VASCO: Former commissioner for NRI affairs Dr Wilfred Menezes Mesquita passed away on Monday at around 11 pm at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai following a brief illness.
Speaking to the Herald, late Dr Mesquita’s son Leon Mesquita informed that his father was unwell and was undergoing treatment. Recently, on June 17, he was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital. “On Wednesday morning, there will be Mass in the Chicalim Church where the Catholic rituals will be performed and as per Dr Wilfred’s wish, the body will be cremated at Murgao Hindu Samaj crematorium at 11 am,” Leon informed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Dr Mesquita’s body was brought to his residence in Chicalim wherein many visitors including well wishers, politicians, friends and family members paid their last respects.
Vaman Chodankar, a senior Congress leader from Vasco and a close friend of the Mesquita family said since two days he has been trying to contact to the family members to inquire about Dr Mesquita’s health but failed to do so.
“As per my knowledge, Dr Mesquita’s condition was serious since the past two days. He was best MLA, who served from 1994 to 1999. Tilak Maidan, Chicalim ground, New Vaddem-Shantinagar Bridge, Driver Hill to Vasco Railway overbridge, Sulabh Sauchalaya complexes in Vasco came up during his tenure,” Chodankar said.
He mentioned that existing fish market in Vasco was Dr Mesquita’s brainchild. He was a man with vision, a clean person and straight forward.
NCP leader Jose Philip D’Sousa said, “Dr Mesquita was a knowledgeable person with vision. Many politicians took his advice on various subjects. I pray that his soul rests in peace. My heartfelt sympathies to his family”.
Rui Costa Araujo, a Chicalim resident, who came to pay his homage, said Dr Mesquita was a real asset to Chicalim, Mormugao taluka and Goa. He was instrumental in getting the Chicalim Bay declared as a heritage site. “We have lost a gem,” Araujo said.
Chicalim parish priest Fr Bolmax Pereira said, “I heard many good things about Dr Mesquita.” Fr Pereira informed that there will be sermon by Fr Michael Fernandes in Chicalim church on Wednesday morning. And the Catholic rituals will be performed.
When asked about the cremation of body, Fr Pereira said as per Dr Wilfred Mesquita’s wish, his body will only be cremated as per “Canon Law of the Church 1176#3″. Later, the ashes will be brought back and deposited in the Chicalim cemetery”.
Dr Mesquita was the vice-president of the then ruling party Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, a member of the state Bharatiya Janata Party since 2007, vice-president and BJP’s spokesman, former Minister of Revenue, Environment, Sports & Youth Affairs, Power, Law & Judiciary and Legislative Affairs, former chairman of the Forest Corporation and former Commissioner for NRI Affairs.
