To: Goanet – Part II – Merger of two associations GOA/Can-Orient in Toronto
Thereafter came the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. This was indeed, an unique lesson for Goans in Kuwait to learn for their better future. It was sad to see the plight of some of our brothers who had just arrived on the previous day of the invasion and caught in turmoil. They had come for greener pastures after borrowing hefty sums to pay for their Visas and tickets. I need not explain in detail the life in the middle east and compare it to the West/US/Canada/East etc. The freedom that people enjoy in this part of the world and the facilities provided will never ever be available in the Middle East but for tax fee income. With the liberation of Kuwait, many of our fellow Goans could come back besides new generation of Goans to seek greener pastures. At this point in time that we have realized that only through unity we could gain the strength. The journey was not easy. Worthwhile to mention that all the leaders ran away at this point in time for their own safety first, least concerned about their followers. Just six months before the Invasion of Kuwait, the Kuwait Goans formed one Association of all Goans and named it Goan Welfare Society – Kuwait. At this juncture one must not forget the good services rendered by our Goan stalwarts like Mr. Joe Cota, Mr Alu Carvalho, Mr. Rudolf Fernandes, Mr. Wilson Rodrigues, late Mr. Vency De Mello, Mr. Joe F X De Souza, Mr. Joe Correia, and many others in framing the Constitution and ensuring the representation to each and every corner of Goa (Village wise.). Back to Kuwait after liberation, the need was felt to revive Goan Welfare Society – Kuwait (GWS-Kuwait) and the Leadership was superimposed on the writer to head the same with due regard and recognition of services rendered to the Goan Community in the evacuation process, having left Kuwait after the last Goan wanting to leave for Goa and left Kuwait for Goa by the last Voyage of Akbar Ship from Basrah (Iraq) to Bombay. Goans in Kuwait and the Indian Community at large cannot forget the service of Shri Eduardo Faleiro who was an instrument to mobilize the evacuation of Indians after having witnessed for himself along with an MP from Kerala the facts and ground reality. He came with a different directive from Centre urging Indians to go back to work under the Iraqi regime. He was shown the status of the Community under the invasion. One need not elaborate. Shri Faleiro with the guidance and ground reality was instrumental to convince the Indian Government under PM Chandrashekar to start the evacuation process and write off the Bond signed with the Government of Indian by Kuwait Indians towards the repatriation fees. The writer was one of the members of the Goan delegation that went to Delhi to impress upon the Government with the help of Shri Faleiro Ex-External Affairs Minster who occupied a commanding position with due honour and respect as a Goan statesman in Delhi and same was witnessed by the delegation. Goans at large do command respect in Kuwait for their honesty and integrity no matter what trade or field they operate. It will be note worthy to mention that the delegation paid their own cost to travel and live in Delhi during the visit. Shri Eduardo Faleiro provided full support and cooperation including providing one Officer to help and guide us during the stay. GWS – Kuwait moved forward with the help and guidance of Goan stalwarts like Joe F X D’Souza, Rabindra Pimenta, Cajetan Pereira, Julio Cardozo, Orlando De Melo, Gladys Monteiro, late Caetano Rebello and his wife Philo Rebello, Sharon D’Souza, Dr. Sandra Fernandes, Rudolf Fernandes, Dr Jerry Rodrigues, Dr. Milania Jacob, Muriel Aphonso, Tony Cordeiro, Shri Tony Figueiredo our Benefector and ardent supporter, Shri Sam Alphonso our generous Patron Member and many others who contributed immensely for its success whose name one cannot recall at this very moment. GWS had plans to venture into an NRI City in Goa for like minded Goans to come together and settle down in one place with complete infrastructure, School, Health Centre, Supermarket, Sports facility, Employment facility to the returnees to settle down way back home. Spade work was also done to establish a Hospital in Goa with the help of Goan Doctors who volunteered to provide their services and know how to establish, namely, Dr. Oliver Quadros, Dr. Tony Dias, Dr. Winston Saldanha and others whose name unable to recall at the moment well placed in Kuwait. Call was made on the NRI Cell in Goa but unfortunately our NRI Cell could not digest our vision even when we had shown the proven record of success of Gulf Goans Hotels Co., Ltd. Goa Day was one of the idea originated with GWS to bring all the Goan Association running and operating Football Clubs under one roof. It earned a name and fame worldwide. One cannot forget easily the dedicated work of Joe F X De Souza, Rabindra Pimenta and many others who burnt mid night oil along with the writer for the success of all events conducted by GWS with high risk due to the law of the land not officially permitting such functions. GWS has provide yeoman service to the destitute maids living and working in Kuwait. The rights of accident victims and due compensation was provided with the help of Indian Mission in Kuwait. Destitute maids wanting funds to repatriate back home were provided air tickets to go back to their families, alternate employment was worked out to some of them when they lost their jobs. Scholarships to top rankers and deserving students in Kuwait and in Goa were provided with the help of our Patron Member, Shri Sam Alphonso. GWS left no stone unturned to reach to the orphanages and charity homes in Goa to provide assistance every year during the Christmas time. GWS built up a Corpus Fund which exists safe and sound in the hands of Trustworthy Goans. GWS did not lag behind to support, the destitute labor force in Kuwait, other Indian Associations along with the Indian Mission in Kuwait by providing food and financial assistance towards repatriation. There was a hue and cry created by handful of serpents who have not been a part of the GWS with regards to the Funds but this did not deter the members to work to the right direction and vision. There were some adversaries who only new to criticise. They were given open challenge to come forward and lead to do better job if they could but failed to show up for they new their weakness. GWS was duly registered under Cooperative Societies Act to fulfil the mission of NRI City and the Hospital project. One of the Ex-Executive Members took GWS to Court in Goa. The progress was hampered because of the legal battle which was a glorious victory to GWS. One of the Members who served GWS as a General Secretary also played a dirty serpent role in connivance with a Partner in Crime, little realizing that the same gun that they pointed at others to settle their personal scores using the GWS platform will some day will turn against them. One need not elaborate as on this very forum one of them had to submit his unconditional apology besides paying heavy price for his own deeds and actions by way of personal defamation. They had master minded a plot at one of the AGM against the writer to take complete control of GWS and the funds generated. Both failed miserably as the GWS members were prudent and stood firm for the noble cause. He also played with GWS records for a long time. Thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of one of the Ex- Committee Member, Mr. Tony D’Costa from Saligao, before he retired, who used all his might to persuade him to take the possession of the records on behalf of GWS which he did succeed partly. It was too late. The progress was hampered due to such dirty issues of the serpents who will not progress and allow others to prosper. The writer new at some point of time he would retire and as such stepped down as unchallenged President to make way for the new generation of Goans and backed up the new Presidents. When GWS was in gallows of death, he had to step in to protect GWS and interest of its members and handover the reigns to the present President Sydney Furtado while continuing as Vice President. GWS had an unique Insurance coverage to its members who had paid a permanent one time Membership fee of KD10.000 (equivalent of KD1.000 in C$3.30 approximately) to KD50.000. In case of a KD10.000 member dies the benefit of next of keen is Rs.10,000.00 and so on. We could not pay the compensation to a few and comply with certain conditions as GWS records were hijacked. We had to take drastic steps to expel handful of serpents for better future of GWS with unanimous decision at AGM providing facts and figures. Truth and Honesty always prevails. It was hard for GWS to take them to task legally because of the law of the land and these handful characters were flirting with the system/rule of law. In conclusion, the point that the writer would like to make is simple. Together we can make it happen and work wonders. The merger of two strong and good associations is a must and need full support of the Community at large leaving aside the differences, egos, jealousy etc. Canada/US and the West has lots to offer and have enough facilities to practice the Culture, Religion, etc besides providing tax benefits for noble causes which is not easily available in the Middle East. People this part of the world do not leave with the fear of deportation. We need strong and benevolent leaders with clean image on the forefront. Thank God we do have among us various professionals and others practicing diversified trades and business acumen. We need to call upon these Goans to come and support the larger organization. Let the Village organization thrive to help and support the culture of own village. The main Association of Goans need to have all such Village leaders to build a Goan empire. Let us not be critics of G.O.A or Can-Orient. Let the new constitution be framed by strong, sincere, honest Goan stalwarts incorporating fees, incentives, benefits, insurance coverage, assistance to the needy in Canada and way back home. We have Realtors, Investment Experts, Technical brains among us in Toronto which talents need to be channelized for the cause of Goa and Goans. WE can work for our own place and build an empire for Goans in Toronto with lots of facilities and help to the needy Goans migrating to this land besides socializing and preservagtion of our rich cultural heritage. What is important is that our new generation of Goans must know our rich heritage and culture. It could also generate employment and boost up the business for our fellow Goans. Serpents will be there and are there as in the case with all the communities of the world, having worked with 120 nationalities, but need to be tackled with tack and talent. The purpose of sharing the information is purely to create an awareness and insight to the Leaders in G.O.A and Can-orient so that they can have their own vision exploring the facilities and using all the Goan talents preserving our rich Goan Cultural Heritage. It’s only a wake up call and the writer ready to volunteer services for such noble causes of Goa and Goans – Viva Goa – Viva Goans worldwide. Wilson Coelho Deep rooted Goan. Message: 6 Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 11:14:41 -0500 From: "roland.francis" <roland.fran...@ymail.com> To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" <goanet@lists.goanet.org> Subject: Re: [Goanet] Merger of two Goan Associations Message-ID: <3xuyfpadr2ldoi0652qffio8.1394122481...@email.android.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Dear Wilson,? Good to see a post from you after ages. There is reason and then there is reality. You have stated the reason. Why should Goans in the Diaspora not be united in order to become to become more effective on behalf of the community? Now the reality. The demon that plagues Goans has always been Ego. Self before others. Not to say this is overwhelming or overshadowing since silver linings appear to run in the Goan playbook, created by the selfless ones in the community. But these are exceptions to the ugly rule. The unification of Goans in Kuwait if indeed it has occured, must be one such exception. Toronto sadly has been the rule. There have often been unification rumors of CanOrient and G.O.A.but nought has come of them. One of the reasons has been that in Toronto, CanO has been low profile but has gone on to establish a clubhouse where members socialize. GOA has nothing. But to be fair to the latter they were once known (not any more) for events that were broadly patronized by the community. CanO never had this. If both these organizations ponder about what they have in common rather than what keeps them apart, unity is feasible. But that big ugly specter of Ego must be put down first.? I don't see that happening but I, like others, will celebrate if it does. Roland.