In the early thirties
at Burgan Oilfield in Kuwait, the
Britishers found Oil in Kuwait first time but only after the end of World War
II, excavation of it was done for commercial purpose. Because of Oil finding in big quantity, the
money power of Kuwait increased tremendously and as such the economy of Kuwait
started booming needing foreign manpower to run the economy. Among others,
manpower from Goa in different sectors got plenty of opportunities to work in
Kuwait and because of these employment opportunities Goans earned a lot, mainly
the lower category especially financially weaker section of Goan society. Due to its employment in Kuwait suddenly
money started flowing in big quantity into the hands of poor Goans and thru
this money power this class of Goans raised its standard of living by constructing big houses,
providing quality education for their children and acquiring luxuries of their
choice so that their social standing has suddenly gone up. This class of Goans
started gaining respect in society better than before.
To cite an example from
my village itself, because of her employment in Kuwait as a maid, an ordinary
lady who could hardly read and write, after her husband’s death at the young
age leaving her 3 children under the care of her mother, went to Kuwait, earned
little money which as per Goan standard is big, brought her children up with
good educational and social standards. What would be her position if it was not
for Kuwait? Likewise I have many examples
of how our people got benefit of Kuwait though it was not easy to work and to
survive in Kuwait where the local customs, tradition, language and rigid laws
are unbearable. It is very hard to work
and to survive in Kuwait. Heavenly
Mannas are not falling there for the expatriates like us Goans. But yet we worked hard facing all the
difficulties, insults, humiliations and slavish type of treatment. And only by
undergoing such treatment we managed to earn something to develop our economic
conditions in Goa.
Actually speaking
Kuwait is not dependent on us, instead of us it can hire manpower from
elsewhere but it is we who are more interested in working in Kuwait and
precisely because of this we spend lakhs of rupees to go to Kuwait for
employment. With all its negative
factors we still crave to work in Kuwait to improve our economic conditions and
thru Kuwait employment overwhelming majority of Kuwait Goans made tremendous
all round improvement. But all are not
thinking in these lines. People like me
feel grateful to Kuwait for providing us opportunities to work there and to
gain something more in life which would not have been possible minus Kuwait
employment. Kuwait made us what we are
today, for educated and uneducated, for professionals or amateurs and for males
or females. It is because of our
employment in Kuwait that many of us earlier rejected by the girls later on got
opportunities to get married with beautiful and sophisticated girls.
It is because of our
employment in Kuwait we successfully organized such a massive Konkani movement
for the cause of Konkani and Statehood, because of Kuwait we helped so much of
charitable works, helped construction of Churches and Chapels, Old Age
Houses, Hospitals, Schools and other
educational institutions and so many more.
This positive factor in
mind, we formed our organization called Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center to promote
the cause of Kuwait. Everyone must be knowing what a great movement we did in
Goa in support of Kuwait when Kuwait was invaded by Iraq and later on as well.
Since last two 26th
Februarys, we in Goa are marking the liberation day of Kuwait by organizing
public meetings in Panjim. Coming 26th
February will be the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait
from Iraqi invasion. Since it is going
to be the Silver Jubilee function, it has to be organized befitting the year. I
have decided to contact top Kuwaitis including our friend Mubarak Al Hindal who
is the great lover of GKSC soliciting his co-operation in inviting prominent
Kuwaitis to attend to this function. I
am also inviting Goans from Kuwait especially those who were with us in this
movement from the beginning.
This is the only
opportunity for us Goans to build a strong friendship between Goans and
Kuwaitis thru GKSC which should be supported by all the lovers and supporters
of Kuwait. To organize this silver jubilee function, I need financial support. During the last 2 years I spent money from my
own pocket but this time and even in future I request Goans working in Kuwait
and others who are settled down in Goa to co-operate, if they can afford and if
they feel we should go ahead. It is not me alone who benefited from Kuwait
employment but everyone who worked in Kuwait.
There will be total transparency in this transaction. Those who know me
in Kuwait should have no fear but those who doubt may refrain from
co-operation.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.
