Goan Voice, Canada : Goa News Clips

Mickky Pacheco to be inducted
The Benaulim MLA, Mickky Pacheco, will be inducted in the Rane cabinet today. The three ministers of the erstwhile Manohar Parrikar government were already back to their old offices, while Deputy Chief Minister Dr Willy got back tourism (with environment), when Chief Minster Pratapsing Rane allocated on June 13. Former Chief Minster Luizinho Faleiro has been allocated industries, Dayanand Narvekar has been given Information Technology, law, judiciary and legislative affairs. Power and mines go to Digambar Kamat, Town and Country Planning and Provedoria has been retained with Atanasio Monserrate while Transport and River Navigation Department has been allotted to Pandurang Madkaikar. Atanasio Monserrate has been given an additional portfolio - Housing. Subhash Shirodkar is the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Agency minister while Joaquim Alemao gets urban development, non-conventional energy and fisheries. Sudin Dhavlikar has been given PWD and co-operation portfolios.

Rain reveals IFFI shoddines
Torrential rains that lashed the city almost throughout the day and late evening reduced parts of the city into mini lakes, disrupting movement of vehicles and pedestrians alike and leading to long and frustrating traffic jams for several hours. Roads across the city were flooded as traffic bottlenecks dotted the area even as pedestrians waded through muddy water that was almost knee-deep at places. The Dayanand Bandodkar Road, was perhaps the worst affected as stretches of this road, which were recently rebuilt by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, resembled a waterway. IFFI's showpiece Kala Academy was nearly submerged with water entering the Dinanath Mangueshkar Kala Mandir, the black box and the projection room. All this was renovated by the Parrikar government for the IFFI at a cost of Rs.25 crore. Cracks that have developed throughout the overhauled complex.

Viva Sao Joao
	While in most of Goan villages people celebrated the feast of Sao Joao by jumping in the wells, the North Goa village of Siolim hosted its annual, colourful "Sao Joao Boat Parade". The rare monsoon event attracted thousands this evening in Siolim village. Six decorated boats with enthusiastic revellers wearing flower crowns and singing "Sao Joao, Sao Joao, ghunvta mure..." participated this year.
Tiatrists Joe Rose and Succorine kept the audience, among whom figured chief guest Mickky Pacheco, in high spirits. Backing up with scintillating music was Anjuna's "Pietros".The compere was continuously announcing spot prizes were prizes for people from the audience, with some special element in their dress, hair, ornaments, etc. Band "Pietros", a regular feature of the Siolim boat parade, released their first Konkani album "Goenchea Puta Re", with lyrics by Konknni writer-musician Bonaventure D'Pietro and music by his son Rabin. A dance group from Mapusa also put up an entertaining act.

SEZ Fear
While Union Finance Minister P Chidambaran has mooted the concept of a Special Economic Zone - a concept mooted for Goa which has been readily welcomed by the Goa government, people in South Goa are expressing their apprehensions of the move. They wonder at the ramifications, if any, on the local population of Verna, Nagoa, Loutulim, Cortalim and Quelosim bordering the Verna Industrial Estate, where the government has disclosed plans to set up the SEZ by acquiring an additional 65 lakh sq mts of land.

Ben Antao's "Blood & Nemesis"

James Fernandes, freedom fighter and author, released a novel based on the liberation struggle titled "Blood & Nemesis", written by Canada-based Goan, Ben Antao, at a function held at the International Centre here on Goa Revolution Day, June 18. Published by Goan Observer Pvt Ltd, "Blood & Nemesis" captures the drama of the liberation struggle with special focus on the persecution of freedom fighters by the Portuguese colonial regime.