For every Goan Portuguese passport holder, every Goan in UK and every Goan who aspires to remain in
UK, three dates will always be memorable. Firstly Thursday 23 June, 2016 when
they voted in the referendum for Leave or to Stay, then 29 March 2017 when the
article 50 was moved by the British PM to start Brexit formalities and probably
12 April 2019 when UK will leave the EU with a no deal, while fingers crossed,
Goans yet to migrate, hope that Brexit may be kept in abeyance which gives them
that window to leave.
“The Portuguese consulate has delayed issuing passports and
registering births in Portugal because of the mass exodus of Goans into UK
before Brexit triggers similarly, with the Jet crisis and high prices of air
tickets. the scramble to make into the United Kingdom by Goans is a chaotic
scenario,” explains a well-known travel agent who arranges tickets for most
Goans travelling to the UK. SimilarlyZezitoGomindessaid a lot needed to be
done. FirstlyGoans already in the UK before Brexit have to get their status
changed to settled through the app which allows them to submit their
credentials to the Home Office in UK and declare how long they are living there
whiles Goans on a Portuguese or British Passport need not worry if they complete
their formalities,”stated Zezito.
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While Glen Fernandes from Margao who assists Goans with visa
works and ticketing explains to us, that probably with Brexit, going to the UK
is not a smart move. The EU, he said intended to impose huge taxes on goods
coming in and out of the UK and with many EU based companies exiting UK, the
job scenario looks dim.
Similar to Glen, others assisting in Portuguese passports have
explained to us how the open borders will continue within UK and maybe learning
a language or some specialization will avail Goans opportunities in Denmark,
Sweden, France, Portugal itself, Netherlands, Germany and other EU countries.
“With my Portuguese Passport, I got a visa on arrival into
Australia for me and siblings have made Australia and New Zealand our home for
the last ten years which many Goans don’t realise, they think the convenience
of English forces them to job hunt only in the UK. Even visa stands on arrival
in the USA and hence, I don’t see the worry,” explains Troyerous D’Souza, who
is a Goan by birth and has an OCI which allows him entry into India. His
Australian passport allows him dual citizenship with means he can continue to
hold his Portuguese passport.
But Goans involved in the migration process fear slowdown of
business. From notaries to agents who assist in paper work, registering births
in Lisbon, the food packing business, ticket and travel and even cooks involved
in cooking Goan meals to be parcelled and flown to London by family members are
the people who will be most affected by Brexit or rather Goexit with the Goan
dream of traveling to UK may get affected in the medium to long run.
But
the business to these will continue with the ones already gone there.
