Swindon recently attained notoriety with the murder of a Goan by a Goan. And now we have two Goan associations who claim to be the legal association. And we were just talking about the Conflict of Interest issue regarding the New Jersey association. Let's follow Fred's advice and behave like the three monkeys with each one having its hands of the eyes, ears and mouth. Squabbling does not help. It is better to look another way when two bodies are fighting. Let's pretend everything is fine and dandy. Swindon will survive no matter who fights who. We have seen the Kuwait war among Goan associations. The Dubai Goan association is dead for all reasons and seasons. The Toronto Goan association is losing ground to new groups such as 55Plus Goan Association. However, no need to panic as all these association will manage to exist. What is unfortunate about the Swindon Goans kerfuffle is that it has come just before the International Goan Convention. The problems facing Swindon Goans must be put on the top of the agenda of the convention. Dear Selma, please make a note. Reading the comments on the NizGoenkar site makes me wonder what Swindon must really be, something like Malton (in Mississauga, Ontario) once was and still is to a little degree the Little Punjab it was nicknamed. Now Springdale in Brampton has been called Singhdale Just like Southhall in London. And the Dixon-Kipling area in Etobioke (Toronto), which was called Indian Palace in the late 70s has now becoming Little Somalia. Toronto also has its Little Italy and Little Portuguese. London, I am told, also has Goan groups based on the east and west, just like Toronto. Most GOA events used to be held and still do in the West end, except for Viva Goa (now defunct) in the centre. Eastenders were never happy because they had to travel to the west to attend these associations. All these forces are pulling the Goan society abroad in many directions. Swindon has, I am told, become a Goan ghetto. The municiplaity of Etobicoke (now part of Greater Toronto Area) was also home to lot of Goans who lived within a short radius in this large area. This was mostly following the Uganda expulsion of Asians, including thousands of Goans. I still believe Etobicoke is the never-centre of Goans though many "new" Goans have settled in Mississauga, making the city with the second-most concentration of Goans after Toronto. Brampton may be ranked third. I have no statistics but just giving my views as I have watched the growth of these areas over the years.
Eugene Correia