Goans attending the function in the Jubilee Room at the House of Commons in London on April 8.
LONDON
When dozens of Goans attended a historic event in the Jubilee Room at the House of Commons in London on April 8, it was aimed at conveying a key message.
“The Goan diaspora deserves to be recognised for having contributed significantly across various services and places in the UK,” explained Swindon’s first Mayor of Goan origin Imtiyaz Shaikh, who co-hosted the event along with his wife and Swindon Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Swindon (South) MP and Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander, and Swindon (North) MP Will Stone.
Explaining the purpose of hosting the event, Imtiyaz told The Goan: “We have made this journey to the UK over several decades and now, the third generation of our Goan community has settled and integrated in the UK. This is our adopted home now and we see our future here.”
“It has been important for me that Goans get recognised like any other community and are respected for being an integral part of the UK as they have been contributing to the economic development of this country.”
“Our two MPs representing Swindon, Heidi Alexander and Will Stone, both agreed that the Goan diaspora has been working hard and growing fast in Swindon and in other parts of the UK.”
Imtiyaz, who hails from Vasco, sought to clarify that while only a limited number of Goans could be accommodated in the Jubilee Room at the House of Commons, the event was aimed at recognising the achievements of the Goan diaspora all over the UK.
“This was for the first time ever in the House of Commons that the Goan diaspora had been invited to celebrate and recognise the achievements of the diaspora in the UK. Our aim is to take the entire Goan community along with us to move forward in the UK.”
“I am so proud to see our Goan Councillors from Swindon, Domingos Seby Dias, Joseph Pereira, Danial Vales, Ana Fernandes and Princia Fernandes working with commitment in their respective wards.”
[From L to R] Swindon Councillors Danial Vales and Domingos Seby Dias, Swindon (South) MP and Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander, Swindon (North) MP Will Stone, Swindon Mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh, Councillor Ana Fernandes, Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh and Meural Cardoso.
When asked if his decision to give a boost to the Goan community could be seen as an aspiration to further his political career by becoming an MP, Imtiyaz did not rule it out and remained open to the possibility.
“I am a community person, and love to support my community, but never say never,” said Imtiyaz with a smile.
MPs praise Goan diaspora
Speaking to The Goan during the event, Swindon (South) MP and Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander, and Swindon (North) MP Will Stone praised the Goan community for their achievements in Swindon and other parts of UK.
“The Goan community has been making such a key contribution to life in Swindon, be it the businesses they run, their support to the healthcare and social service, and their contribution to our cultural life,” said Heidi Alexander.
“I am very proud to have Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh as the first Goan Mayor for Swindon and the work that Imtiyaz and Adorabelle do for the community is second to none. They are role models for everyone in Swindon and they represent the very best of Swindon and Goa.”
“I am very proud to call them my friends and was pleased to have been able to host the Goan community from Swindon and beyond in the House of Commons.”
[From L to R] Fr Feroz Fernandes, Swindon (South) MP and Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander, Swindon (North) MP Will Stone, Goan MP for Walsall & Bloxwich Valerie Vaz, MP for Feltham & Heston, Under Secretary of State Migration & Citizenship Seema Malhotra, Swindon Mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh, Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, and Canon Fr Norbert Fernandes.
Alexander recalled her fondness for Goan food and the Goan music which she experienced much even before she was elected as MP.
Swindon (North) MP Will Stone described the Goans in Swindon as a wonderful, fantastic and vibrant community.
“They work so hard, and I never seen so many people involved in supporting the needy, through various social outreach programmes. I am inspired by the Goan community,” acknowledged Stone.
“Not every community is like them, and it is wonderful to work alongside with them.”
The MP had a special word of praise for Ana Fernandes, Princia Fernandes and Meural Cardozo who began a new initiative on March 22 to support Swindon’s homeless and vulnerable communities by providing hot meals, as part of the Helping Hearts Charity.
“Their selfless service is not linked to elections but outside of the elections and this shows how much the Goans community does for others. The Goan community is so open and positive. They have always supported us and are a very caring community,” said Stone.
During her address at the event, Seema Malhotra, MP for Feltham & Heston, Under Secretary of State Migration & Citizenship, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Equalities, said the Goan community has been a very successful and thriving part of the UK.
“The Goan community has been successful in so many ways, including business, education, health services and politics, while also contributing to our culture. The music and songs take me back when I went to Goa many years ago and would love to go again,” said Malhotra.
Valerie Vaz, a Goan MP representing Walsall & Bloxwich, also addressed the gathering and said she was proud of the various achievements of the Goan community in the UK.
“I still yearn for the good old days in Goa, and remember our parents and grandparents who brought us here to the UK,” she said.
