PANAJI
Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Taleigao legislator and former minister Jennifer Monserrate died on Sunday after several months of battling cervical cancer. She was 56.
Family sources confirmed that Jennifer breathed her last at Manipal Hospital, Dona Paula, where she had been admitted a few days ago while she was under palliative care at home. She had earlier undergone treatment including chemotherapy and a surgery in January this year at a super-speciality hospital in Mumbai, the family sources said.
No official bulletin was issued either by the hospital or the State administration at the time of her passing.
The Goa government has declared two days of State mourning from July 19 to 20. The National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings where it is regularly hoisted, and there will be no official entertainment during the mourning period as a mark of respect, according to a government release.
A three-term MLA from Taleigao since 2012, Jennifer had carved a distinct space in Goa’s political landscape and served as a Cabinet minister under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant from May 2019 until the 2022 general election.
It is the only time a woman has served as minister in six different governments of the BJP -- three of the late Manohar Parrikar, two of Sawants and one of Laximikant Parsekar.
During her ministerial stint, she held the crucial Revenue portfolio which played a pivotal role in the administration during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her department was central to implementing restrictions, managing land and property issues, and ensuring continuity of governance during the unprecedented crisis.
Jennifer was part of the prominent political family with her husband, Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, is the current Revenue Minister and MLA from Panaji. Her son Rohit serves as Mayor of Panaji, while another son, Amit, is not so active in public life.
News of Jennifer’s death was received with widespread grief across the State when it first broke out on Sunday afternoon. Condolences poured in from political leaders, civil society, and ordinary citizens alike, cutting across social and political divides.
Social media platforms were flooded with tributes, many recalling her role as one of the few women to hold ministerial office in the State.
Her passing leaves a void in the broader discourse on women’s representation in Goa’s governance even as her career was marked by resilience and visibility in a male-dominated political arena.
As her loss is mourned, the Monserrate family continues to stand at the centre of Panaji and Taleigao’s political life, even as tributes are paid to her individual achievements of leadership and service, as well.
Jennifer to be cremated with
Hindu rites as per her wish
PANAJI: The mortal remains of Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate will be kept for the public to pay their last respects at St Michael's Church, Taleigao, on Monday from 3.30 pm, after which a prayer service (Mass) will be held.
Her last rites will take place at 4.30 pm at the St Inez crematorium, where she will be cremated with Hindu rituals, in accordance with her final wish.
Confirming the arrangements, CCP Councillor Uday Madkaikar said Jennifer had expressed a desire to be cremated according to Hindu traditions.
"Jennifer believed in every religion and respected all faiths. She wanted her final rites to be performed as per Hindu customs, and her family has decided to honour her wish," Madkaikar said.
