MONDAY, JULY 01, 2024
Team Herald
VASCO: Swindon, in UK, known as mini-Goa now has a Goan Konkani speaking mayor.
Greetings have been pouring in for Imtiyaz Shaikh from Vasco has been appointed as the Mayor of Swindon, UK.
“Imtiyaz Shaikh comes from a family that is sweet and has strong moral values. They have been my strong supporters, and I have seen Imtiyaz grow up in front of my eyes. The family values of having a good social bond with people
have undoubtedly contributed to his political success,” Jose Philip D’Souza said on his commendable achievement,
According to former Minister D'Souza, his political success should be attributed to the strong family values instilled in him. He also emphasised the role of Shaikh's family in his upbringing and success.
D'Souza said all the family members of Imtiyaz Shaikh are well known in Vasco and are popular in the town. Despite his great achievement, they remain humble and down to earth. He expressed his happiness that Imtiyaz achieved such a high political position at an international level, making Goa and Vasco proud.
Shaikh has considered the UK his second home for two decades, experiencing the country's unity in diversity. "When the opportunity to join politics came, he didn’t hesitate. He believed it could be a more effective platform to help and represent residents. Leading up to this, he realized that our Goan diaspora in Swindon needed a representative to address their issues," D'Souza added.
In 2018, Shaikh was elected to the Swindon Borough Council as an Eastcott Councillor, a position he was re-elected to in 2022. "Since then, he has had the opportunity to serve as Deputy Mayor and now the Mayor of Swindon. His journey as a social activist and politician reaffirms that people have been very open in welcoming him, and the support of their diverse communities has been a huge strength to his town and progressive politics," D'Souza stated.
Shaikh's wife Adorabelle, serves as a Borough Councillor and Cabinet Member for Education in Swindon.
