UK: Wrld-Diwali festival of light. In a few days’ time I we will be wishing our Hindu Friends, especially the Hindu Goan a very happy Diwali and Prosperous New Year. Spare a thought for the Catholic Goan although mostly Christian many have yet to see the light as Christianity being a way of life as we hurtle towards Christmas 2016. This is a time once a year when we used to remember and prepare to send Christmas Cards to all Friends and Family. Today with the advancement of Free and Cheaper Communication and the Telephone it is not unusual to hear of people not talking to each other especially amongst families where fight fight of no importance and in true Goan tradition is the order of the day. Who will be deleted from the Christmas Card list and why is also a subject of discussion material items like Christmas Gifts/Money is also handled. It is not wrong to be Patriotic when you have a Patron Saint and around the world the December Feast of St Francis Xavier will also be celebrated by Catholic Goan Settlements organised by the local community bringing our heritage to life .Folks integrated in all of pond life will miss out . All this a few weeks before Christmas and the season of goodwill. This November marks the 10th Anniversary when in my opinion the good ship GOA UK trading as the Goan Association Uk was hijacked with the Company Constitution and Rules that were developed over 40years to seek excellence was thrown out of the window with no proper accountability or authorisation from the General Body . There have been a lot of issues over the last 10 years . One of which that stands out is collections for Coffin Funds organised by Goan Welfare Charity. I understand in Breadline Britain there is a tie in with a Funeral Director to transport the newly arrived Dead back to Goa for burial accompanied by an Office Bearer as escort. Perhaps with the killer cold season round the corner a discussion at the November Statutory Annual General Meeting of the Company could be Tabled as to whether this facility as an expense towards reduced holiday cost to sunny Goa could also be extended to G.O,A UK Life and Ordinary members before they are deleted from the membership register. For this item to be Tabled on the Agenda interested members should write Today in the first instance to1&2 with a copy to 3 (. Folks have complained that they never get any response to their enquiries.)see website for other contact details( goauk.com) 1 The Secretary Goan Welfare 76 Middleton Avenue,Greenford,Middlesex UB6 8BS 2.The Company Secretary G.O.A. UK Limited, The Firs, 17 Firs Drive,Cranford,Hounslow,Middlesex, TW5 9TA 3. Email copy to [email protected] for the record and any continued action. Melvyn Fernandes.Thornton Heath Surrey England 10 October 2016
