[From L to R] Clayton Barreto, Pamila Rodrigues, UK’s Minister for Equality Seema Malhotra, Hounslow Councillor Pritam Grewal and Mayor of Hounslow Amy Croft.
LONDON
UK’s Minister for Equality Seema Malhotra on Thursday praised the Goan community for making an important contribution to businesses, public services and society in the UK.
She was addressing a gathering to celebrate the Feast of St Francis Xavier, which was co-hosted by Pamila and Keven Rodrigues in the House of Commons, London.
Malhotra, who also serves as Minister for the Indo-Pacific and is Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston, said the feast of St Francis Xavier was being celebrated by the Goan community for the second time in Parliament.
“I am so pleased to be able to work with the local Goan community, and I have always been proud of and celebrated the UK’s diversity, through which we build strong links with our heritage and share our lives and stories with our wider community,” said Malhotra.
“I am proud to see and support the increasing number of Goan events in Hounslow and to have seen the community grow, making such an important contribution to our businesses, our public services and our society.”
“Alongside the Mayor of Hounslow, I was pleased to be able to recognise the contribution of so many from the Goan community and congratulate them on their achievements.”
Pamila Rodrigues welcomed the gathering, while Fr Renato Andrade of the Goan Chaplaincy UK led a prayer service, and a Konkani hymn to St Francis Xavier was sung.
In his address, Fr Renato appealed to every Goan in the UK to never forget they are first Goans and to remember the sacrifices of their ancestors, because of whom many of them availed Portuguese nationality and settled in the UK.
Advising Goans to be united, Fr Renato said the Goan community will rise if they are united.
“St Francis Xavier is the model of hope and faith in our every trial and showed us the importance of Holy Mass and the Rosary. Goan Catholics in the UK need to give time to the church and for family prayers,” he added.
Clayton Barreto, Social Secretary to the High Commissioner at the Indian High Commission in the UK, said the message of St Francis Xavier carries a special meaning for Goans living in the UK.
“We are a small community, but one with a big heart and a long tradition of excellence. From NHS workers and educators to entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders, Goans have made remarkable contributions to British society—often quietly, but always with dedication and pride,” said Barreto.
“In places like Hounslow, Southall, Wembley, and beyond, our community has become a vibrant thread in the fabric of multicultural Britain. We are known not only for our hard work but also for our warmth, our music, our deep respect for traditions, and our ability to bring people together. These are values we inherited from Goa—and from the spirit of service embodied by St Francis Xavier.”
“Today, as we gather in the UK Parliament, we celebrate that heritage. We honour the Goan diaspora that continues to thrive, support one another, and contribute meaningfully to this country. And we reaffirm the enduring bonds between Goa and the United Kingdom—bonds strengthened by people like all those gathered for this event.”
UK’s Minister for Equality Seema Malhotra along with Mayor of Hounslow Amy Croft, Hounslow Councillor Pritam Grewal and members of the Goan community.
Mayor of Hounslow Amy Croft said she was pleased to attend her first Goan meet and looked forward to engaging with the Goan community.
Hounslow Councillor Pritam Grewal spoke about his engagement with the Goan community and his visits to the Goa Day celebrations in the UK.
Stating that Hounslow Central is now the “Vaddo” (ward) for the Goan community, Grewal said he is looking forward to having the first Goan Councillor in Hounslow.
A number of Goans were felicitated for their contribution to society in the UK during a meeting to celebrate the Feast of St Francis Xavier in the House of Commons, London.
Pamila Rodrigues, a Goan chosen to represent the Labour Party in the Hounslow Central Ward for the May 2026 council elections and a co-host at the meeting, said that throughout her journey in public service, she had observed that those who often labour the hardest and give the most of themselves are the ones most easily overlooked.
“Yet these are the very individuals who hold our community together with their quiet strength and unwavering commitment. Some of my fellow Goans exemplify selflessness in its present form, stepping forward in moments of need without seeking recognition, praise or social media fame.”
“We acknowledge and celebrate these extraordinary Goans who continue to serve our community with devotion, compassion and integrity here in this foreign land. These contributions remind us of who we are, where we come from and the enduring spirit of Goa that lives within each of us.”
Those who were felicitated by UK’s Minister for Equality Seema Malhotra were Greg Carvalho and Carlos Fernandes for their dedicated service to the Tiatr community; Theodor Colaco for his dedicated Konkani choir in churches; Jose Mendes for his dedication in preparing children for sacraments; Aleixo Bengito Sequeira for his services in advancing education and helping
children in need within the community; Hilvestho Fernandes for his dedicated services to the community; Antonio Guilherme Baptista for his dedicated services to the community; and Kenneth Pires for his dedicated legal service and professional guidance to the community.
A Goan band based in the UK was felicitated for their performances, selfless services and for supporting visiting bands from Goa.
At the recommendation of Pamila Rodrigues, a Goan chosen to represent the Labour Party in the Hounslow Central Ward for the May 2026 council elections, UK’s Minister for Equality Seema Malhotra felicitated members of the band ‘The Royals’, comprising Frazer Fernandes, Vallis Martins, Vanicio Martins, Elaine Pinto, Trevor Nunes, Agnelo da Silva and Terrence Gomes, at a meeting to celebrate the Feast of St Francis Xavier in the House of Commons, London.
“During summer, when many bands visit from Goa, there is often a great deal of excitement – an excitement that brings with it high expectations and extraordinarily high fees. In such moments, it is very easy for our UK-based bands to feel overlooked, undervalued or discouraged,” said Pamila in her address at the meeting.
“But ‘The Royals’ have never allowed themselves to be shaken by this. Instead, they have stood strong. They have welcomed visiting bands with grace, supported them wholeheartedly and done so with genuine smiles.”
“They believed in themselves, their music and the power of their craft. And despite facing situations that were, at times, unfair, they continued to deliver with dignity, humility and excellence.”
