June 23, 2016
marked a very decisive (and divisive) day for many people living in
the United Kingdom, with many living beyond its borders also being
affected by one of the biggest decisions the country has taken in its
recent history: the ‘Referendum of the United Kingdom’s membership
of the European Union’.
The
referendum – a vote in which everyone (or nearly everyone) of voting
age can take part – was held on Thursday, June 23, to decide whether
the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. The entire
turnout was 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting. It was
the highest turnout in a UK-wide vote since the 1992 general
election, and those that voted to leave won by 52% to 48% of the
population that wanted to stay.
The
movement was titled Brexit – a way of saying the UK leaving the EU
by merging the words ‘Britain’ and ‘exit’, in the same way as
a Greek exit from the EU was dubbed Grexit in the past. One of the
major sticking points in the conversation has been immigration
concerns, as some Britons claimed worry that the country’s employment
market and social services were drowning under the weight of too many
new residents. However, many Goans make up a fair chunk of this
population, with plenty of them having moved to Britain’s shores
for better prospects, and one can’t help but wonder how they feel
about the status quo.
21-year-old
Edberg Da Costa lives in Brent of Borough, in London. The young lad,
originally from Chinchinim, moved to the United Kingdom approximately
four years ago, turning to the public sector for better prospects. “I
believe that it all depends on what deal the UK can agree on with the
EU in the next two years. As far as employment is concerned, it is
unlikely to affect people who have worked here before the referendum
poll. But there will be noticeable changes in wages. However,
international organisations have warned of a recession. So employment
as well as sectors in finance, tourism and car manufacturing
industries are likely to get affected.”
Agreeing
with Edberg is his fellow son of local soil, 25-year-old Ridge Colaco
from Southall. “Brexit has its pros and cons, and no matter what,
it will affect everybody in some way. A lot of young people voted to
be in the EU and are unhappy with the outcome of the vote. Let’s see
what the next two months have in store for us,” he adds.
But
as studies into the Brexit poll showed, it was a large chunk of the
establishment that voted to leave the EU, as opposed to their younger
counterparts, who were more prone to staying in. In keeping with
this, 51-year-old Savio Fernandes from Tivim, who has been living in
Wembley since 2014, shares his views, saying, “Brexit shouldn’t be
a problem for Goans who are already here, but it certainly might
cause an inconvenience to people coming in now. Many did not
understand the advantages and disadvantages of being in the EU and
similarly, leaving it. In hindsight, they are probably unhappy with
their decision.”
Only
time will tell what may happen, and many Goans are sceptical about
what their future may hold. However, there is still time before
anything concrete comes to pass, and as such, Goans may be able to
still breathe, at least for a while to come.
