Over 20 winners emerge across Brent, Hounslow, Swindon and Croydon councils
(From L to R) Former Swindon mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh, Jocelina D’Souza, Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Ana Rosada Fernandes and Princia Fernandes were among the winning Labour Party candidates in the Swindon Council.
(From L to R) Savio Telles, Annabelle Pegado and Albano Lourenco were the winning Conservative Party candidates in the Swindon Council.
LONDON
Several Goans continued to win at council elections in the UK, as counting and declaration of results continued for the second day on Saturday.
Over 20 Goans were declared winners in the four councils of Brent, Hounslow, Swindon and Croydon, which have large Goan communities settled in these four areas. Dozens of Goan candidates had been picked to represent different parties to various councils across the UK, which went to polls on Thursday. Votes were taken up for counting on Friday and Saturday.
The growing success of Goan candidates in the latest council polls has come in for appreciation.
“It is amazing that over 20 Goans won council elections this year. What makes it even more remarkable is the fact that we now have Goans in every political party in the UK,” said Rabi Martins, a former mayor of Watford Council who was elected for nine successive times and served the council till 2023.
“This is a testimony to how totally integrated Goans have become in UK society. When I first won as councillor in 1994, I was the only Asian from the Liberal Democrat Party.”
“I wish each one of them all the best as they dedicate their time and efforts serving the community at large.”
BRENT COUNCIL: Angela Joyce de Souza from the Labour Party won the borough seat from Wembley Hill ward, while Floyd de Sa from the Conservative Party also won the borough seat from Wembley Hill.
HOUNSLOW COUNCIL: The winning borough candidates from the Conservative Party Vilber M De Costa (Cranford ward), Vivek Ganachari and Alister de Sa (both from Hounslow West ward), and Salvador Pereira (Heston Central ward).
From the Labour Party, Pamila Rodrigues won the borough seat in the Hounslow Central ward.
CROYDON COUNCIL: Jose Piedade Fernandes from the Labour Party got elected from the Thornton Heath ward.
SWINDON COUNCIL: From the Labour party, winning candidates were Ana R Fernandes (Rodbourne Ferndale & Western parish ward), Jocelina P D’Souza (Walcot parish ward), Anthony (Tony) Fernandes (Rodbourne Ferndale parish ward), Meural Cardoso (Rodbourne Ferndale parish ward), Daniel Vales (Park’s parish ward), and Javis Rodrigues (Pinehurst parish ward). The winning borough councillors were former Swindon mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh (Queen’s Park ward), sitting councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh (Broadgreen ward), sitting councillor Ana Rosada Fernandes (Rodbourne Ferndale & Western ward), Princia Fernandes (Gorse Hill ward), and Jocelina D’Souza (Park’s ward).
From the Conservative Party, the winning candidates were Anabelle Pegado (Broadgreen parish ward), Savio Telles (Broadgreen parish ward), Albano J R Lourenco (Broadgreen parish ward), and Rouchell V Cardoso (Rodbourne Ferndale parish ward). Sitting councillor Anabelle Pegado also won the borough seat from Broadgreen ward.
Speaking to The Goan, Anabelle Pegado said she was delighted to have won with a great majority.
“I am truly blessed and humbled by the trust and support the voters had shown me and our winning candidates, Albano Lourenco and Savio Telles. We will continue to be a strong voice for the residents of Broadgreen. Looking ahead, we are committed to bringing positive change to Broadgreen and working hard for our community,” said Pegado, who incidentally is the niece of former minister Carmo Pegado.
Angela Joyce D’Souza, the winning Labour Party candidate from Wembley Hill ward in the Brent Council, along with her husband Elvis Fernandes.
LONDON: Angela Joyce D’Souza, who was elected as the Labour Party councillor for Brent Council after winning the Wembley Hill ward, said she was the first Goan woman to be elected to Brent Council.
“My victory marks a historic moment for both the local community and the Goan diaspora in the United Kingdom. I am the first Goan woman to be elected to Brent Council and I could well be the first person from Loliem village and Canacona taluka in Goa to win a council seat in the United Kingdom,” said D’Souza, when contacted for comments.
“I am humbled by the trust placed in me and determined to repay it with hard work. Throughout the campaign, I connected with the diverse communities that make up Wembley Hill, focussing on local priorities including safer streets, genuinely cleaner neighbourhoods, and support for families during the cost-of-living crisis.”
“Wembley Hill deserves a councillor who listens and delivers. Whether you voted for me or not, I will work for every single person here. This is a significant moment as there will be a Goan woman’s voice at the Brent council table for the first time,” D’Souza added.
Joyce is a lawyer by profession, and her husband, Elvis Fernandes, is known in Goan political circles as the former Congress Block President of Canacona and former deputy sarpanch of the Loliem-Polem Panchayat. D’Souza credited her legacy of public service and her husband’s support as a key inspiration behind her decision to stand for election.
