In the early thirties at Burgan Oilfield in Kuwait, the Britishers found Oil in Kuwait first time but only after the end of World War II, excavation of it was done for commercial purpose. Because of Oil finding in big quantity, the money power of Kuwait increased tremendously and as such the economy of Kuwait started booming needing foreign manpower to run the economy. Among others, manpower from Goa in different sectors got plenty of opportunities to work in Kuwait and because of these employment opportunities Goans earned a lot, mainly the lower category especially financially weaker section of Goan society. Due to its employment in Kuwait suddenly money started flowing in big quantity into the hands of poor Goans and thru this money power this class of Goans raised its standard of living by constructing big houses, providing quality education for their children and acquiring luxuries of their choice so that their social standing has suddenly gone up. This class of Goans started gaining respect in society better than before.
To cite an example from my village itself, because of her employment in Kuwait as a maid, an ordinary lady who could hardly read and write, after her husband’s death at the young age leaving her 3 children under the care of her mother, went to Kuwait, earned little money which as per Goan standard is big, brought her children up with good educational and social standards. What would be her position if it was not for Kuwait? Likewise I have many examples of how our people got benefit of Kuwait though it was not easy to work and to survive in Kuwait where the local customs, tradition, language and rigid laws are unbearable. It is very hard to work and to survive in Kuwait. Heavenly Mannas are not falling there for the expatriates like us Goans. But yet we worked hard facing all the difficulties, insults, humiliations and slavish type of treatment. And only by undergoing such treatment we managed to earn something to develop our economic conditions in Goa.
Actually speaking Kuwait is not dependent on us, instead of us it can hire manpower from elsewhere but it is we who are more interested in working in Kuwait and precisely because of this we spend lakhs of rupees to go to Kuwait for employment. With all its negative factors we still crave to work in Kuwait to improve our economic conditions and thru Kuwait employment overwhelming majority of Kuwait Goans made tremendous all round improvement. But all are not thinking in these lines. People like me feel grateful to Kuwait for providing us opportunities to work there and to gain something more in life which would not have been possible minus Kuwait employment. Kuwait made us what we are today, for educated and uneducated, for professionals or amateurs and for males or females. It is because of our employment in Kuwait that many of us earlier rejected by the girls later on got opportunities to get married with beautiful and sophisticated girls.
It is because of our employment in Kuwait we successfully organized such a massive Konkani movement for the cause of Konkani and Statehood, because of Kuwait we helped so much of charitable works, helped construction of Churches and Chapels, Old Age Houses, Hospitals, Schools and other educational institutions and so many more.
This positive factor in mind, we formed our organization called Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center to promote the cause of Kuwait. Everyone must be knowing what a great movement we did in Goa in support of Kuwait when Kuwait was invaded by Iraq and later on as well.
Since last two 26thFebruarys, we in Goa are marking the liberation day of Kuwait by organizing public meetings in Panjim. Coming 26th February will be the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi invasion. Since it is going to be the Silver Jubilee function, it has to be organized befitting the year. I have decided to contact top Kuwaitis including our friend Mubarak Al Hindal who is the great lover of GKSC soliciting his co-operation in inviting prominent Kuwaitis to attend to this function. I am also inviting Goans from Kuwait especially those who were with us in this movement from the beginning.
This is the only opportunity for us Goans to build a strong friendship between Goans and Kuwaitis thru GKSC which should be supported by all the lovers and supporters of Kuwait. To organize this silver jubilee function, I need financial support. During the last 2 years I spent money from my own pocket but this time and even in future I request Goans working in Kuwait and others who are settled down in Goa to co-operate, if they can afford and if they feel we should go ahead. It is not me alone who benefited from Kuwait employment but everyone who worked in Kuwait. There will be total transparency in this transaction. Those who know me in Kuwait should have no fear but those who doubt may refrain from co-operation.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.Tel: 7507394349.