Agnello Fernandes elected President of Navelim

Kuwait: Well-known personality among Goans Mr. Agnello A. S. Fernandes was elected President of Navelim Youth Centre, a socio-cultural and sports club in Kuwait since 1987.

This is the 12th time that Agnello is elected President of the club.

Born in a small scenic village of Aquem-Alto, Navelim, Agnello completed most of his academic career at Guardian Angel School, Sanvordem and later attained a distinction in English Literature, an achievement in itself during those days. Ever since coming to Kuwait, Agnello has worked for some of the top most Investment Houses. At present, he is the Assistant Vice-President (Funds Administration & IT) at Gulf Custody (Investment) Company.

A Silver medalist at the All Kuwait Photography Contest conducted by JVC in 1987, Agnello has used his lens "for personal satisfaction only." A natural humorist at heart, Agnello believes that "life's best things come in small Packages..!" On quieter days he enjoys watching soccer.

The dynamic leader lives with his lovely wife Neeta and children Allan, Allison and Neeta in a closely knit family.

Following members were elected to the Managing Committee for the year 2008-2009 during the Annual General Body Meeting of the club held at Kuwait City, recently:

Agnello A. S. Fernandes - President
Norman Noronha - Vice President
Allan S. Fernandes - Gen. Secretary
Peter Colaco - Treasurer
Eusebio (Seby) Fernandes - Asst. Treasurer
Avelino Dias - Sports Secretary
Saby Colaco - Asst. Sports Secretary
Britto Pereira - Team Manager
Johnny Luis - Asst. Team Manager
Gasper Crasto - Team Coach
Bernard Fernandes - Social Secretary
Simon Dias - PRO
Luis D' Silva - Auditor
Mario (Katty) Carneiro - Advisor

A number of events were chalked out for the season during the AGM apart from Navelim’s annual feast celebration, NYC Trophy Football tournament and other regular socials.

Navelim’s mega event for the season will be the grand NITE O’ROSES dance social to be held on 2nd October 2008 at Crowne Plaza, Farwaniya.

Incidentally, Navelim are the first among the Indian clubs in the Gulf region to have a website of their own. Navelim’s contribution towards the cost of construction of the Rosary College premises as well as the Nazareth Home for the Aged, and support towards the needy back home is commendable and well appreciated by the Goan community. The popular and prestigious NYC Trophy has done 18 successful editions. Indeed it is worth noting that NYC football team has won every competitive trophy at stake for Indian expatriates in Kuwait.

AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Shortly in November the world will witness the election of the strongest President of the strongest nation in the world. The election for American presidency is always seen with keen interest by the entire world. Democrats and Republicans will fight for the supremacy of White House. Obama will fight against Republican Mcain. Who will win? Though the contestants oppose each other yet their goal is same, the supreme interest of USA.

Though Mr. Obama is having as his running mate Mr. Biden yet earlier they expressed their contrasting views on Iraq war. Obama voted for the Iraq war, Biden voted against it. Obama is 47, Biden is 66. Obama has an aura of intellectualism, Biden has the air of casualness etc”.

For a keen reader of politics and having mind of a political scientist, the election of American presidency is something to admire and enjoy. It is very interesting to emulate many of the attributes of American democratic system especially for many of the third world democracies which are still in nascent stage of democracy.

The speeches of the contenders of US presidency and even of their presidents are watched with rapt attention because they are very meaningful and with lot of antitheses. They use in their speeches contrasting statements to reach to the logical conclusion. Said the former president John F. Kennedy during his inaugural speech “In order to save humanity, we must put an end to war otherwise war will put an end to humanity”. What a beautiful statement in the form of antithesis! Then he went a step further and said “Don’t ask your nation what it can do for you but ask yourself what you can do for your nation”. Then he concluded saying "United States of America will be the last nation to impose its war on others but first to defend itself if war is imposde on United States".

Reconciliation in the hour of need is the hallmark of American political system which is ingrained not in their constitution but in the hearts and minds of all the great leaders of America who were not only great administrators but also great thinkers. And only great thinkers having great heart and great mind can become the presidents of America. American presidents are not only ruling USA but they must have the capacity to control the entire world. Yesterday, today and even tomorrow the world will be safer in the hands of USA only. It takes greater responsibility on its shoulders to protect the world otherwise atomic powers like Russia will swallow more of Georgias and monsters like Saddam Hussein will liquidate more of Kuwaits. To stop this trend USA needs highly competent president.

During their election campaign for the presidency in 1992, Bill Clinton and Bush Sr. in their public speeches to impress upon their voters tore each other, Bush Sr. being more vocal and insulting Clinton in a manner as it is done in some third world democracies, especially in India. In one of his fierce and unpalatable hard hitting statements against Clinton, Bush Sr. said “My dog Milley is having better knowledge of foreign affairs than both these bloody idiots (referring to Clinton and his running mate Al Gore). Besides, Bush Sr. used so many unpalatable and unparliamentarily statements to humiliate Bill Clinton but nothing worked against Bill Clinton and Bush finally failed, of course to the satisfaction of Bill Clinton.

However, during his inaugural speech Bill Clinton in the midst of sea of elite gathering, while beginning his speech, said “first of all, let me begin with my profound respect, admiration and thanks for my predecessor – referring to Bush Sr. seated in the privileged row – who has so beautifully served USA during the last half a century”. This compliment to Bush Sr. was something unique which one can see only in USA. If it was in any other third world democracy especially in India the winner would first disgrace the loser by tearing him into pieces to the thunderous applause of the audience. But in Clinton’s eulogy for his predecessor who has done so much of character assassination of Clinton, the antithesis was clear for the audience to applaud.

In the current election campaign for the Democratic Ticket, till a few days back, Hillary Clinton and Obama where opposing each other fiercely pointing out each other’s follies and weaknesses but once Obama got the ticket on behalf of Democrats, everything was forgotten and Hillary embraced Obama and gave a warm hand shake of total support and cooperation. What a wonderful form of antitheses displayed by Hillary Clinton! Not only this, her husband Bill Clinton also joined her in lending total support for Obama a first black African whose other former black social activists including the late Martin Luther King were harshly treated by the earlier democrats. But everything is now forgotten.

I admire American system for giving equal opportunities to every American citizen whether black or white, whether naturalized or descent. They value human being and his qualities though they have a history of treating blacks with disrespect and disdain. This attitude of Americans was so harsh that even in the religious places like Churches apartheid was practiced very rigidly against the teachings of Christ. For this reason, Martin Luther King, in one of his sermons in the State of Montgomery told the whites who by virtue of their white skin were given preferential treatment to occupy the benches placed on the right side while blacks on the left side: “If you cannot integrate with the masses, pointing out to the blacks, you will never integrate with Christ because Christ is come from the masses”. This statement was enough to create anti-apartheid feelings not only in Montgomery but all over USA as well. There was a time in America when if the shadow of a black person falls on the white man, the white man was getting annoyed but very shortly the black man may rule America.


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.