MEET TO MARK KUWAIT LIBERATION DAY IN GOA.

This is a paid announcement from Herald dt. 22.2.15

 

On 26^th of this month, Kuwait marks the 24^th anniversary of its liberation from Iraqi invasion.  On 2^nd August 1990 the dictator Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded Kuwait by sending its mighty military that walked over Kuwait and kept Kuwait under its occupation for 7 long months till Kuwait finally was liberated by the coalition force of innumerable countries headed by USA.

One of the communities that very badly affected by this invasion of Kuwait was the Goan community having around 20,000 thousand members in Kuwait at the time of invasion, employed in different professions, a very few of them were engaged in business as well.  They were all earning good amount of money compared to what they would get in Goa.  Because of these earnings they built their empires - small, mediocre and big, because of their employment in Kuwait overwhelming majority of Kuwait Goans gave best of everything to their family members.  Though the majority of the Kuwait Goans are coming from low and middle class background yet because of Kuwaiti Dinars earning, they gave best of social standing for their family members gaining good respect in society.

Some of the palatial houses, bunglows, elite education for the children,  sophisticated life and enhanced social standing would not have been possible without employment of many of us in Kuwait. It was Kuwait that made many of us as somebody at least in life.   Kuwait is a rare place in the world where you are made as somebody out of nobody otherwise as a non-matriculate Goan you will never get an opportunity to work in the Bank in Goa but in Kuwait yes.  A car cleaner in Goa by showing his practical smartness in Kuwait can reach even to the position not only of a Foreman but also of a Service Advisor. By their remittance the economy of Goa was enhanced leading benefits to all Goans. By working in Kuwait an ordinary Goan became extra ordinary Goan.

We the direct beneficiaries of Kuwait employment are very grateful to Kuwait especially of its liberation on 26^th February in 1991.  Because of its liberation most of us got our jobs back, our end service benefits for the period ending 1.8.1990 and many other things otherwise Saddam Hussein would made us desperate. Out of this gratitude we organize this meet on 26^th of this month to further the goodwill already existing between Goans and Kuwait. There will be many Kuwait Goans on vacation now, they must not miss this opportunity to come for this meet. And  those whose families are based in Goa they must tell their family members to be present for this meet because they are greater beneficiaries of the goodwill between Goa and Kuwait.

The benefits of Kuwait’s liberation were enjoyed by others as well, like visiting Tiatrists, Priests, Nuns, Konkani promoters, recipients of our donations and other social activists and many more. They are all invited now to show their solidarity with us to Kuwait by attending the Meet on 26^th of this month in Panjim at 10.00 AM, at Chamber of Commerce Hall, 3^rd Floor., Opposite Azad Maidan.

 A.    Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.
Tel:7507394349.

 

 

 

 

DEMOLITION OF SHACKS AT CANDOLIM BEACH.

During Portuguese time the Candolim Beach was very clean having its natural beauty intact.  There was no hindrance of any Shacks there.  The first plain Shack was erected somewhere in 1968 by one local Joaquim Lopes where he was selling Tea, Soft Drink and some eatables like Sandwiches.  Besides this there was one Restaurant “Ceu Mar” built by Mr. Britto.  In this Restaurant  there were two  rooms for rent.

Gradually in seventies due to increase in tourist traffic, somewhere in 1976/77 about half a dozen Shacks were erected by the locals only when there was no Tourism Department nor CRZ formalities in existence because till such time commercialization of tourism as it is now was not in practice. 

In Eighties due to heavy commercialization of tourism, Shacks on the entire Candolim Beach started mushrooming when terms like Tourism Dept. and CRZ became audible and they started exercising their control over all the activities on the Beach.  The people involved in running this Shack business were all locals coming from low income category.  There are about  100 Shacks spread all over the Candolim Beach owned by the locals only who earned their livelihood thru this business. 

The recent spate of demolition of Shacks by the Tourism department on Candolim Beach has put the Shack owners out of their normal track thereby instilling fear into their minds and hearts because of the fear of demolition of their Shacks. Those whose official paper work is not in order are more afraid of losing their only mode of earning their sustenance. The recent demolition of Shacks in Candolim with the excuse that they are illegal has created a very bad image of the government of Goa in general and Tourism Dept. in particular. Tourism Dept. should have stopped these illegal Shacks in the beginning only instead of waiting for the penultimate month of the season ending and thereby killing the huge investment put into this business by the affected Shack owners.  Heaven would not fall if this demolition operation was stayed especially in view of the people involved in this business are all Goans.  What is the use of this government if it does not give preferential treatment to the locals?

The demolition operation of the Shacks done on Candolim Bbeach was very ruthless, the guest tourists mainly the Westerners were not even allowed to have their meals finished eating.  They were evicted from their dining tables as if they were Jews in Naziland. Their beach beds were cut when they were still lying on the beds.  It was totally an inhuman operation  devoid of humane attributes.  These tourists are very much hurt  by the way they were shabbily treated by the demolition squad, these tourists pumped in lot of money into Tourism industry of Goa thereby enriching Goan economy and since this is the case, they naturally deserve decent treatment without any fear of trouble for them.  They want to spend their time peacefully on the Beach without any disturbance, they are not bothered whether the Shacks where they eat and drink are legal or illegal, it is not their business to know this.  All they want is peaceful atmosphere to enjoy their stay in Goa. Some of these tourists have even decided to prevent their Western colleagues from coming to Goa thus giving a strong jolt to Tourism in Goa.  As it is, Tourism boom is waning in Goa and at this juncture government of Goa should do something to give a push forward to Tourism promotion even by eradicating the license system for erecting Shacks.

These tourists are coming to Goa regularly since a long time now and as such they have built a strong rapport between them and the Shack owners who are doing their best to give very good service and treatment to their guests.  But now, these tourists numbering over a thousand have vowed never to return back to Goa from next season to face the humiliation of demolition squad of Tourism department  and of local Police.  Some of these tourists are coming to Goa only to maintain their friendly link and rapport they created with these friendly Shack owners. They patronize Goan tourism only because of these poor Goan Shack owners who promote Goan tourism beautifully where the inputs of Tourism Department and its minister is almost a Big Zero.      

A.     Veronica Fernandes,Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

 

 

WHEN THE LATE WILLIAM DE CURTORIM ASSAULTED BY CONGRESS SUPPORTERS.

According to the Press reports appeared in the print media, Congress Party in Goa condemned the move of the BJP government to introduce censorship on Tiatro.  Good decision but one must also know what the Congress supporters did to the late William de Curtorim a few years back when William de Curtorim rendered a solo in Candolim  criticizing the local Congress leader for his anti-Goan activities in the locality. 

  

While on his way home after finishing the Tiatro along with his colleagues, a few supporters of Congress somewhere in Saligao forcibly stopped the Bus carrying the Tiatro troupe including poor William de Curtorim and physically and mercilessly assaulted William in the presence of all other troupe members.

 

By taking law into their hands the Congress supporters suppressed the freedom of speech of Tiatrist William de Curtorim.  Neither local Congress leader nor Luizin Faleiro condemned this brutality thereby indicating Congress is as worst as BJP in Goa.  They borth are two sides of the same coin. 

 

       A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.