In the session on Goan/Konkani associations presented by respective
representatives, Cellie Gonsalves spoke on behalf of International Goan
Organization (IGO), Zulema de Souza on Westend Seniors and Roque
Barretto on Goan Charitable Organization (GCO) and George Pinto,
Philomena Giese and Aracia (not sure of spelling) spoke on behalf of
Goa Sudharop. Part of this session was carried over the next and final
day. There were no speakers from the Mangalorean, Anglo-Indian and Konkani
Associations (possibly meaning tiatr groups).
The session was the last item of the final day. But before the speakers
were called to the podium, Kevin Saldanha did his convention sum up and
left. When the first speaker, Oscar Furtardo, president of the Goan
Overseas Association, began to speak Lisette, Kevin's wife and Events
Coordinator, left the hall. When someone asked where is Kevin, he was
told that Kevin was packing the bags outside the hall. Protocol or at
least courtesy demanded that the convention director be presented when
the speakers spoke, more so when the president of GOA, an important
organization, took the podium. Obviously, Kevin and the GOA were not on
good terms.
Oscar was miffed and almost decided not to speak. He was prevailed upon
to take the mike. He felt that it was unbecoming of the convention
director to give his final speech before the last item had ended. He
felt it was "insulting" to him and other speakers. Darrel Carvalho,
vice-president (Building) of the GOA, spoke on a housing project. There
were less than ten people in the audience.
This brings me to an healthy relationship between the organizers,
particularly the husband-and-wife team of Kevin and Lisett. I heard
from the GNAT sources that GOA was not supporting the convention and
had provided no "volunteers." I believe GNAT approached the GOA for
financial aid but it was turned down on the ground that the GOA itself
was financially at a break even point. It was unfortunate that Viva Goa
event had to be cancelled as the venue got flooded because of rains.
There was also a rumour that GOA was offered to host the convention but
GOA sources say that it is not true.
On this point, I must ask whether Kevin was offered to host the
convention on behalf of GCO or on his own? I am told that he proposed
to GNAT to host the convention at one of the meetings and GNAT agreed.
I will delve on this point (alotting the hosting of the convention) in
another post.
On the organizing committee there was a representative from IGO, Al
Mathias, who has served GOA as vice-president in the past. There was no
representative from GOA, the oldest Goan organization not only in
Canada but in North America. Let me remind you that GOA hosted the
first International Goan Convention in 1988 and the 2008 Goan
Convention, as Kevin put it at one of the events, was to commemorate 20
years of the first convention.
Let me go to the genesis of the 2008 Goan Convention. When the Lisbon
Goan Diaspora Meet was announced, Kevin and Lisette decided to attend
it. According to some sources, the Casa de Goa said it would provide
free accommodation and hospitality to one representative of a Goan
association from each country. To take advantage of this offer, Kevin
secured an official letter from the Goan Charitable Organization (GCO).
It was Aloysius Vaz who provided him the letter. And Aloysius
(popularly known as Al) was the president of the GCO by virtue of him
being the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the GOA. The GCO is the
charitable wing of the GOA and the board of directors are office-
bearers of the GCO with the president of the GOA as the other member.
Aloysius is paternal unclue of Lisette, brother of Lisette's father
Larry. And Al was given an award at the inauguration of the convention
at the hands of Edwardo Faleiro. Al was chosen over other names
submitted to the committee, including the name of Roque Barretto, now
chairman of the Board of Trustees of the GOA and president of the GCO.
Roque was holding similar posistions three years ago and after stepping
down Al took over. Al had served under Roque.
Roque and Al go a long way since the founding of the GOA as both are
founder-members. Roque had roped in Al to serve on the board of
directors.
There is no doubt that Al has contributed lot of time to GOA and GCO.
However, it would have been nice if both had shared the award. In fact,
Al was bit taken aback that his friend Roque did not get it. I am
informed that Kevin gave Al the award because Al is not keeping good
health. Al informed me that he underwent lung surgery a couple of
months earlier and that the top lobe of his right lung has been
removed. He said he was feeling fine and the doctors have assured me
that there no traces of cancer are left. Another award was given to
Mons. Terence D'Souza (not sure of his last name). Mons. Terence has
helped build the St. Francis Xavier's Church in Mississauga.
It is learnt that Kevin took the decision to give the awards to Al and
Mons. D'Souza with consulting the committee. This is one instance of
how the husband-and-wife team dominated the whole convention. It was
rather wrong on the committee to give the wife the post of Events
Coordinator when the husband held the post of Convention Director. When
Olinda resigned from her post of Events Coordinator, Kevin approached
the committee or rather the GNAT president Francis to give the post to
Lisette. I feel the committee or even Francis regrets the decision very
sorely as Francis was completely sidelined. I am told that Francis and
Lisette were not on talking terms even before the convention started. I
could feel the tension among these key players and that's made me make
some enquiries.
Here is a convention that has "networking" as part of its theme and
here we have the key players unable to "network" among themselves. It's
a shame that the committee was divided into two major groups. The
invisible gulf that existed between those on Kevin's side and those on
Francis's side was what made a mockery of the intent and purpose of the
convention. Kevin and Lisette carried big egos. I am told that Kevin
was at least tolerable to some extent but Lisette was "intolerable."
The "family affair" could not have attended on a better note when
Kevin's and Lisette's daughter, Emerald, won the beauty pageant at the
Convention Ball. She had failed to win the crown at the May Ball, a
fundraiser, for the convention but, I am told, was a money-loser. It
must be noted that two of the pageant judges are "well known" to the
Saldanha family.
One slightly drunk guest pulled me to the bar and started cursing the
Saldanhas. He said that two contestants, No. 10 and No. 6, were better
looking than the winner. Frankly, I did not watch much of the pageant
as I was chatting outside the hall. I entered the hall when the winner
was doing her victory lap and that's when I was caught hold off by this
person. My prize for listening to his outburst -- a peg of whisky.
Eugene Correia
PS: I am writing these pieces in a hurry (and at times when I am dead tired) as
I am busy with my guests visiting Toronto. I am taking them around Toronto and
elsewhere in the province. I do not have internet at home and have to go to an
internet cafe to check my emails and also post these write-ups. I, therefore,
request you to excuse me for spelling and grammar mistakes as I don't have time
to check them. Besides, spending more time at an internet cafe means more money
;-)
I hope goanetters are able to sort out what I am saying. If anyone wants
clarification, please send me an email.
