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Sangath, www.sangath.com, is looking to build a centre for services, training and research and seeks to buy approx 1500 to 2000 sq mtrs land betweeen Mapusa and Bambolim and surrounding rural areas. Please contact: [email protected] or [email protected] or ph+91-9881499458 http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-July/180028.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Since I am currently in Toronto, I was thinking of last year's International Goan Convention. And presto, here comes the news that the next one would be held in Muscat, Oman. There was some confusion regardng the hosting of this year's convention. It was first said that Rene Barreto was to be in charge of the convention to be held in London, England, and then I was told that the Goa NRI Commissioner Edwardo Faleiro announced that it would be held in Australia. Even some months later, news circulated that Rene was going ahead in hosting the convention. Then, it was mentioned that Rene was not a member in good standing of the Goan assocition and that the association would not be associated with hosting the event. I am told that Australia was unwilling to host because of the current recession. How Oman came into the picture is unknown to me. But my question remains: why Oman? I have been to Oman umpteen times and I never heard of the organisation that is hosting the event. Maybe it was there, but it was not mentioned to me by many Goans who I met and also checked on the Goan scene in Muscat. I am, therefore, not sure when this association was formed and how active it is. The population of Goans in Oman, particularly Muscat, the capital, is far less compared to Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. I gather this from all possible sources and I can stand corrected. It would be nice to hear from Mr. Faleiro why Muscat was chosen. Also would like to know if Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Kuwait were approached. As for Dubai, I know for sure that the Goan organisation there is defunct, though it exists on paper. The only way Dubai could have hosted it if some individuals had got together and taken the responsibility of putting up the event. In constrast to Dubai, the Goan associations in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain at least appear to be firm. Though it is early to say how many people would attend the Muscat convention, I am afraid that even people from the neighbouring UAE would be reluctant to go there. Does one care to remember what happened in Toronto? Even Goans staying in the vicinity of the venue failed to show up in good numbers at the convention. To remind those who many have forgotten, there were more "senior citizens" at the convention. There presence, if I remember correctly, was assured with discount on delegate fee. Or was it buy-one-get-one free? Following the convention, it was said on this forum that some initiatives have been taken to implement the decisions of the convention. These initiatives were to be implemented by a San Francisco-based group. I haven't heard how much progress has been done on this front. Maybe, members of the group who are goanetters will enlighten us on what has taken place so far. One thing I know for sure that the Toronto organising committee has run into internal problems. I hear that there has been a falling out of members of the board and the air is foul with charges and counter-charges. One of the key issues relate to accounts of the convention. Maybe some of them who are goanetters can explain what the net result has been. Coming back to this year's convention, it would be sensible to have postponed it. The current global economic condition does not warrant the hosting of the convention. Goans in Dubai at least are hurt badly because of the downturn in Dubai's economy. On my recent trip to Goa, I was informed that at least 20,000 Goans have returned because of loss of jobs. I am not sure how deeply the recession has affected Muscat. Judging by the scenario in the UAE, people are afraid to spend an extra dirham. The money saved from not hosting the convention could be put into a fund for helping out the returned NRIs. Faleiro spoke of a scheme for NRI seniors. Maybe the money could go for this initiative. Kerala is doing lot for Gulf NRIs who have come back to their homeland. They have made a fund to provide loans for these NRIs to start small businesses. It is still time to call off the meet. I hope wiser counsels would prevail in the Goa government to take such a decision. Eugene Correia __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/
