MAPUSA
Post Goa’s liberation first legislator of St Andre constituency, Teotonio John Pereira, passed away in a private hospital in Mapusa on Wednesday. He was 91.
Pereira, who was ailing for some time, was admitted in a private hospital nearly two weeks ago, where he breathed his last.
He leaves behind his wife and children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Family sources informed that the funeral services will take place on Thursday (February 17) at 4 pm at the St Jerome church, Mapusa.
A four-time MLA, Teotonio Pereira first won the St Andre seat in 1963 and was re-elected in 1967 and 1972 on United Goans Party. He won the seat again in 1980 on Indian National Congress (U) in 1980.
Teotonio was actively associated in several movements in bid to maintain Goa’s identity right from the Opinion Poll to the agitation to grant official language status to Konkani in the State.
A successful businessman, he is credited to have started the inter-state bus service in the name of ‘Paulo Travels’.
