AWARDS FOR NRI GOANS.
Amongst the expatriate Goans, Kuwait Goans contribution for the cause of Goa is really great. The early Goans who landed in Kuwait soon after the Second World War were very conscious of their homeland, their homes and their home language that is Konkani. The first Goan association that was formed in Kuwait was known as Goan Association Ahmadi – Kuwait, it was formed at Ahmadi Oil Center where most of the early Goans concentrated because of their jobs in KOC and other Oil companies, namely Amin Oil, Jetty Oil etc. Though these Ahmadi resident Goans working at Oil Centres came under the banner of Goan Association Ahmadi -Kuwait yet this association failed to unite all Goans together because discrimination on the basis of nature of one's job was a hindrance. Entry into this Association especially at certain locations and for certain Goan functions for manual workers, for domestic workers and for other artisans was prohibited. This novel idea was decided by certain “ded Xanne Bamonn Goykar” one of them from Raia – Goa, on the pattern of British policy of devide and rule. It was said in Kuwait during those days that "Raiche Bamon" were racists number one but pretend to be nice to everyone.
During those days KOC was the monopoly of British and to maintain their supremacy they did not allow non British, non Westerners, non white collar job holders to mingle with them. Hence, our “ded-Xanne Goykar” also imitated their masters and introduced Goan type of apartheid in Goan Association Ahmadi – Kuwait. Many of the Goans residing in Kuwait City and surrounding areas had no role in GAA-K and because of this they felt something had to be done. Hence under the co-leadership of with one Mr. Armando Carvalho, Mr. Vincente D’Souza from Camurlim formed another Goan Association in Kuwait city known as Kuwait Goan Association somewhere in mid sixties, in the initial stages it was called just “Kuwait Goans” but later on it was called Kuwait Goan Association. Till 32 years back this was the only Goan Association in Kuwait existing while Goan Association Ahmadi – Kuwait automatically came to an end without anybody’s notice after the formation of KGA and with it the false Bamon pride of Kuwait Bamonn Goykar especially of Raikar also vanished.
Mr. Vincente D’Souza was a very dynamic man working for Kuwait Customs for a long time. He was also a free lance journalist in Kuwait and the only accredited one amongst the Goans in Kuwait. Besides writing for the local media he was also the Kuwait correspondent of “Goa Today” a monthly from Panjim for a long time till I took over. He had great love for Goa and Goan causes. Many times he proved to be a revolutionary and visionary too. He enjoyed high respect in Goan and Indian communities. He could easily interact with Indian diplomats with ease. He was very much responsible for making Goan community known to other communities and nationalities. He highlighted many of the Goan issues to Goa and Indian Governments and made the voice of Goans very audible in Kuwait. At certain point he was so powerful that if he said Yes, it should have been yes for all including to those who later on turned against him especially the one "chor" and rapist from Welfare Society.. During his stay here in Kuwait till the invasion of Kuwait he played a wonderful role in the enhancement of community affairs.
Some of the initiatives of Vincente D'Souza were really wonderful and worth mentioning here. Raising funds for Goa Cancer Hospital at Dona Paula was his inititiative, giving access to Dr. Vaidya in Kuwait for this cause was his responsibility. Forming of another Goan Association “Goan Arts Circle” was also his initiative. Direct Flight from Kuwait to Goa was his initiative and he worked hard for its implementation, besides him others also worked, I too have played a major role in this drive but initiative was of Vincente D’Souza. Today we are having facilities of direct flight much because of his initiative. Then came his another powerful initiative of starting a new English School in Kuwait known as “New Indian School at Jabriya – Kuwait” where thru his pushing a Goan principal Stanislaus Alemao was recruited as Head of this School. Because of starting of this school lot of our boys and girls got opportunities to study in Kuwait otherwise due to shortage of schools in Kuwait parents had to send their children out of Kuwait which means painful separation of children from their loving and caring parents. Yet another powerful initiative of this man was the establishment of “Gulf Goans Hotels Company” in Goa where this company has already built a big hotel “Goan Heritage” at Calangute Ghauravaddo and where many of our Goans are earning their livelihood. One more initiative of this dynamic expatriate Goan from Kuwait was the formation of “Goan Welfare Society” which is still existing in Kuwait. But unfortunately its fund is in the hands of two Curtorcares who inspite of court case filed by one of the members still refusing to hand over the fund back to parent body.
Under the skippership of NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro some expatriate Goans were presented with special awards during the last global Goan function in Goa. The contribution of these Goans towards the cause of Goa was known better only to Eduardo Faleiro. None amongst them come closer to Vincente D’Souza’s contribution to the cause of Goa. Even when we financed the stay of Eduardo Faleiro in Kuwait in late seventies it was Vincente D’Souza who initiated this and as such Faleiro knows the dynamism and contribution of Vincente D’Souza to the cause of Goa, Goans and himself as well. Instead of doling out awards to those Goans whose contributions to the cause of Goa is nothing compared to what Vincente D’Souza did, would it not have been right to honour Vincente D’Souza appropriately even though he is no more an NRI now? Were all those honoured in Goa during the last Global Goan function, NRI – Indians or they were holders of the citizenship of the countries of their domicile? Is it right to honour Goans holding non-Indian passports? Those who are wasting tax payer’s money on those who pay no taxes should be brought to their senses. Can’t anybody inform Congress High Command of the waste of lakhs by Faleiro on those who are least bothered on Goa? I think somebody must come forward to put a brake on “dadagiri” of those who are doling NRI awards to useless Goans and demand explanation on the waste of public money by NRI Commissioner on those Goans whose nationalities are not Indian and whose contribution in the causes of Goa and Goans is nothing. We like honouring Goans who love Goa, its culture, tradition and language and whose work for Goan causes and not to those who don’t do anything for the cause of Goa and Goans.
And those who think Commissioner can do something good for our cause then they are sadly mistaken. Nobody is interested in us from Goa. All are interested in their issues only and they come to Gulf only for their own promotion.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
