Joaquim Teles
Never in the past, a PM got such a welcome in Goa the way Senhor Antonio Costa got in Goa. Margao, being his native place and having an ancestral home there was agog with such an enthusiasm; they forgot to have their lunch on 12-1-2017 when PM visited his ancestral home.
In Fontainhas in Panjim, he got a rousing welcome with children giggling accompanied with a brass band. PM walked quite a distance from St. Sebastian Chapel to Fundacao Oriente disregarding his tight security. Similarly, PM was all at home when he visited Panjim for inauguration of a new Camoes Office near Electricity Department. Soon after coming out of Birla Furukwa Fiber Optics Plant, he said Portugal and India can enhance ties with each other and work together. He said Goa is a great place to sync our economic relations. Portugal too is a great country and its people are very friendly unlike other countries. There is lot of scope for trading (import and export) between India and Portugal. Portugal has really developed; one must go and see there. I was witness to see the glamour of Portugal in last July when I visited Portugal including pilgrimage to Fatima. Thanks to Senhor Rui Baceira, Hon. Consul Geral of Portugal in Goa. It may be mentioned that the undersigned was deputed when late Mario Soares, the then PM of Portugal visited India including Goa. I had taken him to visit Mangueshi Temple and Old Goa Churches. Late Mario Soares too was also a simple man and friendly too. I used to correspond with him but after passage of time we both forgot about it.
After the visit of our PM of Goan origin, we felt we have come much closer to Portugal than before. What a great honour for Goans to know that we have amongst us a Goan PM, who rocked during his visit here with his friendly nature. We were amazed to see him especially his simplicity. We thank our own PM Narendra Modi for inviting Senhor Antonio Costa to India, which itself is a great country. Of course not forgetting Senhor Rui Baceira, Hon. Consul Geral of Portugal to Goa who did excellent arrangement and who took all efforts to chalk out a meticulous programme in Goa for the visit of his PM in India. Goans thank him for that.
