Commends Church, government for successful Exposition, promotes his charity in Goa
Former UK minister Keith Vaz and students of St Jude’s School take part in a 1-mile walk in Betalbatim on January 8, as part of his charity Silver Star Diabetes outreach programme.
LONDON
UK’s former minister for Europe at the Foreign Office Keith Vaz is not only happy to visit his roots in Goa, but he believes that Goans should support their homeland and become ambassadors for Goa.
Vaz had a three-fold purpose while on a visit to Goa: To meet friends and relations, to attend the Exposition at Old Goa and to promote his charity ‘Silver Star Diabetes’ in Goa.
Vaz, who has been the longest serving Asian MP in British history having served in Parliament for 32 years from 1987-2019, traces his paternal roots to Anjuna and maternal roots to Calangute, while his wife, Maria, hails from Velim.
“I’m a grandson of Goa. Though we might have left Goa, we have to support Goa, and we should all become ambassadors for Goa,” said Vaz.
EXPOSITION AT OLD GOA
Vaz was full of praise for the organisation of the recent 18th Exposition of the Solemn Relics of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa.
Joint Mamlatdar IV Dayle Rebello presenting a memento to former UK minister Keith Vaz and his wife, Maria, at the 18th Exposition in Old Goa.
“I think we should be commending the Catholic Church and the Goa government, especially Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, for the amazing work. It has been a pleasure to be part of the Exposition,” said Vaz.
“I think Goa should be proud of the Exposition. We should be very pleased in the way the entire spiritual event was managed for the millions of devotees. It was nice to see the Cardinals, Bishops, priests, nuns and laity participate in the Exposition. The highpoint was the amazing concert of the Shillong Chamber Choir.”
CHARITY IN GOA
Vaz is the founder of Silver Star Diabetes, a Leicester-based charity which promotes diabetes awareness. Through its Mobile Diabetes Units, the charity attends major community events and runs a weekly Diabetes Chai Chat with international experts. The charity has held Camps in Goa, Kolkata, Kerala, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Morocco, and Yemen.
“We launched Silver Star Diabetes in 2007 with Amitabh Bachchan coming to Goa. We also launched a bus which was handed to Apollo Hospital so that the hospital team could go out and test for diabetes. We are going to start various camps in Goa,” said Vaz.
“I’m doing a sponsored walk 10 miles around the world and one of the miles took place in Goa on the morning of January 8, when the children of Saint Jude’s School at Betalbatim joined me for a 1-mile walk at 7 am before school started.”
“We have had a relationship with the school for a couple of years to get children to walk and to eat healthy foods like fruits instead of chocolate and fizzy drinks.”
GOAN CONNECT
Vaz said he was very pleased to be in Goa during the holiday season.
“I love spending Christmas and New Year in Goa. Despite some reports that tourism is done and there are a few people coming to Goa, I am of the view that there is only one place on the planet that you can celebrate Christmas and New Year and that is in Goa,” said Vaz.
Vaz said he wanted more and more Goans from all over the world making visits to Goa.
“Actually, one way to make this possible is that airlines do not overcharge people during Christmas time. This is very unfair as some of the airline rates are astronomical. Let’s make an effort to compel these airline companies not to be mean during the Christmas period.”
ACHIEVEMENTS
Tony Blair appointed Keith Vaz as Minister for Justice (1999) in his first administration and he oversaw the Crown Prosecution Service and the new Community Legal Service. Prior to that he was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Attorney General and Secretary General.
Vaz was then appointed Minister for Europe at the Foreign Office (1999-2001) by Blair with the responsibility for EU enlargement bringing in the 8 EU countries that applied to join.
Keith Vaz was named “Asian of The Year” by the Asian Who is Who in 1988. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law from De Montford University, Leicester. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asian Achievers Awards for his Outstanding Contribution to Politics.
