Panjim: The Light House Charity, where the minor rape victim lived before she ran away with an employee of this British run charity, was illegally run, according to information provided by the FRRO (Foreigners’ registration regional office). It’s project managers were not registered with FRRO, and nor were they registered as volunteers when they initially worked for another charity. In fact this seems to be the very reason why they literally closed shop and escaped, as investigations into the rape of the minor girl who was found pregnant would open up a pandora’s box of questions about their paper work of this Charity as they continued to receive foreign funds for its operations
The foreigners’ registration regional office (FRRO) confirmed that they have no records of Graham and Tricia Clarke, former Project Managers of the Light House Charity having registered with the office.
In a written reply to one of the several questions from Herald, the office of FRRO’s office stated “No foreigners have registered on Business Visa for running NGO’s/ Shelter house/Day night centre. The information also establishes that if there are other shelter homes, run by foreign nationals in Goa they are operating illegally.
Meanwhile the FRRO’s office has further said that “there are foreigners registered who have come on employment visa as volunteers to work for NGO’s Shelter House”. The list of institutions where foreigners with employment visa worked did not include Light House.
The institutions where foreign 16 employees continue to work on employment visas are Little Angels Corao (Brazillian 1) Samarpan Foundation Calangute (German-1, Turkish 1), Internationmal Animal Rescue Assagao (British 8), Mango Tree Trust (British 1), Goa Foundation (German 1), Sangath, Porvorim/Raia (British 1, Ghana 1), Caritas Panjim (British 1).
The FRRO therefore has no records of Graham and Tricia Philip Clarke coming here either on a business or an employment visa with the Light House UK charity.
And then if any further and direct response was needed, we play back the exact question Herald asked and the reply of the FRRO’s office Q) Was the Light House NGO registered with FRRO or was the owner/Director/ or those in-charge? Reply NIL
Moreover the Light House Charity was also not registered under the Juvenile Justice Act. Before its rented premises were abruptly shut down without informing the government. Graham and Tricia Clarke also failed to appear before Women and Child Development to answer questions on the actions of their employee who eloped with a minor girl under their care.
Moreover, the NGO El Shaddai confirmed that Graham and Tricia Clarke worked as ‘volunteers’ with El-Shaddai charitable trust in 2001. But the FRRO was not informed about this.
“I don’t remember. They worked for a few months with us. I am sure they must have done their paper work. We ensure all foreign volunteers are registered at FRRO,” managing trustee of El-Shaddai Mathew Kurian said.
Clearly with Graham and Tricia Philips Clarke, the records prove otherwise.
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