News Clips from Goa
 

Pope names Goan priest in Eucharistic Congress Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday appointed Fr Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX, official of the Pontifical Council for Culture, as member of the pontifical committee for International Eucharistic Congresses for a period of five years. Fr Mascarenhas, a Pilar priest who is currently based in Rome, is incharge of the Departments of Asia, Africa and Oceania at the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture. Hailing from Camurlim-Salcete, Fr Mascarenhas was awarded the doctorate in sacred scripture at the Pontificio Instituto Biblico, Rome-Italy in June 2003. [H]

Tourism road show inaugurated at Baga-Calangute Sujit Banerjee, Secretary, Union Ministry of Tourism has called upon the stakeholders in the tourism sector to educate the travellers and also join hands with civic authorities to keep destinations in the country clean and hygienic, adopt solid waste management practices, encourage alternative energy sources and protect, fragile mountain ranges from the impact of unrestricted growth. Inaugurating the third Domestic Tourism Road Show jointly with Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava at Baga-Calangute, Banerjee said, every one has to keep a vigil in ensuring that the forest land and animal corridors do not shrink because of the pressures of unplanned tourism activities. [GT]

Parrikar for independent inquiry into cops’ alleged links with drug peddlers The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that the police involvement in drug trade racket is a very serious issue and that the entire case should be investigated thoroughly by an independent agency in an impartial manner.Speaking to reporters informally in Panaji on Monday afternoon, Mr Parrikar said that the government should lodge an FIR against the suspended police officials and added that they should be arrested and an independent inquiry should be carried out. He said the drug peddlers operating is a different issue while cops using police machinery for selling drugs is a serious issue. [NT]

Steffi Cardozo selected for Yashadamini Puraskar Directorate of Women and Child Department, Government of Goa have selected Common Wealth Games 2010 probable Athlete and the officer of Sports Authority of Goa, Steffi Cardozo from Candolim for Yashadamini Puraskar 2010 for her meritorious achievements at the National and International level in the field of Sports. Steffi represented the Country in South Asian Games in seniors at Colombo, represented two times for India (Goa) for Lusofonia Games at Macau and Portugal respectively and has also won the International Silver Medal at the ATE- SALWAN, International meet by creating a new national record in the (U-18) category, Steffi also created another 2 National New meet records. [GT]

Leopard creates panic in Bicholim A leopard attacked a dog at Wavti-Vathadev, Bicholim, there by creating panic among villagers on Saturday night. According to villagers, the leopard strayed near the residence of one Pandurang Gawde from Wavti-Vathadev and attacked the dog sleeping outside the house. "The incident occurred at about 12.15 am, when my wife and son were sleeping in the house," Gawde told Herald. "I had gone out for bhajan in the adjoining village when the incident happened," he added.[H]

Union Minister for Tourism Kumari Selja tells locals to keep up Goa’s friendly image http://oheraldo.in/news/Main%20Page%20New Herald Reporter | Panjim, March 6 Admitting that some incidents against foreigners has marred Goa’s image to certain extent, the Union Minister for Tourism Kumari Selja today called on locals to be more vigilant and more tourist-friendly. “Goa I know is the most tourist-friendly state in India but unfortunately some incidents have marred its image internationally,” Selja said while addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for the mega circuit project for tourism, financed by the Central government. “The administration, the law and order machinery will take care of the past incidents but the locals now need to play their part,” she said. Selja further said that whatever happened is history now and called on the locals to be more careful. “The civil society has to be more vigilant and more tourist-friendly as whatever has happened is history. We have to look at a brighter future for Goa tourism,” she said adding “Goa must continue to attract tourists.” Talking about the prospects of getting more tourists to Goa, Selja said “Goa is famous for its beaches but I am told Goa also has good prospects of hinterland tourism, which the State has to work on.” Chief Minister Digamabar Kamat too touched on the issue of Goa’s image being tarnished worldwide due to some isolated incidents. “A small incident in some corner of the State gets international coverage, which is causes damage to the State in terms of tourism,” he stated adding “This is because the State is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.” Kamat said that,in view of the above, the State’s citizens have to see that these things do not happen again. However, despite all the past incidents Kamat still maintained Goa is very safe. “Goa is still the safest tourist destination in the world and I urge the people to come here and check it for themselves,” he said. He said the Centre has sanctioned additional funds for the improving the security in the State. “This will give confidence to tourists to come to Goa,” he said.

Goa cracks down on drug-fuelled parties http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article (AFP) PANAJI, India — Organisers of parties and festivals in Goa will now have to seek state government approval to hold events, as part of a crackdown on illegal drug use in the Indian holiday resort state. A state government order, seen by AFP, said that all dance parties and festivals, except "traditional" dance parties, festivals and weddings will need permission from the Goa home office. Junior state home minister Siddhivinayak Naik, who signed the edict, said the decision was taken "in view of the law and order problem and reported use of narcotic substances". District government officials in the former Portuguese colony, who previously held the power to grant permission for such events, have been instructed to enforce the directive. The move comes after claims that the image of Goa -- famous since the days of the hippie trail in the 1960s and 70s for its laid-back atmosphere and dusk-till-dawn beach parties -- was being tarnished by sex and illicit drugs. The head of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cesar Menezes, said last month: "Tourism in Goa of late is getting a bad name with Goa slowly emerging as a drug and sex destination. "There is no basic tourism and entertainment infrastructure in the state. Problems of law and order and garbage will spell doom for the state tourism," he said in a memorandum to the state government, calling for action. A series of high-profile crimes against foreigners in Goa have prompted concerns about the safety of tourists, as has the widespread availability of drugs, despite previous police and government initiatives to stamp out peddling.

Russians Face Flak in Goa Posted: 11 Mar 2010 | 06:50 AM |PST Russians are facing a backlash in Goa with allegations of organised crime, illegal land deals and even claims that they are “corrupting the minds” of locals in India’s popular resort state. There have been a number of outspoken attacks against them since the start of the year, when a Russian businessman was blamed for killing a taxi driver in Morjim village, in north Goa, sparking public protests. Others have voiced concerns about a rise in crime, against a backdrop of long-standing fears that the Russian mafia is using the former Portuguese colony as a base for money-laundering, vice rings and arms and drug-running. On the main approach road to Morjim - dubbed “Little Russia” by locals because of the high number of Russians now living there - it’s not hard to see the extent to which the new arrivals have left their mark. A giant advertising hoarding for holiday properties is written entirely in the Cyrillic alphabet. A short scooter ride away down narrow lanes, Russian is a familiar sound on the sandy beaches and in the popular bars and restaurants, where menus are also in the language. “For us, English is a major problem, as most Russians hardly speak it. It’s really good to see a Russian around,” said Morjim bar owner Andrei Medvedev. Courtesy: MD