Dr. Sergio Sirvoicar's Speech
© 2003, A.D., P.J. Mascarenhas, Goa Livre Organisation
Vice-Presidential Address Delivered By Dr. Sergio Sirvoicar, Mocambique Delegate, To The Goan Conference, Paris
Ladies & Gentlemen:
I wish to pay my respects to all the delegates and in particular to the Kenya Goans for their initiative, as well to the Goa and Bombay delegates for the risks they are liable to incur owing to their firm attitude.
I would like now to express the views of the Goan community of Mocambique.
It is quite clear to all of us and no more illusions are nurtured as to the present fate of Goa, Damao and Dio. We all agree that such a situation cannot be permitted to continue. It is far better to have no administration at all than to have such a bad one.
Admittedly, though the economic situation of Goa, Damao and Dio is much worse than it was before the invasion, I must call your attention to this fundamental point: Even if the Indian administration had given us plenty of gold, even then, we would not like to belong to the Indian Union, for the same reasons that France, this big and generous country, who has allowed us to express freely our feelings, would not think that yesterday's Germany could rule France just because Germany could possibly establish an economic level superior to that existing till 1940.
For these and other reasons, the feelings of all of us Goans from Mocambique can be expressed in two single words. Two words, behind which rest the profile of the genial shadow of one of the biggest figures of the history of manking — MAHATMA GANDHI. Two words, for the accomplishment of which the Catholic Goans prayed this very day to the Apostle of INDIA — FRANCIS XAVIER. And these two words I particularly address to those who have illicitly seized Goa, Damao and Dio by violence — QUIT GOA.
We have to strive hard to attain this target.