Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes from Navelim, Salcette, Goa was a great parliamentarian representing Goa in Portuguese Parliament where he created a very strong impact of his debates. He was known to speak out his opinion very forcefully and logically. He had strong conviction of his opinion. He was a pride of Goa and Goans and in a special case he was the pride of Navelim. It was an honour for Navelkars to have such a great parliamentarian from their midst. He used his talent for the good of Goa and Goans.
On 7th of this month, Avertano Furtado another son of Navelim who in the last election in Goa created a history by defeating his opponent Congress heavyweight Churchill Alemao will be the Chief Guest for the soccer final of Navelim organised tournament in Kuwait. By defeating Churchill Alemao what looked impossible before the election Avertano Furtado made it easily possible thereby knocking down the illusionary notion that Churchill Alemao was unbeatable.
Avertano Furtado is coming to Kuwait not by spending looted money from Goa as some earlier politicians used to do but he is coming to Kuwait as a guest of Navelim Youth Center who will bear all his expenses. According to one Navelkar, Avertano Furtado does not need to loot Goa, he is a straight, simple and humble man. By the grace of God may he remain so throughout. Navelkars elected him thru their goodwill and not thru money. Avertano Furtado did not pour money in front of the voters; it was voters who elected him thru their freewill.
Regarding Mopa Airport, earlier representatives of Navelim, Churchill Alemao and Luizinho Faleiro played the role of Dr. Jackyl and Mr. Hyde. They were not upright in declaring their full hearted opposition to Mopa Airport. Besides Mathany Saldanha not a single heavyweight MLA showed his opposition to Mopa Airport. Mopa is the doom for Salcette. But who cares for Mathanay Saldanha’s opinion now? He is dead and gone and in the bargain his wife Alina buried her husband’s opinion against Mopa in Mathanay’s grave. Now it looks even she is not caring for her husband’s opinion. It looks she not only forgotten the anti-Mopa opinion of her husband but she also forgot her dead husband when Parrikar drugged her not only with MLAship on silver platter but more than that a Ministership.in his cabinet.
By the end of this year Mathany will be a history for Alina who failed to fight with Parrikar against Mopa as per the wishes of her husband. It looks Alina is more concerned of her ministerial position than to keep the memory of her husband alive. For the sake of Power and Position backed by huge amount of money some people will even forfeit their relationship with their families too.
Avertano Furtado was elected as an independent MLA and as such he is not the product of BJP. Parrikar it looks has given him the cabinet post not because he loved Avertano Furtado but more to please Christian community in Goa. Otherwise Parrikar is a born anti-Christian. I still remember his cancelling of Good Friday holiday earlier. What good a Christian expect from the RSS man?
By fighting in Portuguese Parliament Dr. Francis Luis Gomes got facilities for Goans in Goa. Because he acted in support of the Goans he is remembered by Goans even now otherwise he would be a history, unknown and unsung. In Kuwait, Navelkars always stood in unison for the good of Goa and Goans. Many of the Navelkars played a very prominent role for the cause of Goa. I can still remember the roles of Kuwait Navelkars namely Elvino Rodrigues – President of Kuwait Konknni Kendr, Thomas Fernandes, Luis who are no more in Kuwait and also of others for the promotion of Goan causes. For the cause of Konkani and Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center Movenet during the invasion of Kuwait they performed excellent roles. These Navelkars raised the names of Navelim to the pedestal by being true to their conscience. They stood firm to their principles by supporting the right causes for Goa. Will Avertano Furtado emulate them or hide under the Umbrella of BJP and Parrikar?.
In a similar manner as a true son of Navelim maintaining the tradition of great Navelkars, Avertano Furtado must not remain as silent spectator over the cries of Goans against Mopa airport. Avertano Furtado as a true Goan and a true Navelkar must strongly and openly support the campaign to scrap the Mopa Airport. If necessary he should even resign from Parrikar’s Cabinet to side with the people who got him elected. Parrikar and his BJP have not elected Avertano Furtado. Avertano Furtado is a product of Navelkars who are raising their voice against Mopa and as such Avertano Furtado cannot afford to ignore this voice of his voters who elected him against the mighty opponent.
And coming back to Kuwait Navelkars, they must during their interaction with Avertano Furtado in Kuwait get an assurance from him that he will openly support the anti-Mopa campaign to scrap Mopa Airport. Otherwise his second term in the Assembly will be an illusion to him. Last month when I visited Goa, I saw him attending a meeting at Margao Loia Maidan organised to campaign against Mopa Airport.
I was pleased to see him attending the meeting seated on front row. This was a silent support for the anti-Mopa Airport movement but now he must take a next step and tell Parrikar either to scrap Mopa or scrap me from your circle in which case he will be a patriot of Goan cause. Avertano Furtado needs to gather courage to oppose Parrikar on Mopa. Seeing him he looks physically capable of opposing Parrikar on Mopa issue but ideologically and intellectually will he? Time alone will tell.
Meantime, I welcome Avertano Furtado to Kuwait and hope he will enjoy Goan hospitality in a usual Goan tradition.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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