2008/10/5 Eddie Fernandes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Dear Gabe, > > I am expressing a personal view of the role of any overseas Goan > Association in any part of the world. > > What is your personal view? > > Also, since you are obviously referring to the UK Goan Association, does its > memorandum prohibit it from acting in the interests of the Community? I > would be most interested in proof of that. > > Thanks > > Eddie
RESPONSE: Dear Eddie, Memorandum's usually specify what the aspirations should be. It would be highly unusual for a nay specific to be mentioned i.e. the Association cannot help Goans. Rather it does mention that the Association can work together with like minded Associations - now I am writing this, without referring to the Constitution, I do not have it at hand. That does not give carte blanche to the Association... blanket cover powers to pursue all and any encompassing help to Goans willy nilly. There are specifics, I suppose, these were based on the workings of the Goan Clubs in East Africa; these Clubs took care of their members first and foremost. Did not take care of the downtrodden, non member Goans. Only famous and noteworthy Goans, llike Seraphino Antao and Manilie Fernandes, the East African Railways and Harbours Chef who cooked for the Queen, were feted. I believe Manilie was a member of the G.I. Nairobi. To further enlighten, as a rule the so called lower rung goans were not allowed to become members; the cooks and Butlers had their own little club; I think it was called the Santa Cruz Club. The Tailors had their own too, called the Tailors' Society Nairobi. The shempdikars had their own called the Goan Gymkhana Nairobi. Upon the death of a G.I. member an amount was paid to the widow. Although my father died in Goa an amount of money was sent to my mother. The general rule which was adhered to strictly, was that the Goan Associations helped their own members and took the interests of their members first. This I believe was what the Goan Association in the U.K. was modeled on, intentionally or otherwise. As you may or may not know, the bulk of the early members of the Goan Associations i.e. London and Toronto, comprised Goans from East Africa. It must be stated though, that the new formed Associations did not carry the caste baggage with them. If my memory serves me correctly, it was mooted that the Goan Association U.K. would hold a function to raise funds to cover what was paid to the Directors, who helped the Goan Seamen. I do not recall any function being held to this effect, seems to me a case of long on rhetoric and short on action. Now before anyone says I should act instead of writing...I'll state that I was a prominent member from the onset and had it not been for my unsecured loan of £25,000 together with two other members, one of £25,000 and another of £5,000 the Goan Association U.K. might well have been foreclosed. Word had reached the Directors that more than one Member who was owed redemption money because of holding a debenture, was ready to approach the Trustees to liquidate the Association. In fact a present Director's name was mentioned as being one of those who favoured closing the Association down, lock stock and barrel. Now my own views on this do not matter, I would follow the Memorandum and Articles strictly, to not do so could invite not only criticism but also non compliance pursuit through the Courts. -- DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London.
