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Happy New Year Twenty-Ten
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Ok, folks,
I have been sort of following the debate on who is a Goan and who is not.
I just don't get the argument that a person non-resident in Goa, cannot not be
a proper Goan.
At the same time, I also don't get the argument that a long time resident of
Goa cannot be called a Goan.
For those who have an open mind, how about the following from the Mozambique
Minister of State for Administration?
MervynthankfullynomorepostsfrommetodayLobo
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HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JAN 5
Mozambique Minister of State for Administration, Dr Oscar Monteiro has appealed
to the Goan people to maintain greenery and agriculture and protect the
environment for posterity.
Dr Monteiro, who is of Goan origin, is currently on a week-long visit to Goa
along with the Chief Justice Constitutional Court of Mozambique, Dr Rui
Baltazar. He called on the Managing Director of Herald Publications Raul
Fernandes at the Printing Press at Verna.
Dr Monteiro is looking forward to meet some of the freedom fighters from Goa
since he too was involved in the Liberation of Mozambique from Portuguese
regime. “There is a common link between Goa and Mozambique. We must not forget
that we had to fight for our Liberation”, he said.
“I have come here to meet people in Goa to understand certain elements of the
personality of Goans, which in a way are present in my personality through my
parents, friends and education”, he said.
Feeling at ease in the State, Dr Monteiro was enchanted by the lush green rice
fields as he traveled through the hinterland of Bardez. “There are lots of
trees too. People appear living in harmony with nature, this should not be
changed. It is not proper to have skyscrapers everywhere”, he said, while
replying to a question.
On the Goan community in Mozambique, Dr Monteiro said the main contribution of
Goans to new Mozambique has been the professionals, such as engineers, doctors,
lawyers and professionals in general. “These professionals had helped the
country in a difficult period. They had higher skills at the time of
Independence than the majority of black Mozambiquans. When Mozambique got
Independence, it was left to this generation and the few black professionals to
manage and shape the State”, he added.
Replying to a question, Dr Monteiro said “we can be a Goan and still be a
Mozambiquan. There are Goans who remained as Goans in Mozambique, and there are
Goans who are Mozambiquans and there are Mozambiquans who are Goans”, he added.
Like many students, Dr Monteiro had plunged himself in the Liberation movement
when he was studying in Portugal and were fighting against fascism. “I was
involved in the ground network of Mozambique students. Our role then was to
mobilise Mozambique students toward the liberation struggle. Our aim was not to
fight against the Whites, but was part of a movement which fought against all
forms of racism”, he recalled, adding that “the battle against racism is never
ending”.
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