Even as I lay in a hospital bed and at home, I accessed my mail on my iphone. I followed the posts regarding the convention. I had said before that I wish the convention is held every two years to save money to the Goan taxpayer. Now that we know how much it has cost and perhaps the bill will soar once the final figures come in, it is pertinent to ask if the Goan conventions are worth it. Looking at the London Global Goans Convention, I can say that the academic part of it was not so interesting. I have with me the convention souvenir and have gone through its contents. First, the souvenir is of moderate quality, both in production-wise and content-wise. There are few articles, especially those "papers" read by some speakers. The GOA UK president Flavio Gracias writes, ".... is taking place over four days from June 22-15, 2011" and GOA CM Digamber Kamat writes, ".... will be held in London (U.K) from July 22-25", followed by NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro who writes, "I am glad to know that the Global Goans Convention is beind held in London on July 22-25 next." I am surprised that the souvenir messages are reminding Goans about the convention that has already begun. Shockingly, Faleiro's message says,."....July22-25 next." It obvious that Faleiro wrote this message long time ago as an announcement. Flavio feels that the convention would have been serving Goans better if its "thrust" was "forward-looking" rather than harping on the past. One can understand where his sympathies lie when he says, "Reflecting on past history serves as a learning experience but to what purpose; it is is 'sound bites' of anti-colonial rhetoric, then it will be a was opportunity." Why didn't Flavio sound his concern when the theme of the convention was first mooted? Why indirectly run down the convention theme when the convention was already on? Flavio could have influenced the NRI department to change the theme, but would his voice carry weight when the NRI department provided a big chuck of funds to host the convention? Flavio has promised "Global Goans Gathering (3Gs) in Goa in April 2012." Who will fund this event? Is is not too short a time "in order to review plrogress of what has been achieved and, if necessary, to press the Goa government to implement measures that meet the needs of Goan NRIs." I am sorry to say that I am unaware of what the NRI session at the convention discussed. It was for this reason that I said that I wished there were professional journalists convention. Even Eddie Fernandes, who served as the spokesperson, did not provide his own reporta but sent across two sketchy ones from those who were part of the organizing group or, at least, allied with the organizing committee or were functionaries at the event. I had asked before in a lengthy piece on what have been the gains of past conventions? It was good to learn that the NRI department promised to put reports or "action takent" reports of past conventions on the website. We'll have to wait till they are there. Goa will host an academic meet in December to celebrate 50 years of Liberation. So, in what way the London convention benefit in focusing on the Liberation theme? On another note, there is deafening silence from the GOA UK on how much money it spent on celebrating its Sapphire Anniversary by hosting the Global Goan Convention? The very vocal Selma Carvalho is being selective in her response, attacking a goanetter who posed the question if the London convention was truly "Goan" as it lacked Hindu Goan participation. She is ready to give back the entry fee to the goanetter? Why doesn't she give the ballpark figure that the association may have spent on this event? No auhtorityf, perhaps. Or just silent because she has got the benefit of the heritage fund that has been given to the GOA UK? The current buzzword in India is "transparency". I know that GOA UK is not India-based but still I would expect it to be "transparent" in letting us know what some have demanded of it -- financial figures. In an email Ravi Vaz informed me before the convention that he would be following this forum and any issues raised here will be looked at. Will the honourable Ravi Vaz keep his promise/
Eugene Correia