CANDOLIM SENIOR CITIZENS MEET.

On Sunday the 7^th of this month, in Candolim, at Bom Susego the monthly meeting of Candolim Senior Citizens was held  under the chairmanship  of Mr. A. Veronica Fernades who is  also the President of this organisation which is now nearing 2 years and having on its register about 50 members coming from all over Candolim.  Since its formation, this Forum  is doing wonderful job in trying to highlight and bring to the notice of the concerned authorities either local or  national the problems faced by the Senior Citizens. Since it is almost a two year old child yet it does not lack in anything. Last year it conducted a wonderful Press Coference which was attended by the prominent personalities from the village and also from the ambient areas.  As and when any issue of the importance of Senior citizens creep in, our association immediately takes up these issues as we have already taken so many earlier.

The following are the topics for discussion came in which all the attendees participated:

1: Calangute MLA does not have time for the Senior Citizens  because when our representative approached his office he was told it is not possible since he is busy. Again our representative will give one more chance since we have some issues to be discussed with him. However, in the past with due respect to him, we have communicated to him our needs.  

2: It is become a headache for the Senior Citizens in Candolim because of the constant Power failure in our locality. 

3: It is mentioned here in our locality that the Tap Water that we are getting is not purely purified, recently it seemed somebody noticed dead animals in the Tank located on the mountain above Araddy.  Concerned authorities must probe  this matter.

4: It is disgusting to note by the Senior Citizens that during night time many of the Pan Potti tourists and hotels staff working in Candolim mainly from Candolim Tinto to Sinquerim, drink the liquor on the road and throw the empty bottles inside the compounds of the locals.  These disgraceful people who are unwanted in Goa are not only a nuisance for us but a curse on us, hence their actions should be probed thoroughly and accordingly they should be warned and castigated.

5: It is to be noted that the Garbage Tax is heavily charged even for the small local establishments. It is hereby requested from the concerned authorities what criteria is applied in levying these charges.

6: It is very much disturbing to see the rage going on the road with every motorist doing the racing without caring for the safety of the pedestrians some of them are Senior Citizens.  It is advisable to install CCTV   at the main spots.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes.

8OTH BIRTHDAY OF AGGNELO FERNANDES – CHIMBEL/EX –KUWAIT.

8OTH BIRTHDAY OF AGGNELO FERNANDES – CHIMBEL/EX –KUWAIT.

On 10^th of this month, that is, yesterday at Casino Motels in Porvorim, at 8.00 PM, Mr. Agnelo Fernandes (Babazinho) from Chimbel and also a former Kuwaitcar and a reputed member of Kuwait Goans community who always supported the Goan causes from Kuwait thereby lending his support for every worthy cause of Goa, celebrated his 80^th Birthday.  The birthday celebration was attended by  a cream of his close friends, colleagues, relatives and both his son and daughter, their spouses and grand children. However, most of the attendees were senior citizens some of them were his colleagues in Pannjim at Liceu who with their old flavor and enthusiasm rendered some popular Portuguese numbers which were very well known then but still not lost their beauty and charm.  These songs are immortal.

Though Eighty which is not a raw age yet the birthday boy still looked youthful and enthusiastic.  He welcomed personally every invitee and made them all feel at home.  His son Alfred, his daughter Telma, his daughter-in-law Melvina and his grand children welcomed the guests and treated them with love and affection.  Hence, the whole function was turned into an  excellent Birtday Party. The young and energetic compeer Newton D’Souza controlled the air waves beautifully with his mellifluent tongue.  Agnelo’s grand son Maverick entertained the guests by playing two instrumental numbers on his organ with good showmanship.  At this young age showing such a high skill is something great. Otherwise the musical score was well provided by the husband and wife couple Avito & Shaneen. 

Those who spoke during the function in praise of Agnnelo Fernandes were Edwin Gonsalves and Dr. Adilio Gonsalves, so also Tony Dias Ex Customs Commissioner, Adv. Iris Rodrigues, A. Veronica and others.

Among others who sang their songs were Tony Dias and Jerry Cal to entertain the guests well.

In his speech Agnelo Fernandes praised God for keeping him not only alive till now but also healthy and thanked everyone for   attending this Birthday Function.                               

A.Veronica Fernandes.

GREAT KONKANI WRITER BONAVENTURE D'PIETRO INTERRED.

Attended by a huge number of attendees in Anjuna at the local Church first for the Holy Mass and then to the Cemetery where the rain was benevolent for a few minutes, the body of Bonaventure D’Pietro was finally laid to rest, in the presence of his family members namely his wife, sons, daughter and other relatives besides innumerable friends and well wishers. He died 3 days back on Saturday  and interred on 08^th of this month  at 10.30  AM.

It was a fitting respect paid to him by his innumerable friends and well-wishers who came even from distant places to pay their last homage to this great Konkani writer and journalist who wrote 18 Books thru which he did not make money but only fulfilled his urge towards Konkani. His readers enjoyed his writings very much not only from his “Romansi” but also from the newspapers and Magazines.

Besides being a prolific writer in Konkani in Romi script, he was also a very good musician playing beautifully two instruments  namely Violin and Saxaphone.  His love for music is equally great as that for Konkani.

He was my good friend and about 12 years back we took him to Kuwait where we felicitated him during one of our Musicial Shows.  This we did in honour and in appreciation of his enormous amount of work he put in for the cause of Konkani.  During that time he was staying at my place in Kuwait  City for one week and during this period a sea of humanity comprising his relatives, friends, readers and well wishers were flooding at my house just to wish him because in Kuwait he had a vast following.

He had great love for Goa and all the Goan causes Konkani being the most dear to his heart.  As a man he was very calm and cool and enjoyed discussing with me at my place especially after the dinner, many topics of Goa’s concern.  His main regret was that the current generation is not much interested in Goan causes.  This disturbed him very much.    

With his death one more gigantic figure of Konkani is become less.

May his soul rest in peace.

A.Veronica Fernandes.