Xit-Koddi - Jul 2016

Holiday Time

World Goa Day In Bahrain: The Young Goans Club has launched its preparations for the second year in a row to join the worldwide Goan Community in celebrating the World Goa Day. The event with a variety of programmes is scheduled for September 9 and 10 at the Baan Saeng Thai Restaurant Auditorium in Adliya from 10 a.m onwards. The highlight of this year’s celebration will be ‘Goa’s Got Talent’ competition in two age groups. The contestants can display their talent in singing, acting, dancing, painting, stand up comedy or anything that will appeal to the crowd and judges. For more details of the event contact mobile nos. 34404013, 33778199, 33671959 and 39881984.

Tiatr Ani Tiatr: Tiatr lovers of Bahrain are in for a treat in the coming months as two Konkani Musical Shows are to be staged in Bahrain in September and October. The Young Goans Club has announced the staging of Maestro Shahu Almeida’s musical show ‘Tiatristponn Devachem Dennem’ on September 29. The show will feature playback singer of Nachomia Kumpasar Cielda Pereira and Seby De Divar from

Goa joining the actors mainly from Kuwait. Meanwhile Comedian Jr. Luis Anthony and Claude Farrier are set to score a hat-trick of their musical show ‘Bahrainche Goykar 3’ on October 27. Top billed comedians of Konkani stage Augustine, Selvy and Janet with female political singer Olga Vaz from Goa are set to entertain Bahrainche Goykar. Lanisha and Delisha, the sensational singing sisters from Dubai will visit Bahrain for the third time and will be performinf in this show. More details of the shows will be released shortly.

National Pension Savings Accounts For NRI’s: The Finance Ministry has announced that Non-resident Indians (NRIs) can now open National Pension Savings (NPS) accounts online if they have Aadhaar Card or PAN card. Till now, NRIs could open NPS accounts only through paper applications by approaching Bank offices. Further, the statement said NRIs will be able to open NPS accounts both on repatriable and on non-repatriable basis. The Finance Ministry expressed hope that both repatriable and non-repatriable schemes will greatly appeal to NRIs who intend to return to India after their employment abroad, in view of their attractive returns, low cost, flexibility and their being under a regulator established by the central government.

Domnic Fernandes (Kuwait): Tumchi Xit-Koddi  ekdom gostachi lagli amkam. Valor tumkam ! Sodanch pattoichi mhunn nomr vinonti. Dev borem korum.

(Thanks to John Rebello, who in response to my repeated requests, will now be reporting from Goa to our favourite Xit-Koddi. He was a contributer to our column ‘Footprints of Goans in Bahrain’ while he was a resident here. He will try and cover as many Goans as possible who were residents of Bahrain and are now back home in our Mankulem Goa. John Rebello can be contacted on the mobile number given above or through Whats App. Will appreciate if our ex-residents could contact him and assist us to feature you in our coming editions. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

= Editor)

Franco Noronha - Damon, West Raia.

For this edition we have picked up a known figure who was quite active during his tenure in Bahrain and working in the

same field as myself and our editor. He is none other than FRANCO NORONHA from Damon West, Raia and is now pursuing his career with the renowned travel agency in Goa, namely, Dempo Travels. Franco, who came down to Goa in October, 2011, after being in Bahrain for six years with AlShamel Travels at NSA Bahrain for the US Navy, Fifth Fleet Office in Juffair as Operations Manager for CWT in Bahrain. Before coming to Bahrain he was with AlShamel Travels in Kuwait for 3 years.

A silver jubilarian, Franco celebrated his 25th Wedding Anniversary in April of this year with his beautiful wife Jessie who is a homemaker. Their son, Marlon, who has completed his BCA is currently a professional photographer and will be attending the World Youth Day Poland this August. Their daughter Melissa, having completed her BBA in Travel & Tourism, is looking forward to pursue a career in her father's footstep.

Franco recollects his beautiful memories of Bahrain. He describes Bahrain as the best place to live and work compared to Riyadh, Dubai and Kuwait where he has worked. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Church Charismatic Prayer Group under the leadership of Fr. Dinesh Mendonca, that met regularly on Thursday evenings. He was an active member with the various airlines associations in Bahrain. He loved to play football and was seen on indoor and outdoor football fields during weekends and holidays.

Among the many friends in the travel trade, he was associated with Mr. Denzil D'Silva, a senior travel industry personnel at Omega Travels. The writer of this article, John Rebello too was his close associate.

When asked what prompted him to leave Bahrain and settle in Goa his immediate answer was: “I made an instant decision to move to Goa as India was bustling with activity, and I also felt it was the right time to head back and be a part of the growing economy. I have had no regrets and within a matter of six months, I came across an opening in a managerial position. The opening was Dempo Group of Companies a company as old as Goa’s Liberation and as modern, moving forward now in the Travel Division. It has been more than 4 years of service here and currently I am overlooking the operations of Dempo Travels Pvt. Ltd. Office in Panjim, one of the oldest IATA office in Goa and in its 66th year of business. My current role is of a Senior Manager and responsible for entire business development and day to day operations of the agency". 

Any plans on retiring, his answer was: “No plans yet as I love the travel business but will slow down when the body says it’s time to but the mind says to continue”.

As to what message he wishes to convey to our Goan folks still in Bahrain. He sighed: “GOA is the place we GOANS can always associate ourselves and this connection is enough for each GOAN to come down and pursue their life’s goals, without a blink. Life is great out here as long as you keep yourself busy with some activity and rest assured, life will just take over and fall in place with the rest of your social life. I assure you will not miss your 3 F’s (Fish, Football & Feni). Viva Goa ! Viva Goenkara! Love to all my friends still in Bahrain...! ".