[Goanet] NRI Meet in Dubai - My Take -- Part I
The NRI meet in Dubai -- My Take (Part I) by Eugene Correia The reports on the visit of the three-member team from the NRI Facilitation Centre to the Gulf is not flattering. I have no information about the meeting in Abu Dhabi. The Kuwait meeting report by Rabindra Pimenta and The Emirates Evening Post report show that many Goans did not want to come and those who were present were not happy at the result. In a post before the team's visit I had echoed the same sentiments expressed by Godfrey Gonsalves that the trip is a waste of time and money. What made the Goa government to undertake this mission so early to the next Gomant Vishwa Samellan is beyond my understanding. I can infer that whoever suggested this trip wanted to come to the Gulf at the government's cost before there could be change of scenario with the appointment of Eduardo Faleiro as NRI Commissioner. Since Faleiro is still awaiting Terms of Reference to his appointment, as reported here on goanet, some wise members wanted to jump the gun and enjoy this joy ride. The Emirates story say how the Dubai meeting was conducted. I can go further and say that I was very disapointed with Herculano Dourado's handling of the meeting. Before the meeting I enquired with him about what would be the centre's position vis-a-vis Faleiro and he told me that they had met Faleiro before the trip. He also informed the gathering that the team had two meetings with Faleiro. However, he requested me not to raise questions regarding the issue of relationship between the centre and the Faleiro. I did not raise because at the start of the meeting Dourado specified that he was only seeking to hear problems and suggestions from NRGs. Besides, it was getting late and people were leaving the room because for many the next day (Saturday. I learnt about the meeting just one hour before its scheduled time 7:30 pm and that too from a person I just called to talk about something personal. The person told me that the meeting's annoucement appeared in Gulf News, which I hadn't read that morning. When a person asked Dourado to give background information on the centre, he began by saying that it was formed three or four years ago. I tried to point out that the NRI Facilitation Cell was its forerunner, but he cut me short saying that he will sit down and I can come and tell the people about the centre. His impatience to listen and also the tone of his voice made it clear to me that Dourado was going to conduct the meeting in an authorative manner. It was not something I expected of him when I raised a "point of order." As I think of it and begin to understand his behaviour, I feel I shouldn't have been surprised at all. I will later provide examples to show how Dourado has ruled over some organizations to the detriment of the organization's interests. When Pravin, the person who sort of coordinated the meeting, raised an issue and asked the people if what he said was true or not, Dourado admonished him by telling him not to be a "populist". Mind you, Pravin, as president of the Goan Sodality Group in the St. Mary's Church, went out of his way to get a church hall and also to get the church to make an announcement of the meeting, but both were denied. He said he called many people to come but few turned up. Dourado said that since no local groups could arrange a hall, the delegation members booked the hotel room from their own money. He said emphatically twice that he wanted to have the meeting at all cost to show that the team really cared for NRGs. But much later he admitted that the team found a benefactor in Nelson Silveira, who is known for his support of Goan football and also as the financier of the football team Vaxim Divar. Nelson paid the room's Dirhams 500 charge. Obviously, the team wanted to have the meeting at all cost or they would have lost face. One of the members told me before the meeting that they contacted the local Goan association, but found that it was "defunct". I am not sure if the Goan Cultural Society is defunct but surely the association is not functioning as it should. This raises an important question: Why did the Goa government sent a team without sufficient funds/budget? It looked ambarassing and probably many NRGs felt guilty when Dourado began saying the team had decided to pay from their pockets for the room charge. Perhaps the Emirates Evening Post reporter took away the impression that the Goa government lacks money to provide sufficients funds to its official team. Many Goans in the gathering would have willingly given money to pay towards the cost of the room if Pravin or someone who was connected in organizing the meeting had approached them with a request. Pimenta and the Evening Post's reports inform the nature of problems raised at both meetings. Dourado, himself a lawyer, gave legal interpretations to some of the problems that related to land and house disputes, and provided his understanding of some problems that related to get hig
[Goanet] NRI meet in Dubai
Here is the full report that appeared in The Emirates Evening Post. I have carried the report "as is" by Daniel P. George, who is the paper's chief reporter, erred in writing "Felicitation" instead of Facilitation and misspelled Dourdo instead of Dourado. According to the website, Surlakar is still a member and not ex-member. However, as Dourado explained the website has not been updated. I was quoted in the paper, but I will provide a personal viewpoint of the whole "exercise" tommorrow. I was waiting for the evening daily to be out and check what was reported. eugene correia Goans demand better treatment Submit list of problems to team send by state govt but expect no redress By Daniel P. George Dubai -- Even as Goans in Dubai met up with a three-member delegation of the NRI Felicitation Centre appointed by the Governot of Goa to pur out their woes at a hotel last evening, they were dismayed over the step-motherly treament meted out to them by their state government. In what turned out to be classroom-like exercise, the Goans were asked to spell out their problems to the committee comprising Brigadier (Retd) Ian D'Costa, member of the centre; Advocate Herculano Dourdo, vice-chairman of the centre; and Mohandas Surlakar, ex-Member of the centre. Dourdo, who took down the points and grievances of the Dubai Goans on paper, said he would convey to the government their problems and seek speedy redress. The Goans who attended the meeting did not seem happpy at the whole exerices even after giving voice to their problems. They were irked by way their issues were taken down on paper without any details, residential address or where they hail from. "It was a big farce," said one Goan who did not want to be identified. They were wondering as to how this centre would address their problems without further details and whether this was yet another shopping rip as most Indian ministers and dignitatires resort to when they visit the UAE. "There have been visits before by people to the UAE and they have come winded, dined and gone back but this is the first time a delegation reprsenting the Government has come here and we will represent your case to the government for redressal" he told those gathered. The range of problems presented by the Goans included land encroachments back home, corruption in goverment departments and a lack of direct flight to Goa from Dubai. According to Eugene Correia, "These issues have already been discussed time and again at the Gomanth Samellan held last year. All that the Goans want is a single window to address their problems when they visit their home state on a vacation." The Dubai placed on record the cheating of job seekers by unscrupulous agents, housemaids in jails, poor and jobless Goans facing a bleak future and lack of medical assistance to the poor. Dourdo assured the Goans their problems would be address icnluding a suggestion for a ferry service between Goa and Dubai due to the rising costs of air fare. Another request from a student was to do away with NRI quota in professional colleges and resort to merit system as the fees were too expensive for the average middle class parent. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
RE: [Goanet] NRI meet in Dubai
-Original Message- From: Eugene Correia The Emirates Evening Post... Goans demand better treatment ... Even as Goans in Dubai met up with a three-member delegation of the NRI Felicitation Centre *** Response: Felicitation Centre a Freudian slip by The Emirates Evening Post or by Eugene Correia? Eddie Fernandes _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] NRI meet in Dubai
Further to my enquiry regarding the Gomant Vishwa Samellan in 2005, I checked the nrigoa website and saw the following names in the Advisory Committee:- Committee Members Shri. Edgar Leo Martins, Portugal Shri. Zamir Khan, Saudi Arabia Mr. Rene Baretto, London Mr. Eddie Fernandes, U. K Humberto Rabindra Pimenta, Kuwait Victor Anthony Fernandes, Canada Victorino Pinto, Swizerland Alexander Menino, Kuwait Simon Xavier DSilva, Doha Qatar Thomas A. Pereira, USA Yvonne Pereira, Kenya Alex Wilson Coelho, Kuwait Shri. Ashok G. Bale, New York Shri. Surendra Vasant Borkar, Australia Ms. Karin Elizabeth Fernandes, Canada Maria de Lourdes Figueiredo de Albuquerque, Lisbon Shri. Joaquim DSouza, Dubai Shri. Ratikant Mandrekar, Abu Dhabi I don't know if Joaquim D'Souza attended the Dubai meet. The point here is that the the NRI Facilitation Centre could ask the above committee members to gather the complaints, grievances and problems and sent them to the centre instead of the three-member delegation making the trip to Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. --- Here is the full report in The Emirates Evening Post. I have carried the report "as is" George, who is chief reporter, erred in making in Felicitation instead of Facilitation and misspelled Dourdo instead of Dourado. According to the website Surlakar is still a member and not ex-member. However, as Dourado explained the website has not been updated. I was quoted in the paper, but I will provide a personal viewpoint of the whole "exercise" tommorrow. I was waiting for the evening daily to be out and check what was reported. Goans demand better treatment Submit list of problems to team send by state govt but expect no redress By Daniel P. George Dubai -- Even as Goans in Dubai met up with a three-member delegation of the NRI Felicitation Centre appointed by the Governot of Goa to pur out their woes at a hotel last evening, they were dismayed over the step-motherly treament meted out to them by their state government. In what turned out to be classroom-like exercise, the Goans were asked to spell out their problems to the committee comprising Brigadier (Retd) Ian D'Costa, member of the centre; Advocate Herculano Doudo, vice-chairman of the centre; and Mohandas Surlakar, ex-Member of the centre. Dourdo (instead of Dourado -- eugene) who took down the points and grievances of the Dubai Goans on paper, said he would convey to the government their problems and seek speedy redress. The Goans who attended the meeting did not seem happpy at the whole exerices even after giving voice to their problems. They were irked by way their issues were taken down on papger without any details, resitial address or where they hail from. "It was a big farce," said one Goa who did not want to be identified. They were wondering as to how this centre would address theri problems without further details and whether this was yet another shopping rip as most Indian ministers and dignitatires resort to when they visit the UAE. "There have been visits before by people to the UAE and they have come winded, dined and gone back but this is the first time a delegation reprsenting the Government has come here and we will represent your case to the government for redressal" he told those gathered. The range of problems presented by the Goans included land encroachments back home, corruption in goverment departments and a lack of direct flight to Goa from Dubai. According to Eugene Correia, "These issues have already been discussed time and again at the Gomanth Samellan held last year. All that the Goans want is a single window to address their problems when they visit their home state on a vacation." The Dubai placed on record the cheating of job seekers by unscrupulous agents, housemaids in jails, poor and jobless Goans facing a bleak future and lack of medical assistance to the poor. Dourdo assured the Goans their problems would be address icnluding a suggestion for a ferry service between Goa and Dubai due to the rising costs of air fare. Another request from a strudent was to do away with NRI quota in professional colleges and resort to merit system as the fees were too expensive for the average middle class parent. = __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
