Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Sep 7: Goa’s former deputy speaker Victoria Fernandes, who also held cabinet minister positions in the past governments, passed away during the wee hours of Saturday.

“Victoria Fernandes passed away while being treated in a private hospital in the city during the wee hours of Saturday,” Victor Gonsalves, former St Cruz MLA and Fernandes’ family friend confirmed.

The 85-year-old leader was admitted into a private hospital in Panaji where she breathed her last.

Fernandes represented St Cruz Assembly constituency in North Goa for four terms from 1994 till 2012 on regional parties and also on Congress party.

Ahead of 2012 Assembly election, Fernandes had quit the Congress party after she was denied ticket to contest the election.

She had held a position as Deputy Speaker between 2005-2007.

Fernandes was also cabinet minister in Congress-led governments and held portfolios including Agriculture and Fisheries, Tourism, Animal Husbandary, Women and Child Development amongst others.

Besides her political career, Fernandes was a leader of anti-merger movement supporting the cause of Goa remaining as an independent state during historic 1967 Opinion Poll.

She has also worked for the rights of traditional fishing and toddy tappers’ community.