Soul

© of Winslie Gomez

The word SOUL,

has become inextricably linked with black music. James Brown takes centre stage as “The Godfather of Soul“

Could you say, “may his soul rest in peace”.

Then there is, Robert Johnson. Who allegedly sold his SOUL to the devil at the crossroads. Many seen to have travelled looking for the exact location, in the quest to be the next best guitarist.

Mudcat has interesting views on Legba, Voodoo Robert Johnson etc

Listen to Robert Johnson “King of Delta Blues” courtesy of repipepi

You are probably wondering where this is going. The subject was SOUL but I got distracted with guitars and guitarists.

We don’t talk much about the human soul, except in the context of soul music or soul food.

But isn’t music, food for the soul?

Scarlett Keeling Death

The latest video from ITN ( you will have to put up with their advertising)

This video is to remind viewers that when cultures clash, the outcome may not be the desired result.  The arguments of cultural integration, assimilation or tourist apartheid are for you to decide.

Thanks to cosmopat

Fiona McKeown Update in Goa

Third man arrested over the murder of British teen in Goa

PLUS

Goan police protect girl’s mother

Four armed Indian police are protecting the mother of murdered British teenager Scarlett Keeling amid fears for her safety, her lawyer said.

Fiona MacKeown, 43, feared her outspoken comments about alleged links between Goan officials and local drug dealers could provoke retaliation.

Read it here

Goa. Another one bites the dust.

Fiona Mckeown, you better believe it, is going to get;

POLICE PROTECTION!

Would that make you feel safe or does it make you shudder. Put yourself in that woman’s shoes; would you accept police protection after all the statements made to the international media, critical of not just the police but the local government officials, with accusations of involvement with drug peddling and mafia?

Consider this in conjunction; The whistleblowers reward is suspension according to Herald, Goa’s online news:

copied here though I hardly understand the abbreviations

PANJIM, MARCH 24 – The Government Monday suspended Head of the Forensic Department at Goa Medical College Dr Silvano Sapeco, who conducted the first autopsy on British teenager Scarlet Keeling, with immediate effect, pending inquiry.
When contacted, Chief Secretary J P Singh said that the Government had approved the suspension of Dr Sapeco. Singh told UNI that the Government had already ordered a probe into Sapeco’s conduct in the case.
Sources said negligence and some-what contradictory findings in his reports are attributed to his suspension.
Dr Sapeco had claimed in the local media he had demonstrated to probationary PSI Lakshya Amonkar how Scarlet could have been put to death on February 18. PSI Amonkar who brought the body to GMC was investigating the case initially before it was handed over to PSI Nerlon Albuquerque. The doctor, however, had not given anything in writing.
The doctor also claimed he had demonstrated to top police officers at a meeting in SP North Bosco George’s cabin how the girl’s death could have been homicidal. SP George had confirmed to this paper the meeting with Sapeco did take place.
Soon after the viscera report was received on March 19 Dr Sapeco sent a report to the investigating officer stating Scarlet’s death was homicidal and even mentioned in it the girl may have been pressed in the beach waters for 5 to 10 minutes leading to her death.
The report received angry reactions from IGP Kishan Kumar and SP George.
Reports said one of the reasons Dr Sapeco had to face the axe was because of his unofficial information in his defence to the press.
Meanwhile, Fiona Mackeown, mother of the British teenager who was found dead on Anjuna beach last month, has been provided armed security at an undisclosed location within the State.
SP North Bosco George confirmed security had been provided to Fiona by the Goa Police from Monday evening as per a request made by her. The SP refused to disclose the location of the woman citing security reasons.
Fiona’s lawyer, Advocate Vikram Verma, said the threat perception to the former was high.
Post-Scarlet’s death, Fiona, who maintained her daughter was murdered, had put the onus on the drug mafia for Scarlet’s mysterious death.

A fascinating article titled “A tourist ghetto” by Colin Todhunter attempts to answer what draws Western tourists to Goa and gives a glimpse of the seedier side of GOA.

The place is commercialism overlaid with more commercialism, with each trinket and jewellery shop, each restaurant and each shopping or hotel complex always leaving me craving to escape. All of this development has a huge ecological impact of course, not least on water scarcity, of which the local people bear the brunt.