 23 a resident of Gumal Vaddo, Anjuna was shot to death by an unknown assailant on Wednesday at about 07:30 PM in a bar.

AYODHYA VERDICT ON 28: SECURITY ON HOLD

PANJIM: Goa police has placed all security measures on stand till the next date after Supreme Court deferred Friday’s verdict on Ayodhya to September 28, police Spokesperson Superintendent of Special Branch Police Atmaram Deshpande said.

MICKKY’S PLEA TO RELEASE HIS LAPTOPS, MOBILES OPPOSED BY CBI

MARGAO: The Central Bureau of Investigation has opposed the application filed by ex-Tourism minister Francisco Mickky Pacheco asking for the release of his cell phones and laptops.

VISHWAJEET RANE FILES HIS NOMINATION PAPERS FOR VALPOI BYE POLLS

VALPOI, SEPT 23: Health Minister Mr. Vishwajeet Rane filed his nominations papers on Thursday for the October 18 bye-election for Valpoi constituency as a huge crowd of supporters gathered outside the office of the Mamlatdar of Satari at Valpoi. Mr. Rane is contesting the election on Congress ticket since he has joined the Congress Party.

GOA'S OFFSHORE CASINOS WITHDRAW PETITION

PANJIM: Offshore casino operators in Goa Thursday withdrew their petition filed before the Bombay High Court, seeking relief against a state government order issued last year which directed the vessels to relocate to the sea.

ALERT POLICE CONSTABLE CATCHES GOA THIEF

An alert traffic constable here Thursday caught a man who had robbed his employer of Rs.20 lakh in Goa, a traffic official said.'Traffic constable Shankar Salunkhe from the Matunga traffic division was on duty near the Dadar (East) station when he saw a few people running behind a man,' said the official.

INDIAN NAVY TO ACQUIRE GOA'S THREE ISLANDS AND A BEACH

MARGAO: The Indian Navy is well on the course of acquiring over 30 lakh sqm of land in Mormugao taluka and has already obtained in-principle clearance in that regard from the government of India's defence ministry. The naval authorities are now pursuing the matter with the state government for acquiring three islands, known as St George islands, and Bimbvel beach.

PI SUNITA FAILS TO CLEAR OBJECTIONS: 10 DAY DEADLINE ENDS:

PANJIM: With the 10 day deadline having ended today the Crime Branch Police Inspector Sunita Sawant failed to clear the High Court registry’s objections in the revision petition filed by her against the acquittal of Adv. Aires Rodrigues in the 2004 Ribandar Church case.

MICKKY PLEADS FOR HIS LAPTOPS, MOBILE PHONES sent by Robert

MARGAO, SEPT 22: Former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco has moved the court for the release of his laptops and mobile phones seized by the Central Bureau of Investigation probing into the alleged immigration and money laundering racket.

DON'T BLAME CHRISTIANS by K. K. Swami, Panjim

This in reply to the letter by Santosh Bale ‘BJP & criticism’ (Herald, 9 Sept). I think Santosh is unaware of the entire situation. Who killed the Hindu saints in Orissa? Were they Christians? Rather, it is the Maoists who killed the VHP leader and put the blame on Christians.

LOW-FLOOR KTC BUSES TO HIT THE ROAD SOON

PANJIM: The much awaited globally used low-floor 42-seater buses, that were to be inducted into the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC)’s fleet of buses, are likely to hit the road within the next fortnight as the state government has sanctioned ` 3.75 crore for the vehicles.

RESIDENT OF PER SERAULIM ARRESTED FOR MURDER

MARGAO: The Colva police, late on Tuesday night, registered an offence against Sudan D’Costa of Per-Seraulim, for allegedly attempting to commit murder of 32-year-old, Sanjay Fortes, also a resident of Per-Seraulim. Colva police said that Sanjay has been admitted in Margao Hospicio hospital with severe injuries.

MASTERMIND IN DACOITY CASE ARRESTED BY POLICE

MARGAO: In a major breakthrough, the Maina-Curtorim police arrested Rafic Khatib, a resident of Ravanfond, Margao, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the daring daylight robbery, that was reported in may at Akkamol-Ambaulim. He has been arrested under section 41 of CrPC.

MURDER ACCUSED SHOT DEAT AT ANJUNA

MAPUSA: One Samprit Chandrakant Malvankar, aged 22 and a resident of Anjuna was shot dead by an unidentified assailant at a bar at Anjuna on Wednesday evening. Samprit was a key accused in the Salgaonkar murder case that had rocked Anjuna in November 2009. The father-son duo involved in the murder case were out on bail.

DEATH ON BOARD SHIP, GOAN HANGS HIMSELF

LONDON, SEPT 22: Goan waiter working on cruise ship Arcadia hanged himself after being caught stealing tips from an on-board restaurant while the ship was docked at Southampton.

SUPARI TO KILL RAVI NAIK’S SON: GOA GOVERNMENT PROVIDES SECURITY

PANJIM September 22: After a criminal confessed to taking a contract(Supari) to kill Roy Naik the son of Goa’s Home Minister, the Goa Government has provided personal security officers (PSOs) to both sons of the minister. The Home Ministers security has been further enhanced from Z to Z plus.

GOA GOVERNMENT PROVIDES PERSONAL SECURITY TO RAVI NAIK’S SONS

PANJIM, SEPT 22 : Goa Government today provided personal security officers to Home Minister Ravi Naik’s sons – Roy and Ritesh after revelations about a ploy to kill one of them.

MICCKY PACHECO TO FORM NEW POLITICAL PARTY: by N Fernandes (uk)

It has been reported that Mickky Pacheco is to form a new Political Party in Goa.He is more than confident that he can field at least 10 canditates at the next election in 2 years time.He is on his way to New Delhi to discuss this with the NCP & CONGRESS "Big Wigs".

AIRES TO MOVE POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY AGAINST PI SUNITA SAWANT

PANJIM: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today stated that he will move the Goa State Police Complaints Authority against Crime Branch Police Inspector Mrs. Sunita Sawant for abusing her authority by filing a petition in the High Court which she was not empowered to.

TRUTH AND TRUE FACTS OF SOUTO MAIOR CASE brought to you by Bebdo

Mogal Nizgoenkarano, see for yourself how the truth is hidden away from Goa and Goans by the priests, the politicians, the media and the builders. But as Oliver Goldsmith said, “A lie never lives to be old”, here the lies of all these CHORS are exposed.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF GOA by Adv. Aires Rodrigues

If the government improves the public transport system more people may opt to travel by buses and this will help decongest our roads. The Kadamba Transport Corporation needs to be brought on track. The private bus operators also cannot be allowed to blatantly violate the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. They drive just as recklessly as the KTC buses.

INTERVIEW WITH MANOHAR PARRIKAR by P. Cruz, Vasco Da Gama

NIZ GOENKAR INTERVIEWED MANOHAR PARRIKAR THE OPPOSITION LEADER
INTERVIEWED BY OUR WRITER - P. CRUZ
Interview with Mr. Manohar Parrikar (BJP) Opposition Leader
Date : 20th September, 2010 Venue : Goa Assembly-Porvorim

This interview was taken in Goa Assembly at 15:30 hrs. I have to admire his punctuality as he arrived at the location on time.

CASINO OPERATORS TO WITHDRAW PETITION

PANJIM: The Division Bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, constituting of Mr Justice D G Karnik and Mr Justice F M Reis, heard the petition filed by the casino operators.

PRIVATE BUSES ALWAYS OVERCROWDED: DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORT

PANJIM: The director of the Department of Transport Mr Arun Desai, on Tuesday said that more than 80 per cent of the private buses are overcrowded at the bus terminus, contrary to the claims by the All Goa Bus Owners Association (AGBOA), that the buses are suffering losses as the public refuse to enter buses once the seats are occupied.

FAST TRACK COURT SENTENCES SIX RIOTERS

PANJIM: The city fast track court today sentenced six rioters for attempted murder of policemen and related offenses in 2007 while discharging two others from the same offenses.

JOAQUIM ALEMAO’S SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKING EMPLOYEES

MARGAO: Joaquim Alemao, the Cuncolim MLA expressed his solidarity with the striking NUSI Hospital employees. Alemao, the Ubran Development Minister said that he would boycott the inauguration of the NUSI Wockhardt Hospital at Panzorconne-Cuncolim on Wednesday.

INCREASING OPPOSITION TO OFF SHORE CASINOS

Yet in more increasing opposition to the off shore casinos now the fishing community of Reis Magos and Penha-de-Franca has raised its voice in opposition to the State government’s move to allow casinos to operate from the Mandovi River.

HOW THE CHURCH SOLD THE PROPERTY OF SOUTO MAIOR AND DESTROYED HIS WILL by Bebdo

Let me tell the Goans the bit that I know about the Souto Maior property extending from Mira-mar to Caranzalem and Taleigao. After reading it please give your views whether we should trust the procuradors of the Church.

PETITION AGAINST AIRES: ADV MAHESH AMONKAR DECLINES TO BE SPECIAL PP

The petition filed in the High Court against Adv. Aires Rodrigues has hit yet another road block with Panaji based lawyer Mahesh Amonkar now declining to be the Special Public Prosecutor. The petition has been filed in the High Court by Crime Branch Police Inspector Sunita Sawant challenging the acquittal of Adv. Aires Rodrigues in the 2004 Ribandar Church case.

BJP WORKERS HECKLE PARRIKAR OVER MONSERRATE

PANJIM: Scores of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers Tuesday heckled Goa's Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar, alleging he was "scared" of Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate, who they claim was shielding large-scale corruption in the state's only municipal corporation.

CATHOLIC PRIEST OPPOSES OFFSHORE CASINOS NEAR VILLAGE

PANJIM: A local Roman Catholic priest Tuesday opposed the Goa government's controversial move to relocate offshore casinos, presently anchored in the Mandovi river off here, further inland.

POPE BENEDICT XVI BEATIFIES CARDINAL NEWMAN AT THE END OF UK VISIT

BRITAIN: There were tears and emotions! Tears of Joy and tears of emotion as the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI beatified the 19th Century Cardinal John Henry Newman to "BLESSED" Newman.  Faithfull came as early as 04:00 AM in the Cofton Park for the 10:00 am Mass and ceremony of the Beatification of Blessed Newman.  Young and Old all came in their thousands to witness the beatification and to hear the Holy Father's Mass.

FOR THE EYES OF GOANS ONLY

THESE TWO LETTERS ARE SEND BY SHYAM SAWANT, PONDA BY EMAIL

Help the migrants by Flavia Sequeira, Raia

I think every migrant should be given a ration card and an electoral photo identity card especially if they are poor, sick or uneducated. Such people need help. We need to reach out to them. The disadvantaged are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. We need to welcome them with open arms. The government must help them and they will be duly rewarded in return.

SPRUCING THE JUDICIARY by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

The revelation by former Union Law Minister Shanti Bhushan that eight of the 16 Chief Justices of India were corrupt is very disturbing and a matter of great concern. That even judges were recently caught copying only reinforces the need for stringent procedures in their selection. The manner in which High court judges are currently picked is not acceptable.

CHURCHILL GETS TOUGH ON ERRING STAFF

MARGAO: The RDA Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao, on Monday, issued a memo to staff attached to the RDA’s Pajifond office for dereliction of duty.

SMIPL REFUSES TO DEPOSIT 10 CRORE FOR RIVER PRINCESS

PANJIM: The Division Bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa constituting of Mr Justice D G Karnik and Mr Justice F M Reis on Monday heard the petition filed by Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) for being allotted the work of removing the stranded vessel ‘River Princess.’

VALPOI BY POLL ON OCTOBER 18

PANJIM: The Election Commission of India on Monday announced October 18 as the date for the by-election to fill the casual vacancy from 19-Valpoi Assembly Constituency in the State Legislative Assembly. The model code of conduct came into effect soon after the poll schedule was announced by the ECI.

RDA MINISTER CHURCHILL UPSET OVER PENDING BPL LIST OF SALCETE

Woken up to the inclusion of 3000 families of Valpoi, in Satari taluka, in the BPL category, represented by Health Minister Viswajit Rane the RDA minister Churchill Alemao questioned why should the poor families in Salcete not enjoy similar benefit?

ULTIMATUM SERVED ON ILLEGAL PARKING

MARGAO: An ultimatum of eight days has been served by the Davorlim Residents on illegal parking of trucks near the Aquem Power house junction. Anant Sawant who led the residents, said that the trucks parked near the junction has been causing obstacles to the motorists from Davorlim entering Margao.

RIVER PRINCESS PART 2 by N. Fernandes, London

GOA,FEBRUARY 21 How do you manage to develop a blind spot for a ship—all 20,000 tonnes of rusting metal? Ask the Goa government.  For nearly four years, it has managed to do just that with River Princess. It is wedged in one of the world’s most popular stretches of white sand near Fort Aguada in north Goa.

RIVER PRINCESS (10 YRS) V/S GOA GOVERNMENT (NIL) & THE WINNER IS? by N. Fernandes, London

It seems like the Goa Government is run by a bunch of "clowns" and "semi educated" idiots.The most they can visualise is Rupees / haftas.Their vision of life in Goa stretches as far as a very blind man will see.

GOA CHURCH SILENT ON ISLAND SALE TO HOTEL CHAIN brought to you by Menino Fernandes

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM INTERNET SITE (as is) to make it easy for readers to refer it.
Maggie Silveira, lead campaigner against the alleged deal, claims seven cabinet ministers were behind the sale. She also alleges a liquor baron has also shown interest in Vanxim Island, home to 55 families and a parish church.

GOA IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME by Menino Fernandes

My dear all Goans, Hindus, Muslims and Catholics. Time is running out very fast and the politicians are out to do it at the earliest and then themselves get out of Goa. It is high time to stop the influx of the migrants in such large numbers. We the true sons of the soil have lost everything. Wake up now at least and salvage what very little is left.

ONE HELD FOR ROBBING GODOWN AT CORLIM

OLD GOA: Michael Pinto, 45, was arrested by the Old Goa police on Saturday on charges of robbing electrical goods worth 1 lakh from a godown at the industrial development complex ( IDC) at Corlim.

CHURCHES, TEMPLES DOORS KNOCKED FOR LAND: BJP

The Bhartiya Janata Party today said that non-availability of land donors for the Member of Parliament Local Area Developmental funds (MPLAD) projects has compelled parliamentarians to depend on religious institutions.

GOA PETROL PUMPS ON ONE DAY TOKEN STRIKE

PANJIM: A one-day token strike will be observed on Monday by petrol dealers association of Goa in support of all India petroleum traders.

SAD SIGHT OF PERNEM GARDEN WITHIN ONE YEAR

MAPUSA: The much-hyped Viscount garden in Pernem market that was constructed at a cost of around Rs 50 lakh is now lying neglected and poorly maintained. The accumulated water in the springs has now become a breeding site for mosquitoes.

VILLAGE GROUP: SCRAP ANTI PEOPLE POLICY TO CENTRE & STATE

MARGAO: Representatives of village groups which met at a meet organised by the Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott called upon the state and Union governments to immediately scrap all the anti-people policies with regard to mining, real estate, tourism and industries, which have been causing immense irreversible destruction within the tiny state of Goa.

ACCUSED GIVES COPS SLIP, REARRESTED: CARASWADDO KIDNAPPING

MAPUSA: The accused Sameer, who had kidnapped his 4-year-old relative from Caraswaddo, Mapusa gave a slip to the police team while he was being brought to Goa.

The incident it is learnt took place in the jurisdiction of Mahad police station in Mumbai.

MANOHAR PARRIKAR ALLEGES RACKET & FIXING IN CASINO CASE

Manohar Parrikar alleges racket & fixing in Casino case, says someone has received kickbacks to keep casinos in the Mandovi.

MICKKY'S 7 DAY EXPRESS THREAT TO INDIAN EXPRESS by N. Fernandes, London

Mickky Pacheco is unlikely to succeed with this 7 day express threat to the Indian Express Newspaper or eventual filing on any Court Case /litigation.This defamation has to be filed under Libel laws.I doubt that the Indian Express Newspaper would publish this without the facts as is alleged by Mickky and his Advocate.

LAND ACQUISITION FOR KABRASTAN ERUPTS FRESH CONTROVERSY

The government’s controversial move to acquire private land admeasuring 16091 sq mts for the proposed kabrastan at Sonsodo has kicked up another row of sorts.  With the government invoking urgency clause under section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, all doors for the land owners to lodge their objections to the land acquisition proposal stands closed.

FIRST PILOT FROM REMOTE NAGARGAO SATARI: SAISH ANANT NAIK

VALPOI: The poor can reach the air as proved by Saish Anant Naik from Nagargao Satari, Valpoi. The son of a post man and coming from a poor family from Nagargao in the Satari Taluka has keen intentions to become a Pilot.

"I ESCAPED FROM APNA GHAR DUE TO ABUSE" SAYS MINOR

PANJIM: A minor child, who escaped from Apna Ghar and was later traced by the police, has informed the home's counsellor that he escaped as he was abused by another minor boy lodged in the house, who used to give him "electric shocks", besides "beating with wires".

RIBANDAR NEEDS A FOOTBALL GROUND NOT CASINOS by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

The Goa government has been unable to take a firm stand on any issue. Whether on the River Princess, the High Security Number Plates, SEZ’s, the new Mapusa Hospital and now on the Casinos. The administration lacks any direction or commitment.

MAPUCA KTC BUS STAND AT LAST UNDER OFFICIAL SCANNER

MAPUSA: The utterly neglected and shabby KTC bus terminus at Mapusa, has finally come under the scanner of concerned officials, following a joint inspection conducted on Thursday by officials of KTC, FDA, RTO, traffic police and health.

ROAD REPAIRS OF MORJIM ONLY AFTER MONSOON

MAPUSA: With barely one month left for the tourist season to commence, the infrastructure in the coastal areas is still very poor. The prominent Morjim beach in Pernem taluka, that attracts tourists on a large scale, has poor infrastructure, the most prominent of which are the miserable roads.

REMAND FOR MARGAO BLAST ACCUSED EXTENDED

MARGAO: Prashant Juveker, an accused in the Margao bomb blast case, was on Saturday produced before principal district and sessions judge, South Goa, Mr U V Bakre and 14 days judicial custody was taken.

MARGAO POLICE CRACK DOWN ON UNAUTHORISED BUS HALTS

MARGAO: While the regulation of traffic has become an onerous task for traffic police, the Margao traffic police have decided to crack down on public transport buses, that usually make unauthorised and unscheduled halts in the busy areas of Margao, that often leads to traffic congestion and affects the smooth flow of city traffic.

ANIL COUNTO TO BE PRESENTED WITH PORTUGUESE HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD

PANJIM: The President of the Republic of Portugal, Prof Aníbal António Cavaco Silva has announced one of the highest civilian awards of Portugal, the ‘Honorific Order of Merito’ in the category of Commendador, to the noted Goan construction magnate, industrialist and philanthropist, Mr Anil Counto.

DRUG PUSHING IS NOTHING NEW IN GOA

There may be many reasons why drug pushing has risen to the mafia level along the coastal areas of Goa. However, home minister Ravi Naik has an interesting explanation to give. "Drug pushing is going on for a long time. It's nothing new. But the local politicians never tried to stop this," Naik said during an interaction with the media on Friday.

SON ROY NAIK MAY CONTEST ASSEMBLY POLLS: RAVI

State home minister Ravi Naik has confirmed that his son Roy is interested in contesting assembly pools from the Mayem constituency. Initially, he declined to comment on his son's forays into electoral politics, saying that "he is major in age and mature enough to decide what he wants to do in life...you'll have to ask him about this issue".

801 APPLICANTS VIE FOR FOR 346 BEACH SHACKS

PANJIM: The tourism department has received a total of 801 applications to erect beach shacks in the coming tourist season. There has been an increase in the demand for beach shacks from the previous season's 638 applications.

WOMAN KILLS HERSELF & SON AT CHORAO

OLD GOA: A 35-year-old woman and her three-and-a-halfyear-old son died at Chorao early Friday morning after the woman poured kerosene over herself and the boy and set themselves alight.

TAR BALLS RESURFACE ON GOA'S BEACHES

Black tar balls have again surfaced in several beaches in Goa, officials said on Friday. The tar balls have resurfaced almost a week after they blackened the entire south Goa coastal stretch, casting shadow on the forthcoming tourist season, they said.

GOA GOVERNMENT’S FLAWED PRIORITIES by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

We all know that the Digambar Kamat government has, for long, misplaced priorities. It has always been able to find a way to squander money. The Chief Secretary and other officers are duty bound to audit the plans and schemes the politicians want formulated. Every paisa from the State exchequer needs to be well spent and duly accounted for. It is very surprising that bureaucrats today do not by way of fiscal responsibility raise any queries or objections on public money going down the drain. An example at hand is the “Know Goa Programme”.

MICKKY'S THREAT TO SUE INDIAN EXPRESS FOR DEFAMATION

Days after he hogged the headlines vis-à-vis the alleged immigration and money laundering racket, former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco has slapped a notice on the Indian Express calling upon the newspaper management to pay him Rs 50 crore as damages for defamation.

INFANT FOUND ABANDONED AT CABO DE RAMA BUS STAND

CUNCOLIM: In a sad turn of events, a five day old infant, a baby girl was found behind the Cabo de Rama bus stand abandoned, on Friday the 17th September. The baby was wrapped in a bed sheet and was lying there for almost 24 hours. It was clear that the child had been there so long from the ant bites on her body.

RAPE ACCUSED BANGLADESHI FATHER'S BAIL PLEA DECISION RESERVED

The Children’s Court will decide a bail petition on September 29, filed by Bangladeshi father who is accused of raping and assaulting his minor daughter. The 45-year-old Azad Mia, hailing from Bangladesh and presently residing at Curti in Ponda is booked under sections 376 (rape), 323 and 354 of Indian Penal Code and section 8 (2) of Goa Children’s Act. He is currently in judicial remand.

WILMA SHOOTING CASE TWO ACQUITTED – CUNCOLIM POLICE JOLTED

The Cuncolim police has received a serious jolt in the sensational Wilma Colaco shooting case with the Sessions Court discharging two of the three accused persons from the case.

CARDOZ FIRM ON SON CONTESTING CIVIC ELECTIONS

MARGAO: Reacting to accusations of spot-fixing for the upcoming municipality elections, two local politicians — longtime Congressman and three time MLA and ex-councillor, Mr Alex Cardozo and the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary, Mr Vijay Sardessai, involved in the meeting brokered by the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, reacted in two different ways.

4 YR OLD KIDNAPPED BOY RESCUED

MAPUSA: Acting swiftly, a team of Mapusa police led by the police sub-inspector, Mr Vijay Rane, and comprising of head constable, Mr Santosh Bandodkar and head constable, Mr Sharad Gawas succeeded in rescuing a 4-year old boy from Karaswada, who was kidnapped and taken to Mumbai.

NO PAGES OF SCARLET'S DIARY MISSING: CBI TELLS COURT

Panjim, September 17- Scarlet's diary is intact and no pages of her diary are missing the Public Prosecutor representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the death of a British teenager told the Goa Children’s Court today.

MARGAO BLAST CASE: GOVT DOCTOR DEPOSES BEFORE COURT

MARGAO: In his deposition before the district and sessions court here during the Margao bomb blast trial, a government doctor said that Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik died due to the injuries suffered by them on account of the explosion.

ANCIENT STONE GOES MISSING IN QUERIM SATARI

QUERIM: A valuable piece of history and heritage dating back to the Kadamba period has gone missing from Nagve, a village about a kilometre away from Valpoi town of Satari.

GOA FOREST GUARDS TO GET MOTORBIKES TO CHECK CRIMES

Dealing with tiger poaching and illegal mining isn't really a walk in the park. Perhaps that is why forest guards in Goa's seven wildlife sanctuaries will now whiz through the woods on motorcycles to detect and check forest crime.

WHO KILLED CANDOLIM? THE RIVER PRINCESS AND FROGS by Lancaster Fernandes, Candolim.

Uncle Pedro returned from his usual work and sat under infront of his house in Candolim. There were children playing around whose attention caught the sight of Pedro Uncle singing loudly. With deep thoughts, sober and sad, Pedro Uncle was never like this before, said the children to each other in amusement and listened to him quietely. Pedro went on….…………

DEFENCE LAWYER POINTS FINGER AT CONGRESS ALIGNED NEWSPAPER

A newspaper "close" to the Congress party is trying to influence the Goa blast trial in which 11 people linked to right wing Hindu group Sanatan Sanstha were investigated, a local court was told Thursday.

RELOCATING OF CASINOS TO ATTRACT PROTEST AT VEREM

The Reis Magos and Verem Citizens Forum has threatened to come out on the streets if the government does not withdraw its decision of permitting the casinos in the waters of Verem.

WELL EQUIPPED TO SALVAGE RIVER PRINCESS - ANIL

Claiming that he has resources as well as experience to remove the River Princess vessel stranded off the Candolim coast, the chairman of Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd, Mr Anil Salgaocar on Thursday said that his company is in possession of ultra-modern salvaging equipment, including a huge 350-tonne crane, which is not available anywhere else in India.

DISCREPANCIES FOUND IN PERNEM VOTERS LIST

MAPUSA: With municipal elections due one and a half month from now and electoral rolls being given finishing touches, Pernem is one municipality where large scale discrepancies have been found in the voters list.

MAPUSA: With municipal elections due one and a half month from now and electoral rolls being given finishing touches, Pernem is one municipality where large scale discrepancies have been found in the voters list.

PARRIKAR SMELLS A RAT IN BID TO SHIFT CASINOS

Stating that the September 15 decision of the Goa government Cabinet to arrange the off shore casinos in Mandovi River, from Betim to Ribandar is definitely guided by kickbacks, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said that he has a faint idea as to where the kickbacks have gone, but would not reveal the names of the concerned person till substantial evidence is available with him.

WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN SARPANCH & MLA OF CALANGUTE

The Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes traded verbal accuses against each other. The former accused the MLA of blocking different development projects in Calangute. But the MLA denied the allegations and interference in the development of Calangute village.

GOA CABINET DECISION ON CASINOS INFLUENCED BY KICKBACKS, BJP

Panjim: Leader of Opposition in Goa Assembly Manohar Parrikar today alleged that money changed hands in the off-shore casino matter which forced the state cabinet to roll back its own decision.

THE HOLY FATHER POPE BENEDICT XVI ARRIVES IN UK

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has arrived on his four day visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Queen has welcomed the Pope Benedict to Edinburgh at the start of the first papal visit to the UK for 28 years.

GOA TO HOST SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL FROM 17 - 20 SEPTEMBER

The 5th Annual South Asian Film Festival will take place from September 17-20, 2010, in Goa. More than 50 films from South Asian countries will be screened during SAFF Goa. The gala event will be opened with a film from Afghanistan “An Apple from Paradise” A film on “distorted interpretation of religion in Afghanistan.

ONLINE CAMPAIGN TO CANONISE Pe. JOSE VAZ by Mayabhushan Nagvenkar brought to you by Saturnino Rodrigues

(An Excerpt from the Internet)

Panjim, Sept 16 : Back then, when the world travelled on horseback instead of motor cars, and hawks were used to take messages across, the canonisation of Catholic saints was largely a result of excited word-of-mout regurgitation of miracles  and outreach - besides devotion, of course - are the tools of a campaign launched by the Goan diaspora across the world to anoint as a saint an 18th century priest of Goan origin who is also known as the "Apostle of Sri Lanka".

COUPLE BATTLES FOR MINOR'S CUSTODY IN HC

PANJIM: A couple from Calangute has written to the high court of Bombay at Goa alleging that their minor relative was taken away from them and given to an "unauthorized person" without a proper inquiry being conducted by child welfare committee (CWC) members. They have sought action against CWC members responsible for the act.

CENTRE COVENS MEET ON ILLEGAL MINING ON SEPTEMBER 21

Centre has asked the mines secretary from Goa to attend a meeting to evaluate the steps taken by the state governments to check illegal mining in the state.

LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE by Jeremiah D'Souza, Cansaulim

Villagers in Goa pass resolution after resolution at their Gram Sabhas to protect their environment and surroundings, but unfortunately a number of Village Panchayats take no cognisance of this. Aren’t these legal resolutions passed at Gram Sabhas binding on the Village Panchayats? Or is the interpretation of the Panchayati Raj Act left to the whims and fancies of the elected representatives?

GIRLS DROWN AT VANTEM SATARI

VALPOI: A bathe in the river turned into a tragedy in the Satari Taluka at Vantem. Two minor girls from Karnataka, who were living at Vantem Satari drowned in the Valvanti river at Vantem, where they went to bathe.

COPS FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IN UTKARSHA CASE

PANJIM: A preliminary inquiry report into police functioning in the Utkarsha Parab kidnapping and murder case has recommended disciplinary proceedings against PSI Terence Vaz of Bicholim police station for failing to immediately attend to an aggrieved person.

IS MICKKY STARVING by N. Fernandes, London

Following his arrest in the Nadia Torrado and subsequent internment in jail,Mickky stood up at the Goa Legislature (Monsoon Session)and cunningly stated that the Crime Branch froze his Bank Accounts and his family were hungry and put out on the streets to beg.NOW the CBI has frozen his banks accounts again in the "MONEY LAUNDERING" case so we must assume his family is starving again.

PWD PETITIONED OVER WATER SCARCITY IN CALANGUTE

MAPUSA: Principal chief engineer of the PWD, Mr Rego was petitioned over the poor water supply in Calangute and surrounding coastal belt on Wednesday. A delegation of ad hoc committee members of Shiv Sena led by Mr Phillip D’Souza called on Mr Rego and informed him about the severe water problem in Calangute.

PACHECO'S DELHI VISIT PLEA GRANTED

MARGAO: The additional district and sessions judge, South Goa, Mr Desmond D’Costa on Wednesday granted permission to former tourism minister and Benaulim MLA, Mr Francisco Pacheco, in connection with his National capital visit.

JITENDRA DESHPRABHU EXCLUDED FROM INVITEES LIST BY NCP

PANJIM: Expressing surprise over his exclusion from the list of invitees at the Nationalist Congress Party’s September 5 state-level convention held at Mapusa, the national general secretary of the NCP and a permanent invitee on the party’s central working committee, Mr Jitendra Deshprabhu said that a nameless envelope containing the invitation for the particular convention had however arrived at his office.

GOVERNMENT TO ALLOT PRINCESS REMOVAL TENDER TO SMIL

PANJIM: The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to allot the tender for cutting and removal of River Princess from its grounded place at Candolim to M/s Salgaoncar Mining Industries Ltd, but have imposed stiff various conditions.

GOA GOVERNMENT TO RELOCATE OFF SHORE CASINOS IN MANDOVI ITSELF

Panjim: Goa government on Wednesday decided to relocate the off-shore casino vessels within Mandovi river as against its earlier cabinet decision to shift them off into the sea.

GOA GOVERNMENT TO SEEK GERMAN CONSULATE'S HELP IN RAPE CASE

PANJIM, Sept 15 (PTI) Goa government is planning to seek the help of German consulate in connection with the rape of a minor, in which State Education Minister Atanasio Monserratte's son Rohit is the accused.

PORTUGUESE CITIZENSHIP & CITIZENS brought to you by Menino Fernandes

AN EXCERPT FROM THE INTERNET

Obtaining the Portuguese citizenship is one of the 27 formulas to grant the European citizen status. Being Portuguese is trendy since Portugal joined the EEC, now European Union.

COURT DIRECTS PI SUNITA TO ANSWER OBJECTIONS IN RIBANDAR CASE

Crime Branch PI Sunita Sawant was directed on Tuesday by the Bombay High Court to clear the objections raised by the court registry in the revision petition filed by her challenging the acquittal of Aires Rodrigues, the Ribandar activist in 2004 in the Ribandar Church case.

FOR THE EYES OF GOANS ONLY

Sent by Jane De Sa (email)

Hungry for power! by Inacio Verdes Fernandes

It seems that the BJP is very hungry for power. Its prediction that the assembly election will be held earlier than scheduled is nothing but desperation, being six years out of power.

GOA NCP TO LODGE COMPLAINT AGAINT GPYC PRESIDENT

The Nationalist Congress Party of Goa has decided to lodge a complaint with the competent authorities against the GPYC President Sankalp Amonkar. It was decided by the NCP on Tuesday to lodge the complaint in connection with the mismanagement of Canacona flood relief funds.

GOVERNOR & CM DISCUSS LAW AND ORDER SITUATION IN GOA

PANJIM The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on Tuesday morning called on the Governor, Dr Shivinder Singh Sidhu and apprised him of the law and order situation in the state.

SANATHAN SANSTHA GRANTED TIME BY HIGH COURT

The single judge bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa constituting of Mr Justice N A Britto granted time to Sanatan Sanstha to seek legal assistance.

SEMINAR ON REGIONAL PLAN 202: IMAGINING GOA’S FUTURE

PANJIM September 14: A day-long seminar on ‘Regional Plan 2021: Imagining Goa's Future’ is being organised by Goenkarancho Ekvot, on September 18, at the India International Centre, New Delhi.

MARGAO POLICE THWART ROBBERY ATTEMPT, THIEVES ARRESTED

With the theft cases on the rise, the latest one at Margao kept the police on their toes on Monday midnight. After being alerted about 2 thieves trying to ransack a jewelry shop in Margao, the police swung into action and arrested one of them in the act while the other one who managed to flee, was later caught at a Colva hotel.

GOANS IN CANADA: A LIKELY TOURISM MARKET

PANJIM: A 40,000-strong Goan Population in Canada is being looked at as a potential tourism market by the state government. Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) officials travelled last month to North America where they convened meetings with around 88 tour operators to explore the feasibility of opening a new tourism market for the state.

DHARBANDORA TO BE THE SMALLEST TALUKA IN GOA

PANJIM: It is becoming increasingly clear now that the new proposed taluka of Dharbandora will be the smallest taluka of Goa. Official sources said that only two villages from North Goa will be part of the new taluka. Confirming this, North Goa collector Mihir Vardhan said that after a study it has been recommended to the government to include Usgao and Ganje villages from Ponda taluka in the proposed taluka.

GOA – SMALL STATE; BIG CORRUPTION by Roger D’Souza

Corruption in Goa is firmly inbuilt into our democratic structure, says ARAVIND BHATIKAR

Transparency International has ranked most countries of the world in its Perceived Corruption Index (PCI). The least corrupt is ranked the highest, and the most corrupt the lowest. In 2001, India was ranked 72nd amongst 91 countries surveyed. And in 2008, it was ranked 85th amongst 180 countries. A cursory glance at the list suggests that economic development is inversely related to the level of corruption, and that poorer countries are likely to be more corrupt.

ARRESTED ACCUSED CONFESSES OF BUYING PISTOL IN BIHAR

The local who was arrested on Sunday by the Agacaim police with a country-made pistol, told the investigating team that he purchased the weapon for Rs 7000 from Hazaribagh district of Bihar.

32 YR OLD DIES IN ACCIDENT AT SIOLIM

MAPUSA: Premanand Agarwadekar, aged 32, a resident of Siolim died in a road mishap at Siolim on Sunday night.

TUSSLE BETWEEN MINING, ANTI-MINING LOBBIES LIKELY AT QUEPEM CIVIC POLLS

QUEPEM: Aspiring candidates have already started preparations for the elections of the Quepem Municipal Council slated for the last week of October even though the list of the reserved wards has still not been released. And, the tussle between the mining and the anti-mining lobbies promises to give that extra zing to the elections this time.

ONE HELD FOR SELLING PoP IDOLS IN MAPUCA

MAPUCA: Mapuca police today arrested one Bharat Parmecar from Duler for selling plaster of Paris idols of Ganesh. He was released on bail later.

CBI CONTINUES ITS PROBE AGAINST MICKKY

The Central Bureau of Investigation officials continued the probe against the former tourism minister, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco in a case relating to the illegal immigration racket immigration and money laundering, with its officials scouting for evidence at various places to seal the case against the former minister.

GANG CHIEF COMMITTED CRIMES IN KARNATAKA, GUJARAT

The main accused in about 30 cases of dacoity, robbery, vehicle thefts, impersonation and chain snatching, in Goa and neighbouring states, Michael Fernandes, had murdered a person in Karnataka six months before coming to Goa and forming a gang of robbers with Raju Devar's help.

RTI QUERY REVEALS ROT IN GOA POLICE RANKS

More than 50 percent of the superintendents of police in Goa have faced disciplinary action, and only 19 percent of police inspectors have a clean record, documents obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) revealed Monday.

FOR THE EYES OF GOANS ONLY

Letters Received by Email

Hindi Zealots by Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata

No congratulations are enough for Vivek Shankar (‘Hindi Divas needed?’, Herald, 8 Sept). Gujarat High Court Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhyay has ruled that neither the Constitution nor Indian law have specified any language as ‘national’. By projecting Hindi as India’s ‘national language’, linguistic zealots are merely committing Contempt of Court. By calling Hindi the ‘Rashtrabhasha’, these zealots are directly insulting non-Hindi speakers.

MAN TRYING TO SELL PISTOL ARRESTED AT BAMBOLIM

Goa police arrested one 38 year old man at Bambolim when he was looking for a prospective buyer to sell a country made pistol brought from Bihar. Having received information that a man was out at Bambolim trying to sell pistol, the cops caught Suhas Godse.

AIRPORT EXPANSION DEBRIS DUMPED AT FOUR LANE HIGHWAY

The residents of Dabolim and Alto-Dabolim have raised strong concern over the illegal filling of land, close to the four-lane highway near Dabolim airport.

MAJORDA UTORDA DELEGATION TO CALL ON FILIPE NERI

A delegation led by the sarpanch of Majorda village, Ms Visitation D’Silva, comprising of panchas and representatives of two star hotels, one from Majorda and the other from Utorda, will meet the Water Resources Minister, Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues, on Monday, in an attempt to impress upon him the urgency in initiating steps to control the soil erosion on the beaches of Majorda and Utorda.

JOSE PHILIP SEEKS AMONKAR’S SACKING

The Nationalist Congress Party state president, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza, on Sunday demanded that the Youth Congress president, Mr Sankalp Amonkar, should be immediately sacked, as he is a disgrace to the alliance government.

ACCUSED IN AGACAIM THEFT BID HELD

Agacaim police arrested the main accused in the Agacaim theft case, who had attempted to rob owners of a pharmacy, at knife point, last week.

GOA DAIRY MILK SOLD ON BLACK MARKET

The absence of monitoring mechanism for Goa Dairy’s milk booths is encouraging black marketing of milk packets forcing the public to shell out above the maximum retail price as large stocks of milk get diverted into the retail outlets from the authorised booths, and yet the authorities prefer to ignore the same.

MICKKY PACHECO CASE - UNDERSTANDING THE DEGENERATION OF GOA by Tejas Mehta

(An excerpt from Internet)

Of the sixteen high-end cars and several motorcycles that Goa's former Tourism Minister Francisco "Mickky" Pacheco owns, probably two of them mirror the man and his situation most appropriately. One, his white Hummer.

DAVORLIM VILLAGERS ALL SET UP TO OPPOSE LAND ACQUISITION

Though the Goa government is determined to acquire land admeasuring 1.15 lakh sq mts at Davorlim for the proposed multipurpose utility project, the villagers of Davorlim are equally bent on blocking the acquisition. They are all bracing up for an agitation to protect the land of their ancestors from acquisition.

SARA’S TURN AFTER MICKKY: CBI GRILLS SARA

Just a day after the CBI quizzed the former tourism Minister for almost three hours, the Delhi Sleuths, turned their attention towards Sara on Friday. Sara was interrogated by the CBI at its branch office in Bambolim on Saturday 11th September.

CHURCH & MEGA PROJECT AT VANXIM DIVAR by P. Cruz, Vasco Da Gama

(Excerpt from Goan Observer)

The Archdiocese of Goa, through the council for Social justice & peace headed by Fr. Maverick Fernandes, has been agitating against the mega housing projects in the state.

POLICE GEAR UP FOR GANESH FESTIVITIES, STAFF LEAVES CANCELLED

To provide full proof security during the Ganesh festival, Goa Police have cancelled all types of leave for its entire force in the state during the festival, especially after a bomb blast on Diwali eve in Margao last year.

GANESH IDOLS IN VALPOI SATARI by Menino Fernandes

Valpoi is a town famous for its great heritage since the ancient times. All the festivals are celebrated with great pomp. The Hindus of Valpoi are very particular about all the festivals.

CHURCHILL ATTACKED TOO? VOW!

First it was Monserrate, the education minister, now it is the PWD minister who has been hit by the social networking bug, Facebook comes up with it’s version of Churchill and that leads to a complaint by Alemao at the Colva Police Station.

BRIEF NEWS FROM GOA

SERVICE TO GOD COMES FIRST AT PANJIM POLICE STATION

Complaints can wait as paying obeisance to Lord Ganesha became top priority at the Panjim police which was in a preparatory mood for the beginning of the festivity on Saturday.

PISTOL WIELDING GANG’S CHIEF CAUGHT AT COLVA

Police on Friday arrested Michael Fernandes, 25, the main accused in about 30 cases of dacoity, robbery, vehicle thefts, impersonation and chain snatching, in Goa and neighbouring states. An Agacaim Police team led by PI Vishwesh Karpe arrested Fernandes who was hiding from the police in a hut in Colva after three of his associates were caught on Thursday.

ETHICS KEEPS PP AWAY FROM AIRES REVISION CASE

The public prosecutor (PP) in the high court of Bombay at Goa has expressed his inability to appear in the criminal revision application against social activist Aires Rodrigues in the Ribandar church case of 2004, stating that Rodrigues had consulted him in the case before he was appointed PP.

ONE HELD FOR RETIRED TEACHER’S MURDER

Mapusa Police has arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Albert Luis, a retired teacher of St Britto High School, Mapusa, who was murdered at his residence at shetyewado on August 2.

ADV. VIEGAS URGES CONGRESS TO STOP HARASSING MICKKY

Mr Anacleto Viegas, UGDP secretary, in a press statement called upon the Congress government to stop the witch hunting of the Benaulim MLA, who he said, has been the embodiment of benevolence for the people of south Goa.

VALPOI BUS MISHAP: 19 INJURED

Nineteen passengers, including four children, were injured after a minibus skidded off the road at Velus-Valpoi on Friday. The Bus carrying passengers from Shignem to Valpoi was speeding towards Valpoi when the incident occurred.

CBI QUIZZES MICKKY ON IMMIGRATIN & MONEY LAUNDERING CASE

Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday recorded the statement of the former Goa tourism Minister Francisco Xavier Pacheco in the immigration racket case after questioning him for more than three hours at its office at Bambolim. The CBI officials have also frozen Pacheco’s bank accounts and have seized 3 of his mobile phones.

**ANACLETO VIEGAS -WHAT HUMBUG** by N. Fernandes, London

Adv.Viegas recently stated that there is good & evil in all of us. Adv. Viegas I think we Goans do not need a lecture on Christian doctrines.From the time ADAM ate the "forbidden fruit / apple" given to him by EVE, we are all aware we are born sinners or born with sin.However we are constantly educated by parents,schools,churches on the difference between good and evil.I appreciate you have been well remunerated (paid) by your client Mickky Pacheco to defend his misdemeanours.

NCP SLAMS GPCCs ‘COVER UP’ OF YOUTH WINGs RELIEF FUND SCAM

Terming the explanation given by the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) with regard to its handling of donations for Canacona flood victims as unsatisfactory, the Nationlist Congress Party has demanded answers to its questions within 24 hours.

CBI SUMMONS PACHECO IN VISA FORGERY CASE

Panjm: Former Goa tourism minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco has been summoned by the CBI for his involvement in a fake US visa scam.

NCP DISTANCING ITSELF FROM MICKKY PACHECO

With the law close on the heels of the former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco, his NCP party seems to be distancing itself from him. The party spokesperson Trajano D’Mello said that Pacheco is not a problem for the party but was quick enough to add “he is free to leave the party if he wants”, a hint to alienate Pacheco from the party.

FRANSA CHIEF DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA by N. Fernandes, London

IS MICKKY PACHECO A REAL MAN OR HIDEOUS MOUSE?**IS THIS WHAT GOANS IN BENAULIM BELIEVE, IS AN HONOURABLE MINISTER?..YOU DECIDE:COURTESY REDIFF.COM

The All India Football Federation on Thursday declared Fransa Pax president Mickey Pacheco 'persona non grata', alleging that he had brought ''disrepute'' to the game, league and AIFF.

BRIEF NEWS FROM GOA (Digital Goa)

INCOME TAX RAIDS PACHECO’S RESIDENCE CUM OFFICE

September 9- Income tax sleuths have joined the CBI in raiding the house cum office of NCP legislature and former tourism minister Micky Pacheco. The Income Tax department officials raided Micky’s house cum office at Betalbatim while CBI officials continued their search. Documents, details of accounts were seized by the Sleuths.

125 POLICE OFFICERS FACED DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY IN GOA: RTI

Over 50% of Goa's police officials from the rank of police sub-inspector to superintendent of police have faced some form of disciplinary action at some point of time in their careers spanning anywhere from five to 20 years in the police department.

GOA CM FATHER OF CORRUPTIN SAYS NCP

Mud slinging between Congress and NCP in Goa continues with latter terming Chief Minister Digamber Kamat as 'father of corruption.' "Goa Pradesh Youth Congress President Sankulp Amonkar yesterday said that Congress is father of NCP and NCP Goa President Jose Philip D'Souza was corrupt minister than it implies that chief minister is father of corruption," NCP Goa spokesman Trojano D'Mello told reporters today.

FAKE FACE BOOK ACCOUNT HAUNTS GOA MINISTER

Goa police is investigating into a fake Facebook account created in the name of State Education Minister Atanasio Monserratte which flashes that he is looking for dating women. The account on social networking website Facebook.com allegedly mentions his interest in women with the section 'looking for', filled up as 'dating'.

36th TIATR FESTIVAL ATTRACTS A RECORD NUMBER OF 21 ENTRIES

A record 21 entries is expected to throw up a keen contest among tiatr groups at the 36th tiatr competition organized by Kala Academy in the city from September 21 to October 27.

GOA EDUCATION MINISTER LOSES ‘FACE’ ON FACEBOOK

The Panjim police are looking for the imposter who created Monserrate's fake page and used it to hurl a slew of abuses to several persons known to Monserrate, including sitting Curtorim legislator Reginaldo Lourenco, who brought the fake page to Monserrate's notice.

PACHECO’S ESTRANGED WIFE ACCUSES HIM OF FORGING SIGNATURE

Former Goa tourism minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco's estranged wife, Sara said she has nothing to do with the employment business run by her husband. Talking to reporters in Margao, 38-year-old Sara said she has disassociated herself with the business since 2000 after she came to know that Pacheco was sending people by forging her signature.

CBI RAIDS FORMER GOA MINISTER’S RESIDENCE

CBI on Thursday raided the residence of former Goa minister Fransisco Pacheco. On Wednesday, CBI registered a case against him for allegedly acquiring US visas on forged documents.

BEGIN RIVER PRINCES REMOVAL WORK WITHIN TWO MONTHS: HC

PANJIM The Division Bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa constituting of Mr Justice D G Karnik and Mr Justice F M Reis directed the state to commence the removal work of River Princess within two months.

THE STEALTH KILLER ON THE RISE IN GOA by Menino Fernandes

Today’s deadly killer HIV/AIDS is seen rising in Goa at an alarming rate. For those people like me have seen death of AIDS feel shuddered at the very though of the disease. Governments have been urging the people to take precautions and have safe sex.

N-PLANTS ALONG COASTLINE DISTURBANCE TO ENVIRONMENT SAYS MATHANY

Expressing strong resentment over the draft Coastal Regulation Zone notification 2010, National Fishworkers Forum have alleged that granting of permission for setting up nuclear plants along the coastline would have adverse effect on the environment.

53,323 NEW NAMES IN GOA’S REVISED ELECTORAL ROLLS

Goa's revised electoral rolls have swelled to 10.42 lakh plus from the 10.19 lakh plus shown in the draft rolls published earlier.

CBI REGISTERS FRAUD CASE AGAINST ex-GOA MINISTER PACHECO

Adding to the troubles of former Goa minister Fransisco Pacheco, booked in connection with the death of his close friend, CBI has registered a case against him for allegedly acquiring US visas on forged documents.  Raymond Fernandes -- along with other unknown people during 2007-2008.

CONGRESS-NCP CLASHES WITH EACH OTHER IN GOA

The political allies - Congress and NCP - are at loggerheads in Goa with both the party leaders publicly criticising each other.

PARRIKAR RULES OUT INTELLIGENCE FAILURE IN ATALA ESCAPE

The Leader of Opposition and ex-chief minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday ruled out an intelligence failure that resulted in the escape of alleged drug kingpin Yaniv Benaim alias Atala but alleged the direct involvement of a section of the authorities.

CATTLE HAVE FIELD DAY ON VALPOI ROADS

VALPOI: Most of the roads in Valpoi are widened and hot mixed to facilitate smooth flow of traffic but the presence of large number of stray cattle resembles that these roads are meant for them. The problem is especially severe in the evenings, when the cattle are let free and invariably end up on the busy roads.

BEHIND THE SCENES: MICKKY PACHECO by N. Fernandes, London

Mickky Pacheco is once again trying to bluff his way around his criminal activities.If his overseas recruitment company called BresourcesManagement located in Miami U.S.A was closed down 4 years ago:why was Nadia Torrado`s name appearing as his Manager on "LINKEDIN".

RIVER PRINCESS AND TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE: SWAPNIL NAIK

Director of Tourism, Swapnil Naik has categorically stated that the River Princess will be removed before May 2011. Swapnil said that Goa needs to move from beach tourism to hinterland tourism.

SARA DISTANCES HERSELF FROM IMMIGRATION RACKET OF MICKKY

Sara Pacheco the estranged wife of ex tourism minister Francisco Mickky Pacheco said that she was not at all connected to the overseas recruitment and immigration racket or any money laundering.

GOA BEACH SHACKS ARE BEING SUBLET TO FOREIGNERS

Palm thatched shacks allotted on the Goa beaches are being sublet to foreigners contravening the provisions of law, a court was told here. A writ petition filed before the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court, alleges that foreigners are being presented as managers of the shack or employees on it by the locals.

ILLEGAL HOTEL BUILT ON SAND DUNES NEARLY ESCAPED DEMOLITION by Roger D’Souza

In his well documented article and by providing detailed evidence of the sequence of events, Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation has detailed how a former Sarpanch of Colva Snowkon Gonsalves sought to pervert the flow of justice, in a direct misuse of power and how his illegal hotel built on the sand dunes in Colva nearly escaped High Court demolition orders. Finally justice is being delivered after a long battle over 17 years!

THE ONE THAT ALMOST GOT AWAY by Claude Alvares

How an illegal hotel built on sand dunes nearly escaped High Court demolition orders, reveals CLAUDE ALVARES

Our panchayats and their leaders have now become part of an all-Goa scenario of complete non-governance accompanied by acts of brazen manipulation and corruption. Nothing illustrates this better than the ‘Case of the Illegal Resort’ in Colva, put up by Snowkon Gonsalves, a former Sarpanch.

FREE INSULIN WILL GO A LONG WAY IN CONTROLLING DIABETES

Dr A K Mondal, a renowned nephrologist and diabetologist based in United States has said that those suffering from diabetes should work towards maintaining healthy blood sugar level at 200 or below through medicines, like use of insulin, to avoid complications in life.

TRANSPORT DEPT WORKING ON STRATEGY TO CURB BUS OVERLOADING

The transport department in an attempt to revamp the public transport system is likely to adopt zero tolerance policy towards the overloading of buses, be they state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation buses or private buses, in a phased manner.

CHIEF MINISTER: NO ONE TO BLAME FOR ATALA’S DISAPPEARANCE

The Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat declined to blame anyone for the disappearance of the notorious drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala. Atala disappeared mysteriously from Goa following his release on bail for an offence of over stay in Goa. It has been alleged that Atala had links with the Home Minister Ravi Naik’s son Roy Naik.

GOA POLICE DECLINE TO COMMENT ON ATALA

Goa Police has preferred to keep silent on the missing of Israeli drug dealer Atala. After blasting by the media in the police drug nexus case, the police have kept the journalists who are covering the case at bay.

BETIM TEACHER KNOCKS HIGH COURT DOOR OVER INFLUENTIAL TRANSFER.

Sujata Cacule from Calangute, a science teacher, who was transferred to Mulgao High school has challenged her transfer before the High Court. Ms Cacule who was presently attached to Government High School Betim, has in a Writ Petition filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa stating that being a science teacher her transfer from the present posting to Mulgao as a maths teacher is illegal, arbitrary and was pre-planned at the behest of Mrs. Rima Zingde and her husband who is the headmaster, Mr. Shailesh Zingde.

'WELL-WISHER' TO DONATE SEVEN EMRI AMBULANCES TO GOA GOVT.

Goa will increase its count of GVK-Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI) ambulances from 22 to 29 this year end following a donation from a "well-wisher", State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said today. Rane told the gathering during EMRI's second anniversary in Goa that "a well-wisher has agreed to donate seven ambulances for this ambitious PPP scheme."

CBI COUNSEL ABSENT IN SCARLETT’S DEATH CASE TRIAL

Even as Goa court is grappling with the issue of missing pages of Scarlett's diary, Public prosecutor representing CBI in the death trial did not appear in the court today when case came for the hearing. CBI was supposed to file a reply in connection with the contentions by two accused that few pages from Scarlett's diary were missing.

CHAOTIC SCENES WITNESSED AT MACAZANA GRAM SABHA

The Macazana gram sabha held on Sunday witnessed some chaotic scenes with a gram sabha member even attempting to physically accost sarpanch and presiding officer, Mr Mariano De Costa.

PARRIKAR ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF LETTING ATALA FLEE THE COUNTRY

Opposition leader Mr. Manohar Parrikar has charged the government for issuing the red corner notice (LOC) on Atala the notorious drug dealer involved in the police drug nexus, inspite of knowing that he (Atala) had already left the country.

NCP, CONGRESS AND OPPOSITION’S REACTION TO U.S. NEWS ON PACHECO

The opposition leader of Goa, Mr. Manohar Parrikar today said he wanted to know why the United States Authority did not act when ex Tourism minister Mickky Pacheco was in that country. Though the Chief Minister of Goa Digamber Kamat had refused to comment on the reports from the US about Pacheco’s involvement into immigration racket and money laundering, said that he cannot react unless he has some information about it. He also said that he had neither seen nor heard anything on the matter.

PACHECO DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN MONEY LAUNDERING (PTI)

Goa's former Tourism Minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco on Sunday brushed aside the allegations of his involvement in a major international money laundering and fake travel document racket, saying he was prepared for any inquiry as his accounts were transparent.

GOA’S PACHECO MAY BE PART OF GLOBAL RACKET, US TELLS INDIA

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, a unit of the US State Department, has told India that the former tourism minister of Goa, Francisco Xavier ‘Mickey’ Pacheco, may be involved in a massive immigration and money laundering racket.

BJP EXPOSING GOA GOVERNMENT FOR FAILURE

As the elections are drawing nearer, the BJP has begun a campaign of exposing the congress led government in Goa. They held a meeting at Marcel in Priol which was attended by a crowd of about 200 people.

RS 60 LAKHS CAR STOLEN FROM PUNE RECOVERED IN PANJIM

Timely tip off by the management of a car showroom in Pune to the Goa police force, led to recovery of a new Mercedes E350 CDI car, worth Rs 60 lakh, just a day after it was stolen from the showroom.

UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS AT MAPUCA ASILO HOSPITAL

A month has passed by since the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, along with Mr Vishwajeet Rane, the Minister for Health, the Mapusa MLA, Mr Francis D'Souza and the Director of Health Services, Dr Rajnanda Dessai, had visited the dilapidated Mapusa Asilo hospital.

WITH LOVE FROM GOA by Saturnino Rodrigues

A letter by Mr. Saturnino Rodrigues from Goa to NIZ GOENKAR

Thank you NIZ GOENKAR so much for supporting this cause of the Goans and the real Niz Goenkars. This cause is a good cause, I support it 100% it's all about our Goa, Goans and truth. Thank you all who are supporting Niz Goenkars and let us not allow this forum to die like OHeraldO. Menino, thank you for starting it, maintaining it.

FOR THE EYES OF GOANS ONLY

Letters to the Herald by Goans

Golden or gold-plated jubilee? By Jonas Correia, Aldona

Goa is gearing up for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Liberation on 19 December. On the 10th Anniversary, there was a special midnight Assembly session, when legislators bragged about their achievements. The late M Boyer in one of his songs had responded that the number of murders in Goa during those 10 years had surpassed those during 450 years of Portuguese rule!

VALPOI KIDNAPPING CASE ACCUSED PARENTS REFUSED BAIL

The bail plea of Snehal Gaonkar’s parents was rejected by the children’s Court today. Snehal has been accused of kidnapping and killing of 16 years old Utkarsha Uday Parab of Valpoi. Both the father and mother of Snehal, Santosh Raut and Sumedha Raut are in the police custody alongwith Snehal.

TEENAGER CONFESSES OF VASCO MURDER

The Vasco police have cracked the mysterious and cold blooded murder case of Naresh Dourado, and have nabbed 19-year-old Snehal Dias of Non-Mon, Vasco, for the crime. The police disclosed that the accused was engaged in various automobile theft cases that were reported in three police jurisdiction of the state.

SMI AUTHORITIES FAIL TO ATTEND RIVER PRINCESS MEET

The Salgaocar Mining Industries authorities failed to remain present at the crucial meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority on Friday to discuss the tender issue and finalise the potential bidder to remove the River Princess by cutting it. The company management, however, sent a draft proposal to be considered by the authority.

FROM BOLLYWOOD TO KONKANI FILMS by Clara Rodrigues brought by Menino Fernandes

Having worked as assistant music director for Bollwood greats like Kalyanji Anandji and being a part of musical masterpieces like ‘Meri desh ki dharti’ and ‘Pal Pal dil ke pas’ Balthazar Fernandes, alias Baltu, from Goa speaks of his tryst as a first time music director for a Konkani film. He looks back on his journey in Bollywood.

VELIM VILLAGERS DEMAND SCRAPPING CUTBONA EXPANSION PROJECT

MARGAO: Bending to the stiff opposition by the people of Cutbona, the government has suspended the process for acquisition of 30,000 sq mts of land for the expansion of the Cutbona Harbour complex but decided to appoint a consultant at a meeting held on late Tuesday night. However, the government decision failed to mollify the agitating Velim villagers, who held a dharna on Wednesday demanding that the project be scrapped altogether.

GOVERNMENT SEEKS DETAILS OF “ROGUE” VESSELS: ALEIXO

Concerned over the possible effect on the tourism sector, the state authorities have swung into action to combat the situation arising after surfacing of tar balls on the beaches at Colva, Betalbatim and Velsao and have decided to deploy more workforce even as they described the situation as annual feature seen along the state’s coast over the last several years and that it was not alarming.

COUPLE FROM PUNE ROBBED AT CALANGUTE

Robberies and thefts seem to be on the rise in the tiny touristic State of Goa. Almost every other day there is news of theft specially along the beaches. Quite a lot goes unreported too. A couple from Pune was robbed at Calangute on Wednesday night while on their way back to the guest house where they are staying.

JOAQUIM ALEMAO’S BLESSING SOUGHT BY CANDIDATES

The Varca residence of Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao is the much-sought after place these days. Probable candidates for the ensuing civic polls and their cronies are making a beeline to Alemao’s residence to lobby hard in respect of municipal ward reservations for the OBC and ST communities.

SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS AT MAPUCA POLICE STATION

MAPUCA: The police personnel working at the Mapusa police station are forced to work under deplorable conditions. The police force that is supposed to be the guardians of law, is many a times neglected by not being provided with the necessary conditions or environment, which would make their work effective.

FIVE NATIVES OF KARNATAKA HELD FOR THEFTS

Five natives of Karnataka have been arrested by the Verna police for theft amounting to Rs 1.60 lakhs. They had burgled two bungalows at Utorda. The stolen property has been recovered from the accused.

CALVIM-CARONA FERRYBOAT BREAKS DOWN AGAIN

PANJIM: The lone ferryboat ‘Shiroda,’ plying on Calvim-Carona route, developed a technical snag at around 6.30 p.m. and got drifted to the middle of the river, some 150 meters away from the ramp, giving anxious moments to the passengers on board. This was the ferryboat sent a few days earlier due to the previous one breaking down.

POLICE ON PETROL PILFERATION ISSUE

Speaking on the petroleum pilferation issue Dy.S.P. Mahesh Gaonkar informed that The Police have seized more vehicles linked to the case. He said police are expecting a major breakthrough soon. He said “Today we have attached three more tankers and one Bolero vehicle which was used for pilfering and transporting this petroleum product.

OIL DUMP FROM SHIP COATS GOA'S BEACHES (PTI)

September 1: An unknown ship dumped tons of waste oil into the Arabian sea, creating tar balls that were heaping on Goa\'s famed beaches on Wednesday, officials said.

GOONDAGIRI OF ABOOBAKR IN CANSAULIM by Nitin Raikar

Martha Saldanha, Ferwin Saldanha and the other Panch members shame on you for joining hand with Aboobakr Shaikh, Aggie Alcacoas and Mauvin Godinho to destroy democratic traditions at the Cansaulim Gram Sabha!

LONDON CYCLIST TO RAISE FUNDS FOR GOA CHARITY (PTI)

London: A London-based cyclist, who was touched by the lives of street children during a visit to India last year, will shortly embark on a bike ride to raise funds for a Goa-based charity organisation. Jack Diamond, 24, will take to the saddle for the 14-day, 340-mile trip in India for Goa-based charity Children Walking Tall.