GOANS TO MARK LIBERATION DAY OF KUWAIT.

On 26^th of this month at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, Panaji, at 10.00 AM, Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center will mark the 23^rd anniversary of the Liberation of Kuwait from the illegal occupation by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.  During the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq, under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center, Goans mainly the Kuwait evacuees organized a very strong movement by organizing public rallies and public meetings in Panjim in support of the liberation of Kuwait.  The echo of the noise Goans made in this direction on the streets and at Azad Maidan in Panaji  was heard in Kuwait and for this reason Kuwait is very happy and grateful to Goa and Goans. Such a movement was not done anywhere in the world, leave aside in India.

Kuwait is like an Oasis in the desert for poor and middle class Goans who thru their employment in Kuwait developed their poor economic condition and made all round development.  Economically, many of us what we are today it is only because of our employment in Kuwait though many of us faced lot of hardships to earn our daily bread.  Yet we are grateful to Kuwait.

As a mark of our gratitude, we under the umbrella of Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center will mark the liberation day of Kuwait on 26^th of this month by holding a public meeting.

As an emissary of Kuwait one renowned Kuwaiti Mr. Mubarak Al Hindal will fly especially from Kuwait to address this meeting in his capacity as a chief guest.

All the lovers and supporters of Kuwait are requested to attend this meeting.

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

ST. THERESA HIGH SCHOOL - CANDOLIM.

St. Theresa High School Candolim is one of the oldest schools in Bardez having its origin almost a century back. The current premises of the school came into existence in sixties when it was shifted from the premises located next to the Asilo in Pintos Vaddo where it was run by Pe. Romano who was kind enough to hand it over to the Candolim Church under the then Pe. Vigar Pe. Niicholau Noronha who till his retirement was the best Pe. Vigar Candolim has ever had during the living history. Under his leadership Candolim Church made solid development physical structure wise and quality wise there were changes morally and spiritually in the faithful. 

Though frail in body yet Pe. Nicholau was a giant intellectually having philosophical mind. Following him came many Pe. Vigars in Candolim but none to compare him, intellectually and spiritually. His contribution towards upliftment of the downtrodden was very impressive and his sense of equality was very high in which direction purely in a true Christian sense he never practiced discriminatary policy not only in the Church but even in the Church premises on the basis of status of the locals. He treated every body on equal basis and like a donkey not allocated preferential spaces for the few locals. He desliked the politicians and rejected their doles which he felt come from the public loot, to accept such doles is a sin according to him.

Coming back to the School, approximately 80 ago Nuns started a small school in the premises of the present day Asilo where the ground floor was converted into a school while the top floor was turned into a Boarding place for the girls. While they were in this mission, they acquired a land where we have now our foot-ball ground. However, due to some unavoidable circumstances they had to abandon this project by handing over their school to Pe. Romano who as Principal of this school named it as St. Theresa. It catered to the students from Candolim and also to the surrounding areas. Though it was not a high school yet it equipped its students with good quality education putting more stress on moral education which was responsible to build the character of the students.


Following the exit of Portuguese from Goa, the school was shifted to the Church premises which was not spacious needing imperatively new independent premises. Next to the Church there was a big Fabrica's plot where Pe. Nicholau Noronha decided to build a new building for the school. While he was preparing his strategy to construct a new building, Bishop of Goa issued a notice to transfer Pe. Nicholau from Candolim leaving the issue of school building construction into the hands of Pe. Cur - Pe. Alvito Vaz who worked very hard day and night single handedly to raise funds for the construction of the school building, by walking almost to every house in the village begging for donation. He had no luxury of a Car nor of a Motorcycle not even of a Cycle.

In this direction of raising sufficient funds he organised Tiatros of mighty director Prem Kumar all over Goa. Tomazinho Cardoso also staged his Tiatros in the village which were very successful moneytarily and performancewise as well. When collected fund was not suffucient enough to complete the first phase of constructing the ground floor, having no choice Pe. Alvito Vaz even mortgaged his mother's gold, borrowed money from his brother and his other relatives and finally got the work completed up to the first phase. Regretfully, he could not repay the loan he borrowed from his brother.

If this school is come up the major credit should go to Pe. Alvito Vaz who worked very hard and also to all the donors. The efforts put in by Pe. Alvito Vaz to bring this school up cannot be forgotten. The mighty edifice erected to make this school worth admiring was the making of Pe. Alvito Vaz. Though a bust or a monument is not erected in front of this school as a fitting tribute to his memory yet the school building itself will remain as a Monument of the late Pe. Alvito Vaz. His sacrifices for this school were enormous. The base he put was enough for all the subsequent school principals to have pepaceful and worryless nights. To create this base he even denied himself the pleassure of world tour. Candolim is very much indepted to him. May his soul rest in peace.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Bardez, Goa.
Tel No. 7507394349.

　

　

　

　

BOYCOTT KINGFIISHER BEER.

 

I am totally disappointed to know that the high profile cheat Vijay Mallya has cheated his staff working for Kingfisher Airlines by not paying them their salaries for the last 18 months with an excuse that he is not having money.  While disclosing his inability to  pay for his staff working for Kingfisher Airlines he on the other side spending crores after his Motor Sport and Royal Challengers Bangalore Cricket Team.  Recently he purchased Cricketer Yuvraj Singh in an auction for his Cricket Team for 14 crores.  On one side he is crying for not having money and on the other side for his pleasure he is spending crores of rupees.  What a tragic mockery !!

 

It is unacceptable to accept that Mallya is not having money.  In fact he is having lot of money and because he is having lot of money he is spending the same very luxuriously. For this chicanery he should be punished by the people by boycotting his Kingfisher Beer.

 

Let all the people in India unite in this direction in support of all the cheated employees working in his Kingfisher Airlines and boycott his Kingfisher Beer.

 

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Goa.         

WELCOME TO MARK THE LIBERATION DAY OF KUWAIT.

I and all my friends welcome the Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center Meeting on 26.02.14 at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall in Panjim to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.  The organisers of this meeting the Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center deserve appreciation for this move and our support also.  It is we who need Kuwait more than anything else.  By our employment in Kuwait not only we who worked in Kuwait gained but our economy also benefited because of our employment in Kuwait.  Wealth spread everywhere and common men and poor Goans became financially affluent.

The friendship between Kuwaitis and Goans is excellent and to maintain this level and even to increase this level further the existence of Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center is very essential. And in this direction Goans alone are going to be benefitted.

This view in mind and to show our gratitude to Kuwait we must support this meeting by attending it on 26^th of this month. Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center is not only an excellent experiment but more than that a unique one of which type nowhere in India exists.  Hence, it should be supported and promoted.

ANTONIO FERNANDES,
EX KUWAITKAR,
GOA.

GOA TO MARK LIBERATION DAY OF KUWAIT.

GOA-KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER was established in Goa in 1990 in the month of October to support the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation and to promote the friendship between Kuwait and Goa.  

Since one purpose of supporting the liberation of Kuwait was very successfully fulfilled, the other purpose of promoting friendship between Goa and Kuwait is carried forward.  In this direction, Goa – Kuwait Solidarity Center will organize a public meeting in Panjim at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, on 26^th of this month, starting at 10.00 AM, to mark the 23^rd anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait.

Because of their employment in Kuwait many of our Goans including myself attained a certain level of financial stability which in turn helped them to develop their life better  though to reach to this level we Goans worked very hard in Kuwait and suffered lot of humiliations. It was not an easy task for us to survive in Kuwait, it was only thru extreme sacrifices and difficulties that we survived there.

Though many of us got lot of ill feelings towards many of the harsh things we were made to face yet we are grateful to the country Kuwait from where we earned and still earning our decent sustenance. Where our own country failed to provide us the opportunities to earn our decent livelihood, Kuwait has provided us the same opportunities or better still  and for this reason we are grateful to Kuwait.

With this gratitude in mind, we carry forward the promotion of our friendship with Kuwait  thru Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center by organizing the Meet on 26^th Februrary in Panjim Goa, at 10.AM.

All who subscribe to our views and all Kuwait Goans and ex Kuwait Goans are requested to attend to this Meet.

While promoting our friendship with Kuwait, let all current and ex-Kuwaitkars and others as well join together on 26^th of this month and re-establish our old contacts too to establish something more.  

Thank you all.

 A.    Veronica Fernandes,

GOA-KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER.
GOA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

       

 

CONDOLENCES - THE LATE ALEX MARTINS.

KUWAIT  KONKNNI  KENDR deeply mourn the sad demise of Alex Martins and offer its profound sympathies to all his children and other family members.

May his soul rest in peace.


KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR. 

THE LATE ALEX MARTINS.

It is with deep grief and regret I got the news yesterday in the afternoon of the sad demise of Mr. Alex Martins at Vintage hospital, Panjim, Goa, a week before he was admitted there. 

Alex Martins was a very good human being, kindhearted and charitable person and above all, a great lover of Goa and Goan causes. He worked in Kuwait Airways for over thirty years and retired from there and after involving in a small business venture returned to Goa for good to settle down at his residence in Taleigao, Ilhas, Goa.

A father of 5 children – 3 daughters and two sons, all coming from abroad were at his bedside during his death.  He was a very good family man.        

Though he was the son-in-law of Calangute, I came in contact with him only in Kuwait during our movement for Konkani.  Later on he joined Kuwait Konknni Kendr as executive member and served Konkani cause thru KKK activities.

Graduated from JJ College of Arts in Bombay he was a very good Fine Artist and displayed many of his Artworks in Bombay and elsewhere.

After joining Kuwait Airways in supervisory position he helped many Goans to get employment there and even outside by using his personal influence.  As a man he was very dignified and decent, always up-to-date in dress code.  A very humble man and soft spoken as well.

He was a good Tiatrist and staged his Tiatros in Bombay and Kuwait, allwritten and directed by him only.  He had the unique distinction of producing the first ever Konkani Video Film “Guirestkai” from Kuwait in early eighties.

During my association with him, he played the role of my Guru on many subjects by advising me in right direction and also guiding me properly. He was very much responsible to encourage me to take up oratory for which I am grateful to him.

It was first time in the history in Kuwait that Konkani activities were conducted in 5 Star Hotel and it was organized by Kuwait Konknni Kendr, our colleague Alex Martins was very much encouraging in this direction.       

 

In his death Goa lost a great son of Goa having all the great qualities of pristine Goan, such pristine Goans are rarity now.

 

May his soul rest in peace and may God give courage for his children to bear this colossal loss.

 

A. VERONICA FERNANDES,

GOA.  

     

BEHBEHANI ? HARAMI !!

It was in the month of October 1990, somewhere on 1^{st or 2nd. two months after the invasion of Kuwait. I was preparing myself to make arrangement to leave Kuwait by the end of that month and since I had some household items to dispose of, I found one Iraqi customer whom I sold my Washing Machine. When that customer took the Machine down on the ground floor he was caught by the Iraqi soldier who took the customer to the nearby Police Station for questioning whether it was robbed or purchased. The Police Chief at the Police Station summoned me to confirm the truth.}

When I told the Police Chief the truth he would not believe me but I insisted on telling the real truth. Then he asked me to show him my ID where it was indicated my employers name as Behbehani. When he saw this name his face became red with anger and catching me by my beard he shouted at me saying "BEHBEHANI? HARAMI !!." For this I retorted fearlessly saying "Sir, Behbehanis are my employers and sponsors and they are nice people and not HARAMI". Then again he shouted at me giving some abuses and commanding me to get out and leave Kuwait immediately with the inssulting words "ella rue".

My entire working career in Kuwait I spent under Behbehanis at their Shuwaikh division "Behbehani Motors Co." where I worked for 38 years and during this long period I found Behbehanis as very good people as human beings and also as employers. They ere humane, very kind hearted and non harassing employers, very systematic and very erect. Unnecessary without any appropriate reason they would not harm any emplooyee nor hurt any employee however small he or she may be. They are highly sophisticated and highly dignified. It was honour for me to work for them. In one word I can rightly say that they are Godly people.

Behbehanis in Kuwait are might and power wielding extremely high influence in all the segmets of the Kuwaiti society. Somewhere in late seventies when the elder son Mr. Ali Morad Behbehani of the president of the company the late Mr. Morad Yousuf Behbehani, got married, the wedding reception was held at Kuwait Sheraton with the attendance even of the entire Kuwaiti Cabinet headed by the Kuwait's premier Sheikh Saad. This was the first time in the history of Kuwait as far as I know such an occasion was held. This was due to the mighty power of Behbehani family.

During the 8 years war between Iraq and Iran in eighties, the economy of Kuwait was undergoing stress and because of this financial stress some companies including some mighty ones started reducing the salaries of their staff. But Behbehanis never followed them, on the contrary Behbehani gave increament to their staff. This shows the might of Behbehanis.

According to their tradition, Behbehanis never interfere in your personals affairs, outside matters they do not link with your work. No expatriate in Kuwait among Goans was involved in extracurricular activities as I was during my residence in Kuwait. Because of my such activities I also received jealousy from some community member. In oroder to punish me for doing such activities, some members of the community sent a fax message to the president of the company Mr. Morad Y. Behbehani against me for writing articles in the local Newspapers and elsewhere and requesting Mr. Behbehani to terminate me from the job. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for me according to my source in our Head Office Mr. Behbehani just threw this scrap into the Waste Paper Basket. If it was somebody else there might have been action taken on me but not in Behbehani.

Accroding to my experiennced observation in Behbehani, I can rightly say that Behbehanis are godly people and not and NEVER HARAMI. In fact the real HARAMI in Behbehanis are the rascal Managers who are manning the Behbehani business empire and who are real responsible persons to tarnish the very fair image of Behbehani. During my long years stay at Behbehani with the exception of one or two,  never I found any Manager worthy to hold managerial position. Not only many of them  were professionally, educationally, wisdomatically and morally rascals but as human beings they were extremely selfish never bothered to do justice for the staff working under them. They were selfish making use of their Chairs only for their own benefit by harassing and neglecting others. As human beings their quality was very poor. They survived there on their jobs as one eyed persons among the blind whom they kept supressed. Some of them were so cruel that the acted like Iraqi soldiers during the invasion of Kuwait.

During my entire tenure in Behbehani I noticied nothing but Nazism, Racism, Narrow Arabism, Maharaja-ism and Regionalism practiced by the managers who are real HARAMI and who for the sake of their job security and easy flow of money will even sell their wives because as per my information a few of them were first class Pimps. And these Pimps and rascals bring bad name for Behbehaniis.

Otherwise Behbehanis by themselves are excellent people, very charitable and NOT HARAMI. May God Bless them.

 

 

A/ Veronica Fernandes,

Goa.  Tel: 7507394349.