Goans from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE receive Leadership Awards -gasper crasto - www.goa-world.com
In a brief function 'CONFERENCE ON INDIAN EXPARTRIATES IN THE GULF COUNTRIES held at the Convention Hall, Hotel Mandovi, Panaji on 29th March 2008, the NRI Affairs Directorate of Goa Government presented Leadership Awards for community service to well known Goans from the Gulf for recognition of their social activities towards the Indian community. The honored recipients: Bahrain: Mr. Francis Correia, Mr. Gabriel R. Crasto, and Mr. Alfred DSouza. Kuwait: Dr Jaganath Ramnath Chodankar, Mr Alex Wilson Coelho, and Mr. Carmo Santos Oman: Dr Mario Carmo de Souza , and Mr Celso Vincent Andre Fernandes Qatar: Mr Simon D'Silva UAE: Mr. Ramnath Arjuna Mavlingcar Dubai: Mr Rockson Rufus Rodrigues (Delhi): Ms Suman Anand Kurade The awards were given during the Conference on Indian expatriates in the Gulf countries on March 29 at Hotel Mandovi, Panaji, Goa. The Conference was inaugurated by Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi The function was presided over by Commissioner of NRI Affairs Shri Eduardo Faleiro while Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar Kamat was the Chief Guest :::FRANCIS CORREIA::: Francis Correia, hailing from Cansaulim, a resident of Bahrain since 1974, is employed with Ahmed Mansoor Al AAli as Manager of the Real Estate Division. He has been involved in community services from the time he arrived into Bahrain and has served the community in different fields. Correia has provided legal, medical and financial aid to a large number of Goans and members of other expatriate communities. Through the Indian Embassy and Ministry of Labour, he has resolved many disputes of laborers and domestic helpers. He has assisted many with sponsorship problems or to find alternate employment. He has actively participated in events to help the local charities as well. Correia was honoured by the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1987 for his active participation in organizing festivities of expatriate societies and clubs to celebrate the Bahrain National Day. He was elected as General Secretary of Young Goans Club, way back in 1979 and served on the Managing committee several times. During his tenure with the club he was able to interact with Goans from other Gulf and European Countries in organizing sports and social events. Correia is the main person involved in organizing Konkani tiatr events in Bahrain with Goan based and local stage artistes which has helped display Goan culture and heritage in the Gulf and keep Konkani alive and popular. He has also used his status and position to organize visits by political, religious, social leaders from Goa. He is currently the President of Young Goans Club. Correia is also a coordinator of the Konkani Community of the Sacred Heart Church. :::G.R. CRASTO::: Gabriel R. Crasto made headlines last year when he was awarded the Man of the Year Award by the Goan Review Art Foundation, Mumbai for his services linked to the Goan community in Bahrain and the Konkani language. Crasto, a popular Master Compere (MC) among the Goan community in Bahrain is always at the forefront of social, cultural and sporting events. He has utilized these opportunities to showcase Konkani, Goan culture, heritage and identity of Goans in Bahrain. For me, organizing such events is always a dual purpose, stated Crasto. It gives an opportunity for the talented members of Goan community based here to display their art and whatever little income is generated from such events is diverted to help the needy. In association with other community groups, Crasto has organized functions to felicitate and honor outstanding sportspersons and stage artistes of the Goan origin. He is always at hand to help those in need of his services - either to coordinate with the Indian Embassy or the local Government agencies. A resident of Bahrain for the last 25 years, he is employed with Mohammed Jalal & Sons as Manager in their Travel Division. Being in the travel field, Crasto was influential in obtaining special fares from Air India for Goans during the Exposition of St. Francis Xavier. A freelance journalist, Crasto hails from Navelim. He covers the activities of Goans in Bahrain through his writings in magazines published from Goa. In his younger days Crasto worked as a correspondent of West Coast Times (English daily), Novem Goem and Goencho Mog, etc. In December 2007, Crasto was honored by the Young Goans Club for his contribution to community welfare. He has served several terms on the Managing Committee of the Club in different positions in the past. He is the Chairman of Bahrain Goans Football League and a member of the Konkani Community Committee of the Sacred heart Church. :::ALFRED D'SOUZA::: Since coming to Bahrain over 20 years ago, Alfredo DSouza, has always volunteered his time and services for the poor of the community. He is also a founder member of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Migrant Worker's Group since 2002. Alfredo has been on the Legal Aid Cell of the Indian Community Services which comes under the auspices of the Indian Embassy. Alfredo works very closely with the Indian Embassy in Bahrain to help Laborers and Domestic Workers'. He is also a life member of the Royal Society of St George Charity organization. Alfredo has been instrumental in starting the first ever 'Shelter for abused domestic helpers' and for well over 10 years has been defending the 'Human Rights' of the poor laborers and domestic helpers who have been abused by their employers and are helpless, even before the formation of the first Migrant Worker's Group in Bahrain. Alfredo DSouza is founder member and currently the Vice Chairman of the Migrant Workers Protection Society. Links: www.goa-world.com
