Former state minister, ex-deputy speaker and ex-member of the Goa legislative assembly from St Cruz constituency Victoria Fernandes passed away early Saturday morning at a private hospital, in the city, where she was undergoing treatment. She was 85. Fondly addressed as ‘Mummy’/ ‘Mami’, Fernandes had been ailing for a long time. She is survived by sons and daughters. The funeral has been scheduled on September 9, at 3.30 pm. Large number of people from St Cruz, Merces, Kalapur, Chimbel, Ribandar and Panaji visited the residence of the departed leader to pay their last respects.
Fernandes represented St Cruz constituency in the assembly for consecutive four terms between 1994 and 2012. She had resigned from the Congress party just before the 2012 assembly elections after being denied ticket by the party. The former St Cruz MLA had served as the deputy speaker from 2005 to 2007, as also served as a minister in the Congress-led state governments and held various portfolios such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, animal husbandry and women and child development from 1998 to 2000.