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LETTER TO THE EDITOR FOR ISSUE DATED AUGUST 08, 2026
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR FOR ISSUE DATED AUGUST 08, 2026

Aug 08- Aug 14, 2026, Letters To The Editor August 7, 2026 , by

SCAN/PRESERVE MATRIZ RECORDS IN GOA MAMLATDAR OFFICE!
A PERSON was called in Mamlatdar office of Pernem to inspect his matriz certificate of properties. But the records were in poor, dilapidated conditions. He managed to find the information he was seeking in two hours. There is a need to protect fading Portuguese-era paper books from physical wear and tear by scanning and nobody has suggested online services.
However, it is said that complete scanning across all taluka Mamlatdar offices remains an ongoing need to protect fragile archives and ease property verification. Are Goa Online Services Available? Citizens can request a Matriz certificate digitally via the revenue services section. Is it fact? Once I had applied, I didn’t get any feedback.
Manual backlogs should be open. Many older books in various talukas still require full scanning, data entry and uploading if the records are existing. Accessibility should be allowed with instant verification of artigo numbers and ancestral ownership. Transparency must be on online by reducing reliance on physical visits to local Mamlatdar offices by the general public.
— Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora, Goa

BUSINESS DIVA 2026 – 7th EDITION CELEBRATION THE 7th edition of Business Diva 2026 — the flagship initiative of the GCCI Women’s Wing — was successfully organised with the vision of celebrating, supporting, and spotlighting the remarkable achievements of women entrepreneurs across Goa. Over the years, The Business Diva has evolved into one of Goa’s most prestigious platforms for women-led enterprises, recognising innovation, leadership, resilience, and business excellence. The grand finale program which took place at the Surendrababu Timblo Convention Hall at the GCCI premises on July 31, 2026 was supported by FiiRE (Forum for Innovation, Incubation, Research and Entrepreneurship), powered by the GENO Foundation and Hotel Menino Regency, with Biotic Waste Solutions and BVG as ecosystem partners. The competition featured three categories —Startup, Scaleup, and Rural Women Enterprise — providing an inclusive platform for both aspiring and established women entrepreneurs from across Goa. It was a day- long event which saw inspiring business presentations by the finalists before an eminent panel of judges comprising Prof Dr Fatima De Souza, former Officiating Principal of Government College of Commerce and Economics, Borda, Margao; Hazel Zarina Costa Pereira, entrepreneur and sports administrator; and CA V Balaji Bhat. Others gracing the awards ceremony: Roana Maria Costa (chief guest), Pratima Dhond (president, GCCI) and Deepali Naik(director, Rural Development), and many othersas guests of honour. The winners are: Category I – Startup – Winner: Pobrinha Carvalho (Reena Enterprises) – Runner-up: Swizel Agnes (Mascarenhas Ventures LLP) – Finalists: Nikat Khan (K Natural), Vaibhavi R. Sawant (BitMento), and Prachi Kerkar (Cleo & Pepper) Category II – Scaleup Winner: Priyanka V. Naik (Priyanka Gardening Solutions & Rasraj Goa Farms) Runner-up: Shweta Goel (Nitai Home Décor) Finalists: Safalya Bhupesh Prabhudessai (Mother’s Touch by Safalya), Nazneen Sheikh (Ushine Beauty Salon & Spa), and Vedshree Lawande (Vedkala Collections) Category III – Rural Women Enterprise Winner: Bebinanda Chodankar (Coastal Spice) Runner-up: Mamta Fernandes (Rosary Self Help Group) Finalists: Siddhali Patil (Fluxtotes – Hand-painted Goan Art through Everyday Products) and Vaidehi V. Bhogale (Dehyve) The GCCI Women’s Wing congratulates all the winners, finalists, and participants for their determination, passion, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. Business Diva participants shared their inspiring story of courage and perseverance, proving that each one is truly a business diva. Sandra Fernandes (chairperson–GCCI Women’s Wing) in her welcome address reaffirmed commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for women entrepreneurs to learn, network, and grow. She said this program is not merely a competition but a movement to inspire women to dream big, build sustainable enterprises, and contribute to Goa’s economic development. Sanjay Amonkar (director general, GCCI) also addressed the audience and praised GCCI Women’s Wing Committee for its dedication. He complemented the participants for their entrepreneurial spirit and acknowledged the presence of students from Sharda Mandir School who attended the program. The program was compered by Lavanya Shet and Adv Abdrona Vaz e Valadares. Vote of thanks was by Pallavi Salgaocar(mentor, GCCI Women’s Wing Committee). Also present were Gouri Joshi (vice chair), Clare De Souza (member), Poonam Ajgaonkar (co-chair, GCCI Women’s Wing Committee). Melane Rodrigues (assistant director, GCCI Women’s Wing) and Renu Amballoor (investment manager, FiiRE) meticulously planned and ensured the execution of the program.

LIGHT & WONDER IN INDIAN MARKETS
 I’VE often seen headlines of “Light and Wonder” while researching international news on casinos but I’ve never opened the hyperlinks as they weren’t about crimes or illegalities like Australia’s Crown or Star. I finally opened the article posted on IAG’s daily feed today as it mentioned the gaming giant is making a foray into Indian markets. Aramont is the authorised distributor for its products so I’d like to ask you a few questions, as a concerned citizen of Goa — one of just two Indian states (mined) with legalized casinos.
“Aramont brings deep regional expertise, strong customer relationships and a shared focus on execution. Together, we’re well positioned to support operators in these markets with proven content and innovative solutions.”
Mr Sitharthan, are you aware that the Goa government has just created a gambling commission, although casinos have been operational for over two decades? Not much information about the said Commission is on record, about its head’s expertise in tackling money laundering, terrorism/proliferation financing, cybercriminals that prey on casinos or his/her qualifications.
Are you aware that Goa has been a notorious narco-tourism hotspot since Liberation in 1961, that psychotropic drugs are available literally everywhere, that rates of alcoholism and drug addiction among our youth are taken in stride as collateral damage for tourist footfalls?
I’m sure you know that transnational organized crime syndicates set up base in Asian gambling hubs, especially where corruption is rife. Do you know that in Goa, corruption isn’t just institutionalised, it’s damn near deified?
Are you aware that government jobs were allegedly being sold, despite Goa having the country’s highest unemployment numbers?
Has anyone told you that Goa is India’s prostitution hub? That this scourge is now spreading to Goa’s capital, Panjim — the base of operations for the contentious “offshore” casinos?
Do politically exposed persons own casinos in the state? Because two lawmakers from India’s richest national parties — with a litany of criminal cases between them — have holdings in not just casinos but real estate too.
Surely you’re familiar with the Vancouver model — where drug money was rinsed at casinos, funneled into real estate and the profits wired to China, to manufacture massive quantities of fentanyl, which was then shipped all over the world.
As a professional distributor, you must have heard about the Northern Cyprus money laundering model — where minions of a hardliner politician rinsed drug money from the world’s largest cartels, grabbed priceless sea-facing properties by force, expedited bespoke real estate projects and used State machinery to corner the region’s cocaine distribution networks & escort services to boot.
If Light and Wonder are considering a risky venture into India, surely they would demand the strictest guardrails are in place for both Indian gaming hubs, given the threats posed by the Prince Transnational group and Broken Tooth’s Hongmen Association. Goa might be an unwitting enabler for Pakistan’s Terrorism Financing, as our fly-by-night casino operators are licensed to kill and disappear into thin air.
Perhaps both Light and Wonder and Aramont could do us a solid and convince the Indian government to tie up with Spectrum Gaming Group. Goa could finally be free of dodgy PEPs, the environmental crimes their real estate subsidiaries inflict on our critically endangered natural capital and help us pull ourselves out of the nosedive past red lines Laos-Cambodia-Laukkaing wouldn’t touch.
An American gaming giant could do the unimaginable — help Goa hover in the same celestial gaming plane that Singapore occupies.
— Chris Fernandes, Miramar Panjim

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