LONDON
Tens of thousands of Goans have migrated to the UK after acquiring Portuguese nationality over the last few decades, but availing of facilities, benefits and services at the Portuguese Consulate proved to be difficult for several of these Portuguese Goans.
Many of those challenges have now been addressed and resolved, thanks to the intervention and campaign of a senior Portuguese advisor in the UK, who, incidentally, has no roots in Goa.
Antonio Mota Cunha is a senior advisor of the Council of the Portuguese Communities (CPC), the Portuguese government's advisory body for policies relating to emigration and Portuguese communities living abroad. The CPC raises issues and reduces hardships pertaining to any consulate work, while also promoting Portuguese culture, heritage and language.
Cunha estimates that about 178,000 Portuguese nationals live in the UK, of which 50% are South Asian, with Goans forming a majority in this group.
THE CHALLENGES
Speaking to The Goan, Cunha said Portuguese Goans had been facing several difficulties in the UK.
“I was shocked to find Goans queuing up at the Portuguese Consulate in London. Most of them spoke no Portuguese and found themselves in difficulty whenever they approached the Portuguese Consulate in London to seek services like renewal of passports, BI, or other consulate services,” said Cunha.
“Trying to acquire appointments for consulate services was another challenge for the Portuguese Goans. They could not navigate nor secure an appointment on the consulate website.”
“They were compelled to apply for an appointment via unauthorised agents, who would charge high fees after reserving bulk appointments on the Consulate’s website.”
“During a chat with them in the Consulate, I found out that most Portuguese Goans had paid for appointments, which should have been free. Moreover, Portuguese Goans would find it difficult to approach the Portuguese Consulate in London and navigate through the system on account of language barriers. Portuguese Goans were not proficient in the Portuguese language, while the consulate staff would speak only in Portuguese.”
“As a result, many Portuguese Goans felt that they were not welcome and always had difficulty with services at the consulate. The Goans were treated as second-class citizens, and someone was also making money booking appointment slots. I decided that something must be done to resolve all these problems.”
THE CONNECTION
Cunha tried to connect with the Portuguese Goan community, but it was easier said than done.
“No one knew how many Portuguese Goans had settled in the UK.
“I managed to find a Summer Festival poster with some telephone numbers. But attempts to reach contact the listed telephone numbers from the Portuguese Goan community fell on deaf ears,” admitted Cunha.
Cunha finally got a break when someone suggested that he contact Charles Dias, who hails from Aldona-Goa and is an active member at St Joseph Catholic Church, Wembley.
“I received a call from an unknown number with no caller ID. The caller introduced himself as Antonio Cunha, claiming to be an advisor to the Portuguese Consulate. His message was firm and assertive: “I am trying to help Portuguese Goans gain representation at the Portuguese Consulate, but nobody is responding to my calls or messages. I see many Goan people struggling to secure appointments at the Portuguese Consulate, and I want your people to get involved. Give me some names of those who can represent the Goans. This is very important for the Goan community”,” recalled Dias.
“I was a bit taken aback, receiving such a call out of the blue”especially since it came from a withheld number. I wondered whether it might be some kind of prank or scam. I told him I would get back to him, but I had no contact details to follow up.”
“Later, I spoke to the then Goan Chaplain, Fr Patrick D’Souza, about this apparent opportunity for Goan representation as advisors at the Portuguese Consulate. A week later, I received another call from Antonio, who once again spoke passionately about helping Portuguese Goans.”
Following Fr Patrick’s guidance, Dias arranged a virtual meeting with a few individuals and Antonio to discuss the proposed election process. Cunha along with another CPC Advisor João Cruz then met Dias in this connection.
Cunha said he and Joao later visited the St Joseph Catholic Church, Wembley, to meet the Portuguese Goan community.
“I was taken aback to see a church full of Goans. I was also excited that I finally could connect with the Portuguese Goan community,” said Cunha.
THE IMPACT
Cunha then began interacting with the Portuguese Goan community and explained the many benefits through various agencies, such as learning the Portuguese language and culture, opening bank accounts in Portugal, etc.
“I also advised them to request the Portuguese Consulate in London to have English-speaking staff, which has now been implemented to assist Portuguese Goans with their queries,” said Cunha.
“Renewal of Portuguese passports which were extended for a period of five years will now be renewed for 10 years. Moreover, applying for a visa for a spouse not holding Portuguese nationality has now been streamlined, and a Schengen visa will be issued for the validity of the passport.”
“The Portuguese Consulate in London also has improved services, like booking appointments, a telephone service and a website with bilingual facilities. More benefits are planned, and work is in progress to raise awareness among the Portuguese Goans regarding various other facilities entitled to them.”
Cunha’s connect with the Portuguese Goan community also enabled Goans to get elected as CPC advisors for the UK and Ireland.
THE FUTURE
While Cunha has been addressing issues concerning Portuguese Goans, he advised them in a recent online meeting with the Portuguese Goan community and the Goan CPC advisors that they must take up the responsibility in addressing various issues.
“It is time for Portuguese Goans to rise up and address their issues with the Consulate. I have been handling cases that were directed to me. Now, the CPC advisors must be proactive and start addressing these issues,” said Cunha.
