Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI/SWINDON: Members of the Goan community in Swindon, United Kingdom, interacted with Goa Leader of Opposition and Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao and Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa during a community meet-and-greet held at The Wyvern Tavern in Swindon.
The gathering provided members of the Goan diaspora an opportunity to discuss issues affecting overseas Goans, with conversations focusing on strengthening community unity, preserving Goan cultural identity and improving engagement between Goa and its global diaspora.
A major issue raised during the interaction was the long-pending demand for dual nationality for Goans holding Portuguese citizenship. Community members highlighted the challenges posed by existing citizenship laws on Goan families settled in the United Kingdom and other countries.
Participants discussed the need to pursue an appropriate legal and constitutional mechanism to address the issue while ensuring that the interests and rights of the Goan diaspora are adequately represented.
Among those present were Councillor Princia Fernandes, Councillor Ana Fernandes, Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh, Councillor Jocelina D’Souza, and Union Activist Paulo Fernandes.
Those attending welcomed the opportunity to interact with the visiting legislators and stressed the importance of maintaining regular dialogue between elected representatives in Goa and the overseas Goan community.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to promoting greater unity among Goans across the world and continuing constructive discussions on key issues affecting the diaspora, particularly the question of dual nationality. Participants also thanked Yuri Alemao and Altone D’Costa for engaging with the community and listening to their concerns.
