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Remembering Aquino Braganca (b. 6 April 1924), who fought for freedom
of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. An online tribute
http://aquinobraganca.wordpress.com/ (includes many historical
references, some photographs and documents)
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In East Africa both British and Portuguese the Goans showed their
marketability. Therefore the powers there employed them. Instead of encouraging
young Goans of today with the virtues possessed Fitz is apologising. One
wonders for what? Is it bad to be honest? With the goodwill created isn't it
easier for young Goans to get jobs around the world?
Even in Bombaim Goans were employed for similar virtues as described by Fitz. I
have heard comments from both blacks and whites about Goans and they say that
we are different from those of the sub-continent.
BC
Fitz De Souza, former deputy Speaker of
the Kenyan parliament, says Goans formed the "backbone" of
the British colonial administration in East Africa, and
suggested they could have been more critical of White
colonialism in the 'dark continent'.
Speaking here during a function last weekend, the Kenyan
lawyer and ex-politician, said, "You may not like what I'm
going to say. But Goans in fact were the backbone of the
British administration" in East Africa.
"Britain could not have ruled Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania without
the Goans. The Chief Secretary and Cabinet were only
Europeans, the district commissioners were from Oxford or
Cambridge. But the army of clerks -- from district clerks, to
prison clerks and law clerks -- came from Goa," he said.
"They had a lot of power in that country. Anybody could not
open a shop or get a gun license without a Goan's approval,"
he said.
He criticised the British for their "complete racism", and
said it was they who planted the idea that "Goans are not
Indians, but Portuguese" and that "Indians were crooks and
thieves" while the Goans were honest.
