Alvaro Collaco is probably not aware that the 2009 Global Goan Convention was alotted to England. It was at the Tornto convention that an announcement was made that Rene Barreto will organise the convention. Rene lacked the support of the GOA UK as it was pointed out that he was a member in not good standing of the association. I understand that Rene tried to persuade the Melbourne Goan association and there were some efforts to get it organized there but the association backed out because of the financial turmoil that had seized the world. Rene was quite elated at the Toronto convention when he was offered the chance to host it. Obviously, the NRI Commissioner didn't know that Rene could not do it alone with the support of the Goan Association. To Rene's credit he organised an international Goan Convention in Goa in 1979 under the aegis of the Goa Tourism Department. I have no details how successful it was. However, it is noted that the first international convention was organized in Paris either in 1962. This event was said to have been held by a group of Goans who were not happy with India's takeover of Goa. As an event of great significance and reach, the GOA Torontof organised the First International Goan Convention (official title) in 1988. Alvaro's sister Zulema Collaco was president of the GOA. I was on the executive committee of the GOA. The proposal to host it was accepted by the committee. It was either at the exeutive committee meeting or at a meeting held to bounce ideas Zulema mentioned that the idea to host an international conference came from Alvaro. She later also said that the idea was "borrowed" from the Greek community which organised such an event in Toronto. I am bit surprised that Alvaro is proposing another association. On a visit to Londown many years ago I met with leading members of the GOA UK and was told some things not very complimentary to Alvaro. In this context, I now doubt his intention. He seems to think that GOA UK is not capable of playing the lead role in bringing about "worldwide Goan solidarity". This business of bringing "solidarity" is a dream. Take the case of the International Goan Organisation (IGO) that was born out of the Toronto convention. It was meant to achieve global unity of Goan association. It failed to even get Goan associations in Canada under its roof. It's a long story and no need now to get into it. One thing though I would say that is has survived as a "rump". The IGO was taken over by Goa ex-MLA Herculano Dourado who still maintains that the present IGO was illegally constituted. Herculano held a meeting in Goa during the International Goan Youth Convention and got himself elected as secretary with a dummy president whose name I forget. If Eduardo Faleiro made the suggestion of attaingin "worldwide Goan solidarity", then he should look at Rene again. Rene set up the World Alliance of Goan Associations, and it was led by Oscar Furtado, who did not seek the president's post of GOA Toronto this year. I don't know who is the current president or if the presidentship automatically goes to the new GOA Toronto president, Glynis Viegas. I believe Alvaro played a leading role in SCOGO. Could it be that the GOA UK wanted to "kill" the SCOGO event and started the Goan Festival. He feels that GOA UK does not have the means to serve the large Goan population and that there is a need for an "entirely independent and community-wide organisation." How many GOA UK members will agree to his suggestion? Is it a "evolutionary" idea or a "revolutionary" one? If the GOA UK is falling short of its mandate and role then the members have a right to demand certain actions. As I said here before that some Goan associations have sprung up in Toronto. I am member of both GOA and 55Plus Goan Association. In fact, many Goans have cross membership. I was also asked to be a member of the West End Seniors Group but I declined. Then there is a small cultural group based in Mississauga. One of its leading member is John D'Souza, a goanetter. I have been for their line-dancing classes twice. And like London there are upteem Goan village associations, besides the associations of Goans from Tanzania, Uganda, etc. There is also a UAE Association, I believe, with a large Goan membership. We have seen the fight between two associations in Swindon. I asked here before if these two associations would allow GOA UK to play a mediatory role. It would be nice if this option is explored first. Alvaro's call may be a cry in the wilderness. Jason Keith Fernandes is to address the issue of Global Goans' Unity at the London conference. Let's hear what this young man has to say.
Eugene Correia