I suggest, and I know that many, many others sincerely desire that the Dabolim airport should, without further ado, be
named as the ‘Dr Jack de Sequeira International Airport’ and remain the one and only international airport in Goa. That will be a most befitting and deserving tribute paid to the indomitable man who saved Goa from grave dishonour and ignominy, preserving it as the political entity we have inherited. Joao Hugo Eduardo de Sequeira (20 April 1915– 17 October 1989), popularly known as Jack de Sequeira is truly the Father of the Opinion Poll that he so craftily envisaged and which indubitably
saved Goa from being merged into neighbouring Maharshtra and thus in the process irreversibly enslaving it for all posterity.
The desire to implement this resolution appears to be unanimous as expressed, with a few innocuous dissentions, chiefly
in the admirable Goan e-list, goenchimxapotam, so capably spearheaded by Dr Santosh Hellekar.
To one such mildly dissenting voice of Manhattan-based Dr Erik Pinto, answers Dr Anil Dessai: “I would like to think you are wrong on this one. Jack Sequeira was supported and admired by a lot of people like me and I do believe he deserves to
be honoured for what he did in the just win in the opinion poll. Better late than never. Let us work towards having a fitting memorial for this great Goan.” And adds Goan hyper-activist and a dedicated votary of fellow-Moidecar Jack de Sequeira, Floriano Lobo: “If it was not for him, Goa would be a district of Maharashtra as planned by Goa’s traitors and powers that be. January 16 must be a date which penetrates the conscience of all Goans, especially the younger generation. Suggested ways of going about achieving this:
1. That a Steering Committee of Goa’s
socio-political organizations be established
to prepare for the celebrations
to honour this illustrious son of Goa on
16 January 2015 throughout the length
and breadth of Goa.
2. To prepare a letter of endorsement,
signed/rubber sealed by every member
of this committee that 16 January, 2015
be celebrated by paying respects to Dr
Jack de Sequeira for his efforts to keep
Goa as Goa, through garlanding of his
life-size cut-out.
3. This signed/rubber sealed letter of
endorsement be sent to all 186 panchayats
and 13 municipalities of Goa requesting
them to hold a special gram
sabha on this day to honour Dr Jack de
Sequeira. That a life-size cut-out will be
made available free of cost for the occasion…”
I add to Floriano Lobo’s list: Perhaps
we should give maximum priority to
naming the Dabolim airport after Dr
Jack de Sequeira and that soon. The
hurry being to effectively preempt the
opponents of our proposal from some
outlandish name as they have already
perpetrated, with absolute impunity, on
most other Goan institutions. Towards
this purpose, a Goa—and worldwide—
signature collection be immediately put
out.
For example, what have Rajendra
Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru or Rajiv Gandhi,
however eminent, to do with football
or any other sports? Did they ever kick
a ball or wield a notable bat? But reasonable
limits should be drawn. After
all, Goa has produced Olympic class
medalists. Has anyone considered naming
any sports arena in Goa after Leander
Paes? Or the brilliant sprinter and gold
medallist (at the Commonwealth Games
in Australia) Serafino Antao? Despite
all their achievements, they have been
ignored.
