GOA NSW – Page 45 – Preserving and Fostering our Culture in Australia

This Diwali, all bets on Goa

26/10/201126/10/2011

Sneha Mahale, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, October 25, 2011

First Published: 19:19 IST(25/10/2011)

Diwali can be a dampener without firecrackers and card parties. But despite the slow economy, many are bringing in the festive season in India’s party capital, Goa, with much fanfare. Casinos and hotel rooms in the state are either completely booked for the Diwali week or are being lapped up fast
despite the exorbitant rates.

“We are completely booked out for Diwali,” says Ravi Kesar, executive director of Casinos Pride, Palms, Pearl, Paradise and Palace in Goa. The casinos are organising a lucky draw for customers buying chips worth R 10,000. “The first prize is a BMW, nine Swift Dzire cars for second prize and the third prize consists of 19 Yamaha bikes. We have all of 100 prizes.”

Casino Royale Goa too reported high occupancy rates. The group has tied up with five star hotels and is offering packages at different rates. While three Diwali nights and four days at the Vivanta by Taj Panaji costs R 37,000, a similar package at Fortuna Select Regina costs R 25,000 while the Goa Marriott Resort stay will set you back by v 37,000. To entice guests to try their hands at roulette or slots, 2,000 chips are being thrown in as part of the package for the first night. Additional 2,000 and 3,000 chips will be given for the second and third night respectively.

If you plan to get a room now, chances are that it may take a while before you find one that matches your budget and requirements. Sam-San Travels, a Mumbai-based travel agency says they have no rooms available at their properties.

Morton Johnston from The Leela says, “We are fully booked over Diwali and we have no rooms.” Tony D’Costa, sales manager, Holiday Inn Resort Goa, concurs. But guests aren’t perturbed. Bandra resident Arjun Shah, who is currently searching for a free room in Goa, says, “All the action this year will be at Goa’s casinos. I don’t mind shelling out a bit more to party there.”

President’s Message

25/10/201131/10/2011

Fellow Goenkars,

I am very honoured to be elected as the President of the Goan Overseas Association NSW at the AGM held in September 2011.

It is indeed a great pleasure to serve the community and the oldest Goan Association in Australia once again. This financial year we are celebrating our Coral anniversary – 35^th year, and I am looking forward to a great year ahead for all of us.

I wish to thank all who called or sent in messages of congratulations and good wishes. You can read some of those messages on our website.

I consider myself very privileged to be in the company of a very talented and experienced Executive Committee. The new Committee is willing, able and ready to achieve the objectives of the Association. Having such a strong team behind me will give me the foundation I need to be able to serve you well. Your participation and feedback in the forthcoming events and functions will help us shape our events calendar going forward. I look forward to seeing you all at future events in large numbers.

My strongly held beliefs of promoting our rich Goan heritage, culture, traditions and values will be what drives us forward and I am committed to achieve these aims. Let’s be proud to be Goans.

As we look at the year ahead, membership remains our No. 1 challenge. As members, we all share a responsibility of marketing our Association and attracting new members. I am therefore calling upon you to introduce new members to the Association. Please encourage your family and friends to join the Association.

Please also visit our website regularly in order to keep yourselves well informed of the Association’s events and breaking news. Let us know what’s on your mind while you are there by sending us your thoughts or feedback. You can also join the Association’s face book page and connect with others.

I look forward to meeting you personally at our upcoming events – Saint Francis Xavier’s Feast on 11^th December, the Gala Christmas Dance on 17^th December and the 24th G.O.A. Golf Presentation Luncheon on 22^nd January 2012. Let’s have some fun, help each other and work together for the benefit of the community. It is your Association and its success depends on your cooperation and participation. With all of us working together, we should have a successful year.

Sodankal Mog asundi,

Tony Colaco

President

Goan Overseas Association (NSW) Inc.

Goa set to be hotspot for medical tourism

25/10/201125/10/2011

PANAJI, October 24, 2011
Special Correspondent
The Hindu

It is seen as tourism destination with modern healthcare systems

Experts and stakeholders of medical tourism on Sunday said Goa had a major potential for medical tourism which needs to be tapped.

Medical health tourism professionals were speaking at an interactive session on medical tourism on the second day of the on-going Goa International Travel Mart (GITM) 2011 here.

Digambar Naik and Parag Rindani explained how medical tourism was one of the most promising sectors in India, because of the good quality of healthcare available in modern Indian hospitals and the cheap costs involved as compared to healthcare facilities in the developed countries in Europe and the U.S.

“Goa offers a complete package. Along with a modern and efficient healthcare systems, it is a top tourism destination in the world. It has the potential to offer both rehabilitation and rejuvenation of the mind, body, and soul,” Dr. Naik said.

“Along with the medical fields like cardiology, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, oncology, Goa had talented healthcare professionals which could match with the best in the world. The region was blessed with naturally therapeutic delights.”

“Goa has the country’s best hotels where patients can have a comfortable stay, it is culturally rich where prices are affordable,” he said.

Dr. Rindani, Head of Medical Strategy and Clinical Excellence, at the Wockhardt Hospitals Ltd., said that patients wanted safe and effective care without complications with clarity on costs in a caring and nurturing environment.

Laying emphasis on the importance of standardisation and accreditation of the healthcare facilities to promote medical tourism, Dr. Rindani said: “Accreditation focuses on learning self-development, improved performance, and reducing risk. It is based on optimum standards, professional accountability and encourages healthcare organisation to pursue continual excellence.”

Pakistani Catholic Goans get a break in Indian visa norms

23/10/201123/10/2011

TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: There is good news for Goan Catholics in Pakistan, Ministry of Home Affairs (foreigner division) has decided to approve the issue of Long term visas (LTV) to Christians and Buddhists living in Pakistan so as to enable them to apply for citizenship.

Indian government had decided to enable religious minorities in Pakistan to apply for Indian citizenship provided they meet the terms and conditions. Until now that facility was extended only to Hindus and Sikhs.
“The question of including other minority communities in Pakistan (other than Hindus and Sikhs) in categories of persons eligible for grant of long term visa / extension of LTV has been examined by the government. It has been decided with the approval of the competent authority to include Christians and Buddhists in the list of minority communities in Pakistan…” a letter sent by Joint Secretary (Foreigners) in the MHA to Commissioner of NRI Affairs Eduardo Faleiro reads.
Faleiro had written to the Home Minister P Chidambaram explaining to him the plight of Goan Catholics.
“At the time of undivided India, many Goans mostly Christians migrated to Karachi and elsewhere in present day Pakistan. Christians constitute a significant minority community in Pakistan. May I request you to kindly include Christians in addition to Hindus and Sikhs as members of the minority community communities in Pakistan for the purpose of LTV so as to enable them to qualify for Indian citizenship. This will greatly help Goan Christians who are Pakistani Nationals and have been in Goa before December 31, 2009 to qualify for Indian citizenship,” Faleiro had requested in his letter to the Union Minister.

Many Goans living in Pakistan possess property in Goa and are unable to even visit their ‘homeland’ except for a brief period.

Issuing of visas to Pakistani nationals visiting India is governed by the Indo-Pak visa agreement of 1974, which only provided for the issue of short-term visas.

Bishop Terence Brady will celebrate the St. Francis Xavier’s feast mass

20/10/201101/11/2011

Bishop Terence Brady will celebrate the St. Francis Xavier’s feast mass on the Sunday the 11th of December 2011 at 12 noon at st Benedit’s Church, Smithfield.
The commuinty is invited to attend this special annual mass. A Goan choir and musicians will be performing. The mass will be said in Konkani and english.
If you are good at singing or good at konkani , please contact us as soon as possible on 0411 131 891 – Tony Colaco.
Dev Borem korum.

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