NAVELKARS – PROTECT YOUR LAND, PROTECT GOA by A. Veronica Fernandes

The village Navelim is a well-known village in Goa for many reasons, one of the reasons is because it is a place of great Goan sons; one of them is Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes – a Parliamentarian who represented Goa in Portuguese Parliament and the other Cardinal Gracias. Both these great sons of Goa brought name, fame and honour not only for Navelim but also for Goa.

In Kuwait we have an organisation named after its village Navelim and christened as Navelim Youth Center which is in existence since many years now. Navelim Youth Center has engulfed in its fold many Navelkars working in Kuwait. This organisation is also running its soccer team most of its players are from Navelim working in Kuwait and this team is doing well on the football field.

Navelkars in Kuwait are showing lot of interest in the promotion of their causes in Kuwait as well as in Goa. In their fold they had some members who were really dynamic. One of them was the late Custodio who along with his other colleagues was instrumental in initiating our soccer activities in Kuwait. He sacrificed lot of his time and money to start this competitive soccer. Because of his and other colleagues of his in UG our soccer activities started and flourishing well till now.

The other Navelkar who has done more for the Goan causes was recently retired from Kuwait Mr. Elvino Rodrigues. His contribution for the cause of Konkani was great and also for other important Goan causes. Not many Kuwait Navelkars have got themselves involved in Goan causes as Elvino Rodrigues. He was the President of prestigious Kuwait Konknni Kendr. During the invasion of Kuwait, when we organised in Goa the movement for the cause of Kuwait under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity, Elvino Rodrigues along with his colleagues like Thomas Fernandes, Luis D’Silva and others have done a wonderful job. A very good bilingual scribe, Elvino Rodrigues was a very good orator too. His excellent skill of motivating his villagers to join in good number for the Rallies in Goa in support of Kuwait’s liberation gave very good dividends.

Navelkars in Kuwait under their organisation have a very good circle and they are united well (except for a few who try to create a discord among members). Taking advantage of their unity they can pull their financial resources and purchase the land and properties which is under the sale in their locality.

According to my information, outsider non-Goans are on line to purchase properties in Navelim with handsome prices. This trend Navelkars in Kuwait can stop with their financial power. It is not only in Bardez non-Goans are purchasing Goan land; they also started in Salcette and in a place like Navelim.

Individually Kuwait and Gulf Navelkars will not be able to do much but with unity, Yes. During critical time Navelkars in Kuwait helped many of the Goan causes and now the time has come for them to take control of their land and properties by purchasing the same from Navelim Battkars. One plus point in Kuwait Navelkars is their sense of Unity which can get them anything they want.

It is a time now for Navelkars and other village based Goan associations to take a serious view of deGoanisation process going on in Goa. Gulf Goans and especially Kuwait Goans have done wonderful job for Goa thru charity and other social work. Now the time is come for all of us in the Gulf to act in unison to take possession of our land and properties in our own localities in Goa.

Somebody must from their circle come forward and take a decision to form a financial organisation to purchase land in Navelim instead of allowing Non-Goans a free hand to purchase our land. If necessary, they can get some help from their Navelkar brother Luizinho Faleiro who was very much with them in offering his support during the invasion of Kuwait. Sending lakhs from Kuwait to the Church and Chapels and Church Schools is finished. Sending donations for other movements is also finished. Now the time for us is to think in different angle and to stop Non-Goans’ menace Goa is facing in Goa.