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By Mervyn Maciel [EMAIL PROTECTED] Text of a speech by Mervyn Maciel in response to a speech by Sir John Johnson (former British High Commissioner in Kenya. At the River & Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames, Oxford on 10.8.2002. Sir John, Ma Bibi na Ma Bwana (Ladies and Gentlemen in Swahili), Just in case Swahili scholars among you are expecting me to continue in this fashion, I'm afraid the answer is "Siwezi kuendelea Bwana" (I'm unable to continue, Sir!) Many months ago, Terence Gavaghan insisted that I keep this date free, and attend as his and Nicole's guests unless, of course, we had received a prior invitation from Buckingham Palace. Since the latter hasn't materialised, Elsie and I are delighted to join you all at this lovely setting today -- thanks to Terry. My thanks also to Peter Fullerton who first invited me to join this elitist club. As my cheque hasn't been returned with those words every District Cashier dreaded, "refer to drawer", I assume I am a member now. Why we, former members of the Administration were excluded from membership for nearly 30 years is something I find difficult to understand. You obviously have your reasons, but with so few of us in the U.K., I can assure you, you wouldn't have been swamped, nor there any danger of a takeover bid. I must thank Sir John for his generous remarks regarding the Goan contribution in the Provincial Administration. Unfortunately, our contribution in he Civil Service, more particularly the Provincial Administration, although verbally acknowledged in speeches by former Governors, senior officials and even politicians, has only recently, save with a few exceptions, merited a mention in some of the published works. I make no apology for highlighting the Goan contribution, especially since the majority of posts in the Provincial Administration (particularly those of Cashier), were filled almost exclusively by Goans. Even job advertisements in those days asked for Goan staff, much to the annoyance of the other Asian communities, as can be seen from the comments made by that distinguished Queens Counsel, J.S. Mangat. In telling how Goans, in particular, dominated the Provincial Administration, he cites Sir Charles Eliot, who, in an official report in 1901, had this to say: The District Officers were usually assisted by a Goan or more rarely, European clerk. In the Coast towns, there is also a Customs official, usually a Goan. Even the German officials envied the British Administration for their Goan staff who, they observed "have enough experience to avoid incurring the distrust which so many of our members inspire". Mangat further states that during the period 1920-21, the role of the subordinate Asian employees In the Administration increased because of their competitiveness and lack of local candidates.. In 1904 for example, almost all clerical posts in the Provincial Administration were filled by Goans. To further emphasise this point, he quotes from the D.C. Malindi's report thus: As one of the two Administrative Officers is more frequently on safari, the remaining one finds himself so busy that he must rely, to a very large extent on his clerks. It speaks well therefore the for reputation and standing of our staff, that after 14 years experience of district work in five Provinces, I have never known one's confidence in its members to be misplaced or have had any reason to regret the extent to which one trusted them." Needless to say, Mangat adds, all the names mentioned by the D.C. are Goan (Fernandes, Ferreira, Braganca and Menezes -- must have forgotten the D'Souzas!) I wonder what Mangat's reaction was, when Jomo Kenyatta felt the need to inject some Goan blood into his first cabinet, by appointing as his right hand man, none other than Joseph Zuzarte, son of a Goan District Clerk (Peter Zuzarte) and a Masai mother. I understand Peter Zuzarte worked under Sir Geoffrey Archer when the latter was a D.O. at Baringo around 1897. Conforming to the political correctness of the day, Joseph Zuzarte chose to go as Joseph Murumbi -- serving in Kenyatta's first cabinet as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office, latterly Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and even, for a while, Vice-President of Kenya. Murumbi never forgot his Goan roots. Mind you, not everyone was happy with the Goan involvement in Government service. I understand that when Winston Churchill visited Kenya in his capacity as Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, a delegation of White settlers protested against the employment of Goans in the Administration. Not much notice appears to have been taken of their protests, but in 1934, the Mayor-Wade Commission was instructed to look into the possibility of employing European clerks, and this, briefly, is what they had to say: "We have given consideration as to whether increased economy and efficiency could be attained by the more general employment of European clerks, and our opinion is in the negative. We have been favourably impressed by the dedication with which the majority of Goan clerks do the work required of them, and also of the conspicuous loyalty and willingness to work overtime, and their fixed determination to finish, at all costs, the work that has to be done. "It would be out of the question to employ, in District offices, European clerks, other than those of the highest integrity and proven ability, and in any case, the salaries that they would demand, would be much high than those paid to the Goans." So, you got us on the cheap! And talking of the long hours we often worked (without overtime of course), Francis da Lima, who many of you may remember, and who was more than a P.A. to Sir Gerald Reece and his successors at Isiolo, had this to say in a recent letter to me from his home in Goa: "When there was real pressure of work, he (Sir Gerald) would come to the office just as I was about to leave, carrying a hurricane lamp and sandwiches. I was expected to work late into the evening until all the work was completed, and then sent home under an armed Dubas (Tribal Police) escort as Isiolo abounded in wild game in those days." So much for our loyalty and dedication, and while some of us may still harbour memories of the injustices within the service, today is not a day for "If only's". I am sure we could all look back and wish things were done differently. We may have a few regrets, but speaking personally, may I say how proud I feel to have been a member of the Provincial Administration. We were privileged to work under men of quality and distinction, from some of whom we learnt much, and to whom, I hope "we were also able to leave behind memories of the valuable Goan contribution towards the development of the Kenya Nation." NOTE: Peter Fullerton is the Secretary of the Kenya Admin. Club in the UK. Terence Gavaghan was a District Commissioner and is now a close family friend of the author. ----------------------------------------------------------------- GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays, reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing among the 8000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate their work. 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