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(Rapaport…April 27, 2006) In a joint circular entitled “Humble Request for the Election to the HRD Board” and dated April 24, 2006, the Indo Belge Diamantaires Association (IBDA) and the Antwerp Indian Association (AIA) invite the Indian community to vote for their candidates.
“This is a unique opportunity for us to show to the diamond traders, our strength and unity,” the circular reads. “This is an opportunity to show our organizational skills and expertise. If we are given the opportunity, we can run the Diamond High council in an efficient, purposeful and democratic manner.
"Being the major players in the trade, we should avail of this opportunity, elect our candidates, and see that Antwerp still maintains its status as, 'The Capital Of The World Diamond Trade.'”
The leaders of both organizations explained that it was only after deliberation (a word which they underlined) that they convinced all Indian candidates to apply for a position to the HRD board. Members of the Indian diamond community are requested to stay in town for the election, so as to support their candidates.
In reaction, Laurent Grossmann of Grossmann Diamond Manufacturing has been distributing a letter in Antwerp, explaining why those goals defined in the circular were in contradiction to the interests of the HRD. Therefore, Grossmann presented an excerpt of section III of IBDA by-laws.
Point 10 read, “Wherever possible to organize and work in a united vision in all matters that are related to the interest of diamond dealers in general in of Indian diamond dealers in particular.” The sentences’ last five words were underlined, Grossman stresses, and that this stands in direct contradiction to the objectives for which the HRD was set up, “namely to represent Antwerp as a world diamond center in all its diversity.”
Grossmann said, “It’s an ethical problem, as I don’t understand why NPO’s that are not affiliated to the HRD and do not represent professional segments in the Diamond Sector invite people to vote on purely ethnic or community basis, which has nothing to do with managing abilities. The representatives of the HRD should be solely selected on their capacities to run the organization, regardless of any other consideration.”
Having said that, Grossman wonders whether the candidates that were appointed by the IBDA and AIA are best suited to serve as board members of the HRD.
Shashin Choksi of IBDA said, “I’m Belgian of the second generation, and a real Antwerpian.
"Before IBDA was mainly Indian, and now it’s become international, which is why...we’re in the process of changing our name to IDDA International Diamond Dealers Association," an acronym of the organization in the United States.
“We’re just waiting for the IDDA to be officially set up, to be able to include many other Antwerp based companies, among which Jewish and Flemish and other diamond dealers who’ve asked to join our vision. It’s a fact that IBDA is not recognized as member of the HRD, but doing so the HRD doesn’t reflect the economic reality of the market and of Antwerp’s future, which is very dear to all parties concerned," Choksi said.
"You must understand that those people are really committed to Antwerp, and not just to the Indian game.”
Choksi added that Kaushik Mehta would be honored in New York as being THE person who is and always acted as a bridge between Jewish and Indian communities in Antwerp.
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