Fellow readers, First there is Gabe waiting in the wings hoping and praying to change his words from "not on your nelly" (not as in elephant) to "goodness gracious me", if and when the profit and loss account is finally published by the host organisation on the NRI Global Goan Convention held in London. Second, there is me with my newly purchased solar powered (can't risk batteries) calculator in case the figures are mind boggling. Finally, there is the rest of the Goan world who are tucking into their plate of sorpotel and pilau waiting for the next episode of Money, Mystery and Suspense.
Con Menezes's article on "Personalized Brain Training" came just at the right time to light up my brain cells. Reason, whilst we are still playing the game "Show me the Books", I have just realised that those at the helm of the host organisation have already moved on to play their new game "Show me the Money". With the 2012 Olympics on the horizon, I suspect they are plotting, planning, discussing and finalising the finishing touches to be given to GOA towers (remember the penthouse buy to let, let to buy). Floors need sweeping, cushions fluffing up, fridges stocking up with Kingfisher beers and CDMs (Cadbury Dairy Milks), large flat screen 3D televisions bought for the lounge as well as bedrooms 1, 2 and 3. In addition, the highly prized garage needs to be checked out to see if it is large enough to fit the official Olympic car. Much hard work to be done in preparation for the rent of one thousand British pounds a day, a week (more who knows). In the furore of activity in case they missed it, on page 2 of the Homes and Property News (London Evening Standard 24 August 2011), they can even register their Olympic let on homesandproperty.co.uk/eventrent. There's an article here saying a couple have put their Greenwich home for rent at £24,000 per week! In the midst of all this, we have Cyprian Fernandes scratching his head on the whys, whens, where fors and what fors of the NRI Global Goan Convention. May I politely request that he reads George Pinto's article "Of closed minds, and bare intellects, and empty souls" in its entirety, and then watches the videos and photographs of the NRI Global Goan Convention in London and Goan Festival in its entirety. He will see the wonderful food, a very beautiful lady and a handsome gentleman dancing to the melodious voice of Goa's nightingale. The smiles on their faces show pure joy or a giveaway that yet another successful money spinner has been spun with their paying audience footing the bill. Were all Goan objectives met, absolutely. In the words of George Pinto "........our chimpanzees sang, danced and picnicked". Praise and congratulations go to the Government of Goa - NRI cell for bringing the Global Goan Convention to London and accounting for the known expenditure dispensed so far and sharing these figures with us by kind favour of Aires Rodrigues. Their speedy production of accounts might knee jerk the host organisation into producing their set of creative accounts. May BE or May BE not on this side of Christmas 2011 and perhaps share it on goanet in the search for excellence so that comparisons can be drawn with other host countries where the NRI Global Goan Convention has been held? Melvyn Fernandes Surrey, United Kingdom 31 August 2011 - official last day of summer in the UK [email protected]
