A Goan casts his vote at the Portuguese consulate in London on Saturday. Photo: Lui Godinho
THE GOAN | LONDON
A number of Goans turned up at the Portuguese consulate in London and other parts of the UK on Saturday to exercise their franchise in the first round of the presidential elections in Portugal.
In the UK, facilities have been available for Portuguese nationals to cast their votes on January 17 and 18 from 8 am to 7 pm at the location where the Portuguese nationals are registered (London, Manchester, Belfast, Hamilton, Jersey, or Guernsey).
Free transport arrangements have been provided by the Goan Association (UK), and one coach brought in 13 Goans from Southall, Hounslow, and Wembley on Saturday noon.
Ana e Brito Maneira, Consul General of Portugal in London, who, incidentally, traces her roots in Goa, was personally supervising the poll arrangements at the Consulate. The rest of the consulate staff were seen welcoming the voters and assisting in the voting process.
When contacted, many Goans were pleased to get an opportunity to take part in the presidential elections.
Faith Verushka Da Costa, who hails from Chorao, said, “I turned 18 and was happy to exercise my franchise for the first time.”
A senior citizen, Jose Francisco Alvares, who hails from Bogmalo, said he always votes in the elections.
Incidentally, two Goans were not allowed to cast their vote at the Consulate in London, as they had registered themselves in Goa and not at the London Consulate.
A group of Goans outside the Portuguese Consulate in London before casting their votes on Saturday. Photo: Lui Godinho
Charles Dias, who resides in Wembley and hails from Aldona, said he was impressed with the voting arrangements and to see Consul General Ana e Brito Maneira personally attending to the polling arrangements.
Goans also travelled to the Consulate via public transport, despite some underground trains not running on Saturday. One Goan missed three train connections but made it to the Consulate to take part in the voting process.
More Goans are expected to turn up to vote on Sunday, and the GOA UK will ply coaches to transport voters from the areas of Hounslow, Southall, Wembley, Swindon, Leicester, and Milton Keynes to the Portuguese Consulate in London to vote.
Chris Da Costa, a Goan advisor of the Council of the Portuguese Communities (CPC) for the UK and Ireland, told The Goan that many Goans were unable to travel by the first coach, as they were at work on Saturday.
“We are expecting more Goans to turn up on Saturday evening and on Sunday. Coach services are also being provided for Goans from Swindon, Milton Keynes, and Leicester on Sunday,” said Da Costa.
There was a steady flow of Portuguese nationals walking in through the main entrance throughout the day. Assistance was provided to senior citizens and parents with young children at the consulate.
Voters were expected to carry their valid Portuguese passport and their Portuguese Identity Card (Cartao de Cidadao) when they visit the consulate offices to exercise their franchise.
