|
I, as a retired officer from the Colonial Government of Kenya after
over 30 years of service, look with pride at the part played
by Goans in the Kenya Civil Service. The available records show that Goan immigration to British East Africa
commenced during construction of the Uganda Railway, between 1897 and 1898,
peaking in 1899 and 1900 when the Railway's Headquarters were moved from
Mombasa to Nairobi. When the Imperial British East Africa Company was granted a
Royal Charter in 1880, many Goans were taken into its service. When the Company
surrendered its Charter in 1895 and control for administering the territories was
transferred to the Colonial Office, most Goan employees were absorbed into various
government departments. It was some time in 1905 that the Government headquarters
shifted to Nairobi and thereafter the number of Goan employees started increasing
gradually as a result of increased activities by the Administration, but the terms and
conditions of service remained unsatisfactory, forcing them, in 1913, to organise
themselves and petition the Government for improvements.
The Service was fortunate in its leaders, - Mr. S. R. Rodrigues of the Treasury and
Mr. Leandro de Mello of the Provincial Administration, - the prime movers in
submitting the petition and guiding its subsequent developments. They were also
responsible for forming the Non-European Subordinate Civil Service Association at
a meeting held on 31st March 1917 at the residence of Mr. Franklin de Souza of the
Posts and Telegraphs Departments, its object being to safeguard and promote the
interests of Asian Civil Servants as a body and to foster mutual good relations
between Government and staff.
The Association changed its name to the Kenya Asian Civil Service Association in
1921 and Mr. Leandro de Mello, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the
Association in March 1946, recalled the improvements he had been able to achieve in
the terms of the Asian Civil Service of the Colony. Mr. A. J. Santiago, Mr. M. S.
Fernandes, Mr. L. de Cruz, Mr. R. A. Oliver were but a few among other selfless
workers giving distinguished service. Goans assisted at the very birth of British
Administration of the country, helping its evolution, despite the hardships of then
"Darkest Africa", contributing immensely to the growth and progress of service in
Kenya with unswerving loyalty. Through hard work, honesty and integrity, they
developed strong links between the community and the British Rulers in East Africa,
who welcomed their services, appointed them to responsible positions, though at that
time Goa was under Portuguese rule. In March 1946 at the Silver Jubilee celebrations
of the Kenya Asian Civil Service Association Mr. Leandro de Mello also recalled the
Rt. Hon. Mr. Winston Churchill, when Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies,
visiting Kenya Colony in 1907 and declaring that under the vast British Empire there
was room for every nationality and creed. Governor Sir James Hayes Sadler, the late
Mr. Kemps (the then Treasurer) and Mr. MacGregor Ross, Director of Public
Works, had only praise for Goan officials. The report of the Government-appointed
Wade-Mayor Committee in 1934 commended the ability, high integrity and devotion
to duty of Goan employees, often of necessity jacks of all trades, sufficiently adaptable
to accept any kind of duty, which they did until the 1950's when non-Goans began to
fill cashiers' posts. As good custodians, Goans invariably man Government safes -
unless this is done by a Scotsman.
I have pleasure in mentioning specially the following officers for their creditable
achievement in attaining the highest positions in the service during 1950's created for
the first time, and for the fame and honour they bought to the entire Goan community
in Kenya.
Mr. M. J. de Souza (Audit Department); Mr. A. P. de Souza (Legal Department);
Mr. S. D'Cruz (Treasury); Mr. M. C. F. da P. Gonsalves (P.W.D.);Mr. R. P. Abreo
(Prisons Service); Mr. J. S. de P. Dourado (Kenya Police); and Mr. M. F. Fernandes
(Registrar-General's Department).
In 1955, resulting from a public enquiry, the Government introduced revised terms
of service for the civil service, abolishing racial classification for purposes of salaries
and perquisites, salary scales now being assigned to job classifications and entry to the
grades determined by academic qualifications and experience, vastly widening the
field of possible posts and professions for Goans. When internal self-government and
independence were granted in 1963, entry to the permanent Civil Service was
restricted to Kenya citizens, and within a decade the entire Civil Service was
Kenyanised, with a few exceptions involving special skills, the Goans remaining rising
to various senior positions, always maintaining the ideal of service to the common
good. We are all proud and grateful for the selflessness with which they discharged
their allotted tasks.
|
