Efforts to institute a Portuguese learning class into the Bermuda College curriculum were given a massive boost scores of interested people attended a meeting hosted by Vasco Da Gama.Bermuda College president Duranda Greene and attorneys Larry Mussenden and Rick Woolridge were among the more than 60 people who backed the idea that the language should be made more accessible.An additional 30 phone calls were made to the club backing the initiative.Vasco De Gama president Andrea Moniz-DeSouza the response justified the club’s request to have Portuguese lessons taught at the College.“The meeting was a success, I was stunned at one point when we had to get out more chairs as we were not expecting so many people,” she said. “People of all ages, races and all walks of life came to this meeting, including attorneys and other dignitaries in the community.“The general consensus was that a programme of this sort was much needed and should have been implemented years ago.”Those present said it was even more important to offer the lessons in light of the role Portuguese people have played in Bermuda’s history.Mrs Moniz-DeSouza added: “We also had members of the Youth Parliament the President, the Premier, the Opposition Leader and the Minister of Cultural Affairs there to notify the crowd that they had taken a vote and that the vote had gone in favour of not only this initiative but also that Portuguese should be taught in schools.“They each said some words which were followed by applause from the crowd.”The request for lessons followed an incident where a retailer couldn’t understand a Portuguese national.Another employee of the store then accidentally declared into her microphone: “I hate serving those kind of people.”The comment was heard throughout the store.The Portuguese culture club is now hoping that language courses will increase the pool of Portuguese speakers so that such incidents don’t take place again.“The decision made at the meeting was that there was clearly an interest in the programme and the numbers to substantiate it were there and that Bermuda College, in collaboration with Vasco Da Gama Club, were going to do all they could to take this initiative forward,” Ms Moniz-DeSouza said.“I was very happy with the turnout and extremely encouraged.”The club already runs after-school and Saturday morning Portuguese lessons for children ages six to 12.Contact Vasco Da Gama Club by e-mail, vasco@logic.bm, or by phone, 292-7196.