Yesterday, 31.08.20 one of the well-known members of Kuwait Goan community Mr. Raymond D ‘Sa marked his 80th birthday. Though he is spending his retired life now since last six plus years and living in his home village at Nagoa (Arpora) Bardez Goa, he spent about 40 years in Kuwait working and holding a top post in the most prestigious Bank in Kuwait, The National Bank of Kuwait.
Who is this gentleman Raymond D’Sa? He was born and brought up at his home place in Nagoa Bardez were he did his education completing the Matriculation which was the highest English education then in Goa. This was done by him at the first English High School of Goa “St. Joseph’s High School, Arpora which was built and established by one Non-Goan foreighner Deacon known as Fr. Lyons who was thrown out of the Seminary as a young Seminarian when he was afflicted with the deadly sickness Leprosy type. After doing so much of medical treatment to cure his sickness and having no cure, somebody advised him to go to Goa a place which is blessed by God with the natural gift of curative water coming from the Springs. As advised he came to Goa and at Sinquerim Bardez Goa, he had bath in one of the Springs and soon he was cured. Then as a mark of gratitude to the place that cured him he thought of doing something most memorable that is establishing of first English High School at Arpora which had high educational standard and because of this those days it was called as “Collegio Diocesan de St. jose, Arpora". The motto of this school was written in Latin in bold capital letters as “CIBARIA NECESSARIA SUMITE ET ABITE”, its meaning is “Take the necessary food and depart”.
Folowing the instruction of his school, the young, energetic and handsome boy Raymond D’Sa departed from Goa and landed in Kuwait, In school he was a bright student while in extra curricular activities he was extremely good, soccer being his forte where he guarded the goal of his School or village teams where he proved to be a hard nut to track.
He was very active in Kuwait for any activity done by Kuwait Goans, either in soccer for Indians or tiatro or Konkani or Hotel Goan Heritage or any other cause. He helped the promotion of Konkani movement in Kuwait, so also the soccer tournaments where he was very active being the president of Goan Overseas Association that was fielding its soccer team in Kuwait for the tournaments for Indians and expatriates. The team GOA Maroons was name and fame because Raymond D’Sa took lot of interest in this team along with others,
Inspite of being so prominent he was always humble and never made show of his excellence in life. He was my great help for all my movements I did from Kuwait. A man of good discipline and character, humility was his forte in life. One behalf of me, my family and all the like minded Goans, I wish him a very happy birthday.
A.Veronica Fernandes.