Fear of uncertainty in the minds of India-born Portuguese citizens over Brexit have not dampened the migration statistics, witnessing a four-fold increase in their migration to Britain since 2012. It is mostly the youngsters who are leaving the former Portuguese colony of Goa to come to Britain in search of a better future and opportunities. Most of them prefer to settle in London, Swindon and Leicester.
Being Portuguese citizens, they are counted in the 1.5 million EU citizens in Britain. Post Brexit, their fate is linked to that of 3 million British Citizens in EU countries. John Menezes, a structural engineer from Panaji who acquired Portuguese citizenship and migrated to the UK last year was quoted as saying, “Brexit is not really a worry because Goans as you know have migrated to various countries over the centuries, to Africa, Europe and elsewhere. We will see how Brexit plays out, but don’t think it will affect us adversely.” According to Rabi Martins, councillor in Watford and a senior local leader of the Liberal Democrats, the more pressing concern is the overall economy and the pound’s fluctuations affecting decisions such as buying property.
Despite these optimistic perspectives, Panaji-origin civil servant Jaime Barreto raised a valid concern, “Many Goans with Portuguese citizenship have started applying for British passports just to be on the safe side”, showing that the people still fear the Brexit outcome to secure their future in Britain.
