Brexit to hit Goans using Portuguese route to Britain
A PIECE OF HISTORY: BRITAIN – PORTUGAL – GOA GOAN MIGRATION TO BRITAIN
It’s not sunk in yet, but thousands of Goans who settled in Britain after acquiring Portuguese passports are likely to be affected by the June 23 referendum, whether the UK votes to stay or leave the European Union.
Using Portugal’s nationality law, which allows anyone born before December 19, 1961 (the date of Goa’s liberation from Portugal) and their three generations to acquire Portuguese nationality, thousands have migrated and settled in Britain, mainly in Swindon and London.
As Portuguese nationals, they become EU citizens, which entitles them to live and work in any of the 28 members of the bloc under the “freedom of movement” principle.
These Goans move to Britain and not to Portugal, which has been in the throes of economic crisis, leading to many young Portuguese migrating for employment. According to an Oxford analysis, the “India-born Portuguese citizens” accounted for just over 20,000 UK residents in the first quarter of 2015.
Rabi Martins, the Goa-origin councillor in Watford, north London, told Hindustan Times: “It is a walk into the unknown. Goans now need to rethink before applying for Portuguese passports, since the EU referendum will adversely affect them. Brexit will make it worse, but even a vote PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM in Goa dates from 1510, with brief periods of British presence IN 1797, the British were engaged in a struggle with Tipu Sultan (an ally of France); to prevent Goa from coming under his influence, British forces marched into Goa and left a year later IN 1802, the British returned to Goa to guard against possible French invasion. Despite Portuguese protests, the British garrison stayed in Goa until 1813 ON DECEMBER 19 1961, Goa was liberated by India under Operation Vijay. to stay in will make it difficult.”
According to the deal recently secured by PM David Cameron in Brussels, if Britain votes to stay in the EU, there will be several curbs on EU nationals accessing Britain’s state financial benefits, currently received by thousands of recently migrated Goans.
A vote for Brexit is likely to mean EU nationals (including the Goan-Portuguese) will need a work permit, currently required for Indian and other non-EU citizens. It will also mean no access to benefits and public funds until they get permanent residency after five years of stay.
Martins said the thousands of MANY GOANS migrated to Britain and France from East Africa during political disturbances there in the 1970s SINCE THE early 21st century, thousands of Goans gave up Indian citizenship, acquired Portuguese nationality and moved to Britain IN BRITAIN, as citizens of Portugal, they are EU nationals with the right to live and work anywhere in the union and access state financial benefits THERE ARE three British MPs with origins in Goa: Keith Vaz, Valerie Vaz and Suella Fernandes. recently migrated Goans find life is not exactly great in Britain: “Many highly qualified people end up doing menial work in supermarkets, etc. It’s sad but they won’t admit it to anyone back home. The impact of Brexit on new and recently-migrated Goans needs to be highlighted.”
Armando Gonsalves, chairman of Goa ForGiving Trust, said: “It is amazing that Goans are going to Britain via the Portuguese passport rule when there are many opportunities back home. They leave behind priceless properties as they head to Britain with the hope that they will improve their lives.”