I read the Herald article of 17th May 2009 "Goans in Swindon Goans sore over Sardinha's win" and goanetters' emails on Goanet ridiculing Swindon Goans, questioning their Nationality and Sardinha owing them nothing and they should turn to their local MP in UK.
I believe the Swindon Goans (Portuguese/British Citizens) have a right to be sore and along with them every Expat Goan who works and lives outside Goa too. We have to go to the root causes for this soreness. One of the root causes is the lack of job opportunities for Goans in Goa ie. Un-employment, hence Goans migrate and obtain different citizenship. We cannot hold only Sardinha responsible for that situation. The Goa Legislators and MPs of the past and present should have planned/or plan along with the Central Government to create jobs by bringing suitable industries to Goa. We must accept that the Government alone cannot create jobs for all the unemployed Goans and the Goan Business Community and Entrepreneurs should also focus on job creation by investing in new businesses. The Government should train the youth to focus from being an employee to being an employer. It should be appreciated that along with Mining and Tourism, we the Expat Goans (Gulfies, Shippies / Tarvoties, Goans living in the Western Countries and Africa) who send Millions of Dollars annually are a major force for the Goan Economy. This is seldom recognized - or duly appreciated - by the Government (unlike the powers that be in The Philippines). The Goans who are sore may be wanting/or wanted to work and live in Goa, but had to leave for greener pastures due to various reasons and one reason is surely unemployment. As we, expat Goans, had to leave Goa and sacrifice the comforts of being home, let us do something to create jobs in Goa so that the future generations do not follow suit. The Government should do its part to create new jobs and expat Goans should pressurize the Government (through the Commissioner of NRI Affairs, Mr. Eduardo Faliero). Expat Goans should also come forward and open-up/ start new businesses in Goa which can create jobs for local Goans. I along with other Goans from Qatar set up business in Goa which generated new jobs employing about 100 Goans. We are now in the process of embarking on another new lucrative venture. For a probable entrepreneur with a feasible project in hand but without funds/equity/collateral security it is next to impossible to obtain a Loan and majority of such feasible projects never see the day of light leaving the probable entrepreneur dejected turning him from being an employer to an employee or an expat Goan. We may even have many expat Goans among us wanting to start business but funds could be their handicap too. I believe it is high time that expat Goans Worldwide seriously discuss establishing an Goan Expats Angel Fund/ Investment Fund/Venture Capital Fund/Offshore Fund and invest in new businesses/support probable entrepreneurs in Goa and create jobs and if not eliminate at least arrest the Goan unemployment/migration situation. With the estimated 300,000 Expat Goans Worldwide a minimum of 100 US$ investment annually by each Expat Goan will garner 30 Million US$ per year. By this act of Expat Goans we could give back something to Goa in our own small way. By nature when a Goan meets a Goan at the end of the greetings the first question is "tum khuimcho" then the Village name is mentioned. Last week I met a person who moved to Qatar from UAE hailing from Chandor whom I referred as Reddo but he shot-back and referred himself as Kolo having bought a house in Saligao. Among others this is one of the best things about Goa/Goans... that we never forget where we come from. Although Goans are citizens of India, and some may be citizens of other Countries but of Goan origin, nontheless - "Nobody can take Goa out of a Goan"! Dev Borem Korum John Desa, Cortalim/Qatar johnd...@yahoo.com Herald -17 May, 2009 -Pg 8 report. By Eduardo Rodrigues. In politics, what one's heart feels, does not really mater. It is the substance of living that does. Thousands miles away from Goa, Goans in Swindon feel that they have been betrayed by the results of South Goa. It is a feeling that they have been betrayed by their brethren for ensuring victory of Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha. However, the narrow margin of victory has been most welcome by the Goan community in Swindon, who, however were expecting much worse for the Congress. This hatred towards the Congress is not because they are BJP sympathizers, but because the way Sardinha positioned himself during the elections by putting party priorities above the needs of Goans in Swindon. "Sardinha promised to legalize bull fights in Goa. This was one of the platforms on which he stood for elections. But what has he done and promised to do for us Goans?" queries Leopold, who has been working in Swindon for the last eight years. "Armed with a degree, I have had to do odd jobs there, while there are so many outsiders in Goa, who have snatched our jobs, sometimes with fake certificates, " decries Leoplod, while admitting the threat of Goans feeling marginalized is predominant in this part of England, besotted by Goans. Souza from Sancoale vent his anger at the Congress for ignoring youth and asked, "What is the Congress trying to prove by fielding these old candidates?" Souza further says that the Congress should get rid of old timers like Luizinho Faleiro, Churchill Alemao, Sardinha, Mauvin Godinho and others since Goans have had enough of these people and the need right now is to field youthful candidates. "What as Sardinha done for us, except for making false promises? Has he cared to know why so many of us Goans in Swindon have to slog it out here?" queries Anthony from Goa Velha. Admitting that he would not have liked the BJP to win, Anthony feels that the Congress should have shown a genuine desire to help Goans, not only during polls but throughout the tenure. Another school teacher Pinto ridiculed the promise of Sardinha to legalize bull fights and said that there are far more serious issues to deal with. "Why does Sardinha not think of helping Goans who have been displaced from Swindon during the recession and are back in Goa without any job?" Pinto argues. Despite the rancour, there are quite a few who are least bothered about the results. "I have to go to my class and do not care a damn," was what Ms Chagas Silva told Herald when asked to comment.