Dears (as Miguel sez) I wish to commend the Organising Committee of the Toronto convention for putting together this year's convention. Now that the event is over, it is time to let out a sigh of relief.
Well done good people. Well done. I wish we could have been there just to be with the fine Goans of Toronto. Having personally met Lisette & Kevin Saldanha, Ben Antao, Bosco De Mello, Francis Rodrigues, Roland Francis, Mervyn Lobo, and Silviano Barbosa, and interacted several moons ago with John J. De Souza, I knew that the convention was in good hands. Only those who have organised events will know: (i) How difficult and thankless, it is to put together an event (ii) that it takes strong personalities to put together any event. (iii) that some weak persons have difficulty with strong personalities - esp if they happen to be female. (iv) The satisfaction one gets from organising events. (v) That there will always be those complaining 'les miserables' (vi) That even among diaspora Goans, there is intense envy (vii) The best way to deal with crabs is to make Codi out of them. Talking about Crabs, Envy and the musical 'Les miserables', I was struck by the "Convention' posts of Eugene Correia. May I declare upfront my personal biases here. I personally believe that Lisette & Kevin Saldanha, Ben Antao, Bosco De Mello, Francis Rodrigues, Roland Francis, Mervyn Lobo, Silviano Barbosa, and John J. De Souza are good people. When you meet them, you will find nothing but positive energy in the room. Do they have some weak points to go along with their strong points? absolutely! Who does not? On the other hand, may I declare my personal bias against the negative energy that some very bitter people emit. Their names are well known, I do not need to repeat them here. That brings me to the Eugene Correia post. Many among us know that Eugene is quite famous for his inability or perhaps unwillingness to research facts before he writes. So, what does a person who is a factless wonder do when he knows not the facts - he invents them. Now, that quality would have held him in good stead if only he was in the business of writing fantasy novels. Unfortunately, it appears that some people cannot write. Anyway - in an effort to separate fact from Eugenian fiction, I have to resort to my usual bit about Asking a FEW Questions. I must say that these questions may not have any answers. So, Eugene ...please do not rush to answer them. Here are Eugene's statements in " Notes from the Goan Convention - Part I & II (marked E) and simple moi's questions (marked JC) [E 1] I told Kevin that I had "pre-registered" and that I only did NOT pay as the committee was not accepting credit cards. JC 1: is this some new "Faleam" method by which one pre-registers without paying? [E2] Before entering the convention, Francis told me that Ben Antao, the treasurer, insists I pay 250 dollars, the normal fee. I told Francis that he should convince Ben that I was "pre-registered." JC2: If you had paid, as you were expected to do, why did you need Francis to convince Ben that you were pre-registered? JC2b: Is "pre-registered" a FUKOT method of being pre-registered without paying? [E3] Alexyz also drew instant portraits of those who wanted at a price of 20 dollars. He did mine for free, since we are friends since our college days. JC 3: FUKOT again? [E4] When the first speaker, Oscar Furtardo, president of the Goan Overseas Association, began to speak Lisette, Kevin's wife and Events Coordinator, left the hall. When someone asked where is Kevin, he was told that Kevin was packing the bags outside the hall. JC 4: Did Eugene offer to 'pack the bags' so that Lisette and Kevin could be in the hall - at that particular time? [E5] Protocol or at least courtesy demanded that the convention director be presented when the speakers spoke, more so when the president of GOA, an important organization, took the podium. JC 5: Which/Whose/What protocol? JC5b: And is it the case that the chief 'protocol officer' Eugene lent a helping hand to the organisers? [E6] This brings me to an healthy relationship between the organizers, particularly the husband-and-wife team of Kevin and Lisett. JC 6: What is wrong with Kevin and Lisette having a "healthy relationship". They are man and wife, for Heaven's sake. [E7] When the Lisbon Goan Diaspora Meet was announced, Kevin and Lisette decided to attend it. According to some sources, the Casa de Goa said it would provide free accommodation and hospitality to one representative of a Goan association from each country. To take advantage of this offer, Kevin secured an official letter from the Goan Charitable Organization (GCO). JC 7: Are you able to confirm here that Lisette and Kevin secured FUKOT accommodation for themselves in Lisboa? JC7b: You mean to say that even Lisette and Kevin 'pre-registered' for their accommodation? [E8] I am informed that Kevin gave Al the award because Al is not keeping good health. Al informed me that he underwent lung surgery a couple of months earlier and that the top lobe of his right lung has been removed. He said he was feeling fine and the doctors have assured me that there no traces of cancer are left. JC8: Do you have 'consent' to reveal (in a public forum) personal information about a third party? JC8b: Or are you a mere gossip columnist? [E9] Kevin and Lisette carried big egos. I am told that Kevin was at least tolerable to some extent but Lisette was "intolerable." JC9: Qualified folks do often times carry big egos. What is your excuse? JC9b: Are you always "tolerable"? JC9c: Is it that some of us have a problem with assertive women? JC9d: Are you one who believes that women have a role to play - but only in the bedroom and kitchen? [E10] The "family" could not have attended on a better note when Kevin's and Lisette's daughter ..... JC10: Now that you have "pre-gistered" your animosity towards Lisette and Kevin, Are you attacking their daughter next? JC10b: If you have a family, would you like it when some nutcase starts writing stuff about your child? JC10c: If you do not have a family, you may skip this question. You are not expected to know. [E11] One slightly drunk guest pulled me to the bar and started cursing the Saldanhas. JC 11: Interesting company you keep, Eugene. JC 12: Eugene, have you cleared the convention registration dues yet? I believe that the convention concluded a week ago. good wishes to ALL who help others out & also to those who do not help out but only complain. jc
