Xit-Koddi - Jan 2015

Exemplary Case Of Religious And Political Harmony 

It was a wonderful experience to be in Goa during the exposition of the Sacred Relics of St. Francis Xavier. It was good to see the coordination between church and government agencies that made this event so successful. It was well planned, with comprehensive infrastructure and facilities to take care of the thousand of devotees visiting Old Goa. It was heartening to see the large crowds maintaining proper decorum and discipline, and the authorities ensuring that everything went off smoothly.

At a time when we are hearing of stray communal incidents in other parts of the country, this was an exemplary case of religious and political harmony. And having seen this united effort of the church and government, our only prayer is that this environment of respect for everyone, irrespective of culture and religion, may reign in Goa in future too, with the blessings of our Goencho Saib - St. Francis Xavier.

= GR Crasto

Canonization of St. Joseph Vaz: Goans in Bahrain joined the worldwide Goan Community to celebrate the canonization of St. Joseph Vaz. The first Goan saint was canonized by Pope Francis at Colombo on January 14. The Bahrain Goan Community, under the Konkani Community, joined the Sri Lankan Community and offered a Concelebrated Mass at the Sacred Heart Church (SHC) in Manama on January 15 to honor ‘the pride of Goa and God's precious gem for Sri Lanka’, as Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, said in his speech of gratitude to the Holy Father in Colombo during the ceremony. Fr. Jamika Perera, from Sri Lanka who was in Bahrain was the main celebrant for the Mass at SHC with Konkani Community Spiritual Director Fr. Gasper Fernandes joining him. Fr. Perera delivered a homily in Sinhalese, while Fr. Fernandes spoke on the life and work of St. Joseph Vaz. The Eucharistic celebration concluded with the Konkani hymn ‘Zuze Vasa Amchea Bhava’.

Machine Readable Passports: The International Civil Aviation Organization has set a deadline of 24th November, 2015, for globally phasing out all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). From that date onwards, foreign Governments may deny a visa, or entry, to any person travelling with a non-MRP passport. All handwritten passports earlier issued by the Government of India (and with photos pasted) are considered non-MRP passports. The Government of India had already advised all its citizens – at home and abroad - to renew these handwritten passports as well as 20-year passports with validity beyond the 24th November 2015, and to apply for MRP passports well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining foreign visas or other immigration problem.

NRI Global Goans Cell: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee under the presidentship of Luizinho Faleiro has established a NRI Global Goans Cell with Simon D’Silva, social worker and president of Goan Welfare Association, Doha-Qatar, as chairman. The objective of this cell is to express solidarity with Goans overseas and to spread awareness of government schemes among the global Goan community with a view to motivate them for productive occupations and business in Goa. The cell will also ensure that the State government creates better avenues for higher education in Goa for children of NRI Global Goans. It will work with the government to set up a special NRI window to provide quick and speedy government services to NRI Goans. Francis Correia, the president of Young Goans Club has been nominated as the Convener for Bahrain, while our editor GR Crasto is on the panel as an executive member.

New Agency for Indian Embassy Services: The Indian Embassy of Bahrain has announced that the new outsourcing agency, IVS Global Services will take over passport and visa services of the embassy from January 22 onwards. The agency (located at Yateem Centre in Manama) will be open from 8 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm from Saturday to Thursday. Visa applications for diplomatic and official passports, OCI applications, attestations, power of attorney and other affidavits will continue to be accepted at the embassy.

Ex-resident of Bahrain Killed in a Road Accident in Goa: Roads in Goa are a far cry from its image as a paradise. Blame for this can laid on bad roads, increase in vehicular traffic, and lack of traffic discipline. Five road accidents were reported in Goa in the first week of the New Year. In a horrific road accident on the Ribandar causeway on January 4, four persons died on two scooters hit by a speeding car. Among the dead was MARIA OLGA MENEZES, a former resident of Bahrain. Having worked with Kontra, Al Zamil and Yateem Opticians in Bahrain she had returned to Goa in 1997. Our condolences to her family. May her soul rest in peace.