Alleged Goan Association debunked

 

February 4, 2024

Dear Members of the Community,

 

Subject: Message from The G.O.A. Executive Committee

 

Hope you and your families are doing well. Thank You for all your support towards our events and special thanks and acknowledgement to all our donors and sponsors.

 We have achieved so much in recent years as a community including our first Goan Community Centre in all of North America. We continue to launch various programs and services for our community members including charitable services through the Goan Charitable Organization locally and in Goa. Today, we are a beacon for many Goan organizations across the world and continue to lead by example through hard work, integrity, and courage. Our membership has grown and continues to do so year over year. All this has been achieved through the countless volunteers, past committees, donors, sponsors and all their efforts over the years including the support of our members.

In the past few weeks, many questions and concerns have been raised by our members. We have also received numerous emails on the matter. It is our obligation and responsibility to protect the efforts of all our community members and their contributions over the past 54 years. We aim to be the voice that clarifies facts when our community members are confused by the information being published.

The G.O.A. Executive Committee would like to draw your attention to the confusion created around a private venture named "The Global Goan Association of Canada" with a logo titled "GOA". The words "Association" and "Associations" have been used interchangeably alongside the word "Global", potentially causing confusion and suggesting it to be a consortium of associations that are currently serving the community on a volunteer basis. 

There have been public press releases and flyers regarding a Goan Carnival and other events in July hosted by the mentioned entity. Below are details to provide more clarity.

 The Global Goan Association of Canada: According to the Ontario business registry, this is a sole proprietorship registered on Jan 17^th, 2024 in the City of Mississauga, Ontario. In Ontario, A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business that is owned by one individual. It is the simplest kind of business structure. The owner of a sole proprietorship has sole responsibility for making decisions, receives all the profits, claims all losses, and does not have separate legal status from the business.¹

The Goan Overseas Association (Toronto, Calgary, Quebec, Vancouver, and Edmonton): These associations are registered not-for-profit organizations working for the community through volunteers. Non-profit organizations are associations, clubs, or societies that are not charities and are organized and operated exclusively for social welfare, civic improvement, pleasure, recreation, or any other purpose except profit. ²

 

The organizer (The Global Goan Association of Canada) reached out to all G.O.A.’s across Canada to be part of his venture to create a national association, finally reaching out to us. We communicated, in writing, that we cannot be part of his private venture and questioned the organizer's intentions.

 

 

Last year, the same individual organized "World Goa Day" two weeks after Viva Goa as a free event, causing divisions within the community. The Viva Goa Festival has been celebrating World Goa Day annually and will be hosted this year in July, as every year. We raised the concern and informed the organizer that any national-level collaboration must go beyond the provincial mandate and not compete with current events and programs, such as the Annual Viva Goa Festival. Furthermore, this would need AGM approval. We also conveyed that G.O.A.’s across Canada have worked together in the past and can always come together if needed in the future.

 

 

During the last meeting held by the Presidents of G.O.A. Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Quebec on Jan 22nd, 2024, to discuss this matter, it was clear that none had joined "The Global Goan Association of Canada." However, there may be information that leads our members to believe otherwise.

Our members may be confused by the words used, such as "Global," "Associations," and "GOA" (in the logo). To summarize and provide further clarity based on concerns and questions raised by our members:

 

1.     "The Global Goan Association of Canada” has no affiliation with G.O.A.

 

2.     It is not an association, according to the Ontario business registry, rather a sole corporation owned by one person.

 

3.     It is not the same as the Global Goan Association, a registered entity (not-for-profit) in Goa by Mr. Simon D’Silva.

 

4.     It is not a consortium or representation of current Goan Associations but a private business.

 

Some members brought to our notice that false allegations are being spread locally and internationally about The Goan Overseas Association and its executive members without any facts.

 

 

If any members or the international community need further clarification on these false allegations, please reach out to the general secretary at generalsecretary@goatoronto.com

 

As a community, we have come a long way. Let's continue to build on our strengths as a vibrant Goan Community serving our members like we have for 54 Years.

 

Let us stand loud and proud for what's right.

  

Thanking You,

The G.O.A. Executive Committee