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RE: Help the EC uphold your rights (June 8 edition)
Updated: 15-Jun-2012
Scene: 15 people, heads down all grafting away, a pleasure to watch but what was about to happen bowled me over. After a suitable time, I coughed loudly to hopefully attract someone’s attention (I caught the eye of a lady to the left) and indicated if it would be possible to have “some information on this case I hold here in my hand”.
She came over, took the form from me, gave it a quick glance, returned it to me and in Portuguese indicated no one could help - “phone a friend”.
I said in a loud voice so all heard: “I’m a British pensioner and have come all the way from Alcantarilha by bus. I’m not well and I need help, will anyone please help?” All this met with a cold stare, deaf ears and a uniformed blank rejection.
OK ... war ... downstairs I met the guy on reception who spoke perfect English and what a really helpful guy he was, he deserves a medal. He agreed I should get a lawyer but for this simple task it’s not practical; he also agreed it’s a two minute job.
He went and found me a court security officer who also spoke perfect English and whom I explained my predicament to. The latter took me upstairs and spoke to the same frosty girl who’d spoken to me earlier and I received the information in a flash ...
A voice in Portuguese boomed out from behind a pile of papers (obviously the local jobsworth) from the back of the room ... the policeman looks embarrassed and tells me next time I come, “come with someone who speaks Portuguese”. Discrimination!
Meekly and not really feeling up to a verbal punch up, I walked away relieved I’d got the info I wanted but nonetheless feeling humiliated and embarrassed having been treated like a little kid told to bring mummy along next time.
What I should have said was: Excuse me my friend, are you not a member of the European Union and have you not just had a huge €4 billion chunk of €78 billion handed out to you to allow you to get your house in order? Check out what you signed in 1986 when you joined the EU. It’s called the Bill of Rights and it’s where all are treated equally regardless of colour, creed or religion.
Discrimination is the treating of one person differently from that of another; this you have just accomplished in front of 14 of your workmates. That sets a great example that you have no intention of being helpful or assisting anyone who cannot speak Portuguese.
If you feel you are not to blame talk to your superiors to employ bilingual people to accommodate all those whose money you share in our unique club - the European Union.
Graham Cockroft, by email
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