Further to my earlier post, it was brought to my notice that Peter Fernandes is the "acting president" since Salazar Noronha is gone. I must say Peter "acted" well in the role of the main conspirator in the GCS's great effort to intimidate and browbeat me. He stood at a respectable distance when his cronies attacked me verbally. Earlier during our conversation I asked him who was running for the president's post and he replied he does not know yet. Probably he will contest. He has been part of Dictator Salazar's coterie which has held a stranglehold on the organization. I asked him where Salazar was, but he ignored my question. I had met this merry bunch of jokers about three years ago when I was invited to Salazar's house. I wanted to meet them for discussion on the history and working of the GCS for a piece on Dubai Goans I was requested by Victor Rangel-Riberio for a book on immigrant Goans he was editing. I wasn't impressed by them, offering very few details and not even providing me with a copy of the constitution when requested. Sometime back Peter informed me that a copy was not provided to me because it had to be amended. He said that it has been amended. I would like to lay my hands on a copy. I don't think Peter is a suitable candidate for the president's post. A man without backbone and the courage to defend the GCS on this forum should never be allowed to lead the GCS. I am told that any proposal put forward to him receives an instant "no". So, this Mr. No is no good for the future if at all the GCS wants to change its image and become progressive. A negative-minded person can only hamper GCS's growth. No wonder he was not even consulted regarding having Mickey Pacheco as chief guest for the final. What if Peter had said "NO". With Peter at the helm, it will remain Goan Cowards Society or, worse still, Goan Crooks Society, continuing Salazar's legacy. This person is not Peter the Rock on which the GCS could buid itself, rather a rock on which it will continue to flounder. The GCS needs through cleansing of its augean stables, all the horseshit it has collected over the years, and then a white-wash. Maybe a few skeletons will fall from its cupboards. Frankly, I don't know who is the next best person. I don't know who among its members are held in high-esteem by the rest of the community or have a high profile in the Dubai society in general. Talking to a friend who has been here for the last ten years, he said he had heard about the organization through a friend of his because of some problems his friend had with the GCS. There could be thousands like my friend who have little or no knowledge of this body. I was aware of what happened at last year's meeting and was to add to this post. I was awaiting some details from people who said they would provide them to me. Some came but I am still awaiting more. One thingI can add to Frank's disclosure is that the person who wanted to contest against Salazar was disqualified because of his holding a non-Indian passport. It seems the GCS members wrote to the Indian Association, to which it is affiliated, and got a directive (don"t know if it is in the Indian Association's constitution) that the person should not be allowed to run. On a previous visit to the Al Nasr ground, I met Bonnie who introduced me to Joyce (a goanetter who first posted some info on the tournament). I told Bonnie that I need to speak to him on record on certain issues and he told me to contact Melwyn. What a joke that the chief organizer directed me to Melwyn. I was telling someone that it appears Bonnie is just a "frontman" and could be made the "fall guy" in case things go wrong. But the person said Bonnie is no saint. I have known Bonnie for three years but just casually. I used to hear him shout choicest Konkani swear words from the stands when he was not helping the All-Star Entertainment/United Goans on the ground, picking up balls and doing odd jobs. Joyce remarked to me that thank God, there's been no problem yet with the tournament. I think she meant the troubles that happen during matches, such as the one which happened in the final of the rival tournament. I don't think she imagined another kind of trouble. It was to my bad luck that I went to the ground on that fateful day. In fact, I went to the Iranian Club but there were no matches. I didn't realize it was Thursday, the off day. I took a turn and went into the Al Nasr complex and was peacefully watching a match. Then the devil in the form of Peter appeared and, as they say, the rest is history. Peter seemed angry at Borgee's comments on goanet criticizing the tournament for its rule of allowing three non-Goan players in a team. He said to me that Borgee is a bogus id. I said I am not sure, but to me Borgee appears to be a person who is in Dubai because he has posted news relating St. Mary's Church activities. I asked him how he came to his conclusion and then he said like "I think I know who this person is because his sister is in the choir" or words to that effect. Then he swallowed his words, saying that maybe the person is genuine. Such a muttering fool who talks from both ends of his mouth. I am told that the GCS introduced the three non-Goan rule to accommodate Varca sports club. Borgee has provided the names of the players. I don't why other teams who have all Goan players did not protest. I am told that these Varca players have played in the All-Star Tournament till a team raised the issue. I am also told that a certificate from a Goa church was produced for at least one of them to prove he was a Goan. Perhaps, Borgee or Frank could shed further light on this.
Eugene Correia __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
