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5th Annual Konkan Fruit Fest
Promenade, D B Bandodkar Road, Panaji, Goa
16-18, May 2008
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-May/073789.html
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In April, Qatar Goan community members posted disgruntled emails with regard
to the award given to Simon Dsilva (President Goan Welfare Association, Qatar)
by the NRI Commissioner. Also letters were written to the Editor on local
newspaper Gulf Times. One of the writer questioned Simon Dsilva of his
illegitimate running of the association and reasons for bringing bollywood
stars and overseas judges (for May Ball 8th May 2008) and for not disclosing
their names.
Report on Gulf Times 13th May 2008 titled "Keralite Girl is May Queen",
stated that the judges were Sarita Barretto, Agnello Fernandes - president
Navelim Youth Centre Kuwait and Gabriel Crasto, Chairman of Bahrain Goans
Football League. The association also felicitated Francisco Correia, Carmo
Santos, Gabriel Crasto, Celso Fernandes and Simon Dsilva recipients of the
Community Service Leadership awards of the Goa government. A token of
appreciation was presented to Basil Coutinho, a senior member of the
association who flew in from Goa to attend the show.
Simon Dsilva did not disclose the judges names before the show. The Cat is out
of the Hat. One of the judge Gabriel Crasto, from Bahrain, is another
recipient of the award in Goa!!
Basil Coutinho, retired banker, based in Goa is the associations past president
and was and is still instrumental to bring it to its present high. He gives
his full support and returns to Qatar every year to secure sponsorship for the
May Ball. It is surprising why Simon Dsilva did not recommended Basil
Coutinho (his mentor ) name for the Goan award? Basil Coutinho deserves the
award.
The Goan Welfare Association has only 10 members (all are Simon Dsilvas
puppets) and general body meeting/elections are not held for 8 years. Is it
acceptable to the World Wide Goan Community? Is it acceptable to Simon Dsilvas
gulf counterparts - Agnello Fernandes president Navelim Youth Centre Kuwait,
Gabriel Crasto, Chairman of Bahrain Goans Football League, Francisco Correia
and Gerard Fernandes - Young Goan Club Bahrain, Carmo Santos - Chairmain Goan
Cultural Centre Kuwait, Celso Fernandes - VP Goan Community Oman, Bartholomeo
Silveira, Abu Dhabi ?
Gulf delegates / couterparts / award recipients abovenamed who attended the
May Ball - do you run your clubs like Simon Dsilva with 10 members only? Are
your clubs not open to the Community? Are you not responsible for your
actions/decisions? Are you not answerable/accountable to the Community? Are
you not transparent?
Regardless of the resentfulness of the Community, Simon Dsilva had the
impudence to invite the other award recipients from Gulf States and felicitate
them, and himself, at the May Ball. If Simon Dsilva is so confident then he
should open the membership to the Qatar Goan Community and hold elections. If
Simon Dsilva does not open membership and conduct elections then Indian
Cultural Centre, Indian Embassy and NRI Commissioner should intervene and
sack Simon Dsilva for his despotic attitude and take control of the association
and openly invite the community and conduct elections in its interest and
welfare.
Simon Dsilva do you wish to be in the shoes of K.P.S Gill, the recently
sacked President of the Indian Hockey Federation.
Allister Pereira
Qatar
SHOW REVIEW: Gone from Best to Good, and Going from Good to Bad
Imagine the Gulf Times report titled "Keralite girl is May Queen" It is in bad
taste.
How has the association benefited by bringing the four bollywood (tv) stars?
Expenses to association: US$20,000.00. What did the stars do? Arrived late,
did Nothing. Who decides to bring stars - only Simon Dsilva and his 10 puppets
support it.
How many Goans attended the show: 20%, approx 90 out of 450 crowd. Goans
preventing and no more patronize the show. (In the past it attracted up to 1000
people with 90% Goans)
How has the association benefited by hosting the judges, gulf delegates?
Expenses to association : US$10,000.00. Why did they come? Only Simon Dsilva
knows, could be to give give solidarity to Simon Dsilva. No reasons for
further felicitating gulf delegates at May Ball. Time lost by people for this
function.
Show started: 11 pm, only after arrival of the tv stars.
Show could start: 9 pm with 200 people (200 people lost 2 hours, loss of 400
hours).
No respect for Time. Wait wait and wait until stars come.
Gulf invites / delegates have witnessed the show.
