Dr Miguel's 150th birth anniversary

The 150th birth anniversary of Gen Dr Miguel Caetano Dias, the only Goan general in the Portuguese Army Medical Corps was celebrated near his statue at GPO, Panaji, at 8.30 am on June 9. The function was attended by Gen Sunith Rodrigues, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Power Minister Digambar Kamat and Panaji Mayor Ashok Naik. In another function at the Goa Marriott the same evening Gen Rodrigues released a book on the life and achievements of Dr Miguel Caetano Dias. Miguel Caetano Dias was born in the village of Juvem-Santo Estevam.

Missin' Monsoons
In recent years Goa has been experiencing some of the most erratic monsoons, and this year is no exception. It rained for just four days in the beginning, giving the impression that we were in for a bountiful monsoon. The few, early days of rain relieved the water scarcity and helped reduce the rising heat. But thereafter it has been a long, dry period, putting the farming community in a quandary, as their paddyfields are being effected adversely. The rain clouds rise up regularly from the Arabian sea in the West, but just fly over Goa without transforming into rain, despite the weather bureau having predicted that Goa would have a good monsoon this year. So far the rainfall figure this year is merely 731 mm.

Jamir is new Goa Governor
SC Jamir, the former Nagaland Chief Minister, has been appointed by the Centre as the new Governor of Goa. On July 2, the Union Home Ministry dismissed Goa governor Kidarnath Sahani from office along with three other governors - Vishnu Kant Shastri (UP), Kailashpati Mishra (Gujarat) and Babu Parmanand (Haryana). Moments after he was unceremoniously removed as Governor of Goa, Kidar Nath Sahani criticised the Centre's decision and termed it "fascist". Goa’s chief minister Manohar Parrikar raised a ruckus because he was not consulted by the Centre before deciding to change the governor. The Goa Legislative Assembly was adjourned for half an hour on its opening day following pandemonium by Opposition Congress alleging 'misuse' of official machinery by the Governor Kidarnath Sahni and his office.

Jazz junction at Pune garden
Jazz Junction from Goa has been featuring some internationally acclaimed jazz musicians. The band was released a debut album recorded live at the Razzberry Rhinoceros in Mumbai and has been invited to perform at the Malaysian jazz festival at the end of this year. The band's current lineup for Pune’s Jazz Garden on July 10 showcased the amazing vocal talent of UK jazz singer Helen Jones, who has a varied repertoire of style that always orientates towards Jazz. She trained with an opera singer and studied Jazz for two years at Goldsmiths University, London. Her soulful rendition of jazz standards is laced with an exuberant stage presence. Jazz Junction also featured virtuosos in their own right Shyam Raj on saxophone, Xavier Fernandes on keyboards, Colin D'Cruz on bass and Rex Monsorate on drums.

Stormy assembly session
The current assembly session does not seem to have a smooth run, after having witnessed pandemonium by the Opposition Congress on the opening day June 28 itself. Adjournments appear to be the order of the day for one reason or the other. However, it’s one occasion when the government gets a change to reel out statistics of its achievements and the Opposition takes upon itself to run the treasury benches for all ills afflicting the state. A number of government schools in the state were closed down in 2003-04 due to nil enrolment while 16 other schools have less than five students in a class. In all 145 persons died in road accidents up to May 2004, as compared to 88 in the corresponding period last year. The State government created 1187 posts in various government departs from 10 Feb 2003 till date, of which 702 posts were used to regularize the NMR employees. The Assembly condoled the untimely death of two towering pillars of Konkani movement, freedom fighter and journalist Felicio Cardozo, and founder, publisher and editor of 'Gulab' in a tragic accident on 17 May near Hubli. The House was also informed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that the State government has saved about Rs.32 crore on interest payment by swapping old loans to the tune of Rs.262 crore last year. The total debt position of the State since 29 September 2003 till December 2003 was Rs.24,87,67,16,000. The Goa Appropriation Bill, 2004, which seeks to authorize the government to withdraw Rs.6,14,32,00,000 from the Consolidated Fund to meet expenditure for various departments during July and August was passed.

Heart break for Portugal
Greece tore up the Euro script in the most spectacular fashion imaginable on Sunday with 1-0 win over Portugal to claim the first major trophy in the history of one of Europe's football minnows.

Lino's talk at fundacao
	`A sense of Portuguese culture will always live in Goa as it lives into me,` said well-known Goan short-story writer Lino Leitao during a talk on the influence of Portuguese literature on his writing, held at Fundacao Oriente at Fontainhas in Panjim last week. The silver-haired Quebec-based writer referred to some of Goa’s prominent nationalist writers in the Portuguese language, whose writings had a strong impact on him during his formative years.
Lino Leitao
The writer of the popular novel `The Gift of the Cross`, is known to people his writings with typical Goan characters and imagery of yesteryears which is almost extinct today. Leitao also read his short story ‘Nas Asas de um Sonho’ (On the Wings of a Dream), which was followed by a question-answer session. Dr Carmo D’Souza presented the writer, while Dr Sergio Mascarenhas, Delegate-Fundacao Oriente, proposed a vote of thanks.