PJ's sad demise
Goa's Pharmaceutical-cum-Cosmetics tycoon Pascoal Jose Menezes passed away on May 29 at the age of 95, at his residence in Altinho, Panjim. "PJ" played a crucial rule in Goa's industrial development in the private sector, particularly during the post-Liberation period, by pioneering the setting up of industrial estates in Ponda. A titan passes away
The pioneer of the Pharmaceutical Industry of Goa, Pascoal Jose Menezes, has left many indelible footprints on the industrial map of Goa. He was the only industrialist outside the mining sector who made the turbulent and traumatic transition from trade to industry with phenomenal success. He dared to enter the extremely competitive cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry at a time when the country was in the grip of the permit licence raj, and, foreign collaborations of any kind were restricted. It was Pascoal's mark of the genius and his legendary persuasive skills that ultimately secured for him the sanction to manufacture and market "Old Spice" cologne, under its original name, at a time when imports were banned and foreign brands were not just discouraged but considered taboo in socialist India striving for self-reliance. Pascoal Menezes had the distinction of being awarded the first three industrial licences granted in Goa for Colfax Laboratories which manufactured colognes and after-shave lotions in collaboration with Shulton (UK); Leukoplat India Pvt Ltd, which manufactured adhesive bandages in collaboration with Beiersdorf AG of Germany and Carter Wallace Pvt Ltd in collaboration with Carter Wallace Inc, USA, for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. In the environment prevailing in Goa after liberation, few would have ventured to start even a single industrial unit. It was characteristic of Pascoal Menezes that he dared to start three manufacturing ventures simultaneously at a then huge investment of Rs.fifty lakh, all of which was his capital...Pascoal Menezes was a titan amongst the builders of modern Goa. The CMM Group was not a hothouse plant which grew up with the benefit of subsidies in a globalised and liberalised environment. Pascoal faced innumerable obstacles and displayed resilience and ingenuity in overcoming them. He was what we would like to remember him as: a trail blazer in the conquest of the Mount Everest of Enterprise.

Heavy rains hit normal life
May 30: Heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed several parts of Goa on Monday evening causing inconvenience to commuters. The thunder showers and gusty winds are a pre-monsoon phenomenon, according to KV Singh, Meteorologist (in-charge) of India Metereological Observatory, Altinho-Panjim. According to weather reports of IMO, Goa will experience thunder showers and gusty winds during the next twenty-four hours.

Congress & allies sweep June 2 bye-polls
June 5: The prospects of the Congress Party and its allies forming the new government in Goa brightened with the June 2 bye-polls results going in their favour 4-1. In the results declared this morning Atanasio "Babush" Monserrate (Taleigao), Digamber Kamat (Margao), Pandurang Madkaikar (Cumbharjua) and Mickky Pacheco (Benaulim) emerged victorious. The Congress and allies only had one drawback in the defeat of Poinguinim Congress candidate Isidore Fernandes, who lost to Ramesh Tawadkar of the BJP. There were expectations that Independent candidate Nirmala Sawant could create an upset win against the official Congress candidate in the Cumbharjua constituency, but she could poll only 7,713 against Pandurang Maidkaikar's 8,468. There were huge celebration rallies in Panjim to felicitate Babush and Madkaikar on their success. It was virtually a Carnival with colours, music and the supporters of the victorious candidates celebrating wildly.

T-Bush strikes gold in London
The Nagoa Verna-born filmmaker, T-Bush, figures among the few who strive to make their dreams a reality. Recently, T-Bush did a star turn when he bagged the 'Best Director' award at the Pancio Film Festival in London, for his latest project "The Letter", a short English film. Shot entirely in Kuwait last fall, is the directorial debut of this talented young film-maker. It is the moving story of a father who desires to recreate a lost relationship with his daughter.

High-level Portuguese delegation in Goa
PANAJI: A high-level delegation of rom one of Portugal's renowned universities - Universidade Catolica Portuguesa - is presently in Goa to offer an MBA programme. "Our students are the best and are known in the best universities in the US. We are interested in attracting students from all over the world and I now ask myself why it took so long for me to discover Goa," said Prof Fatima Barros, Dean of the School of Economics and Management, while addressing the press at the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on June 7.