MARGAO
A group of traditional fishermen knocked on the doors of Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai on Saturday, seeking his intervention regarding moves to displace them from the wholesale fish market.
The women fish vendors requested Sardesai’s intervention, claiming that the SGPDA representative does not allow them to conduct fish sales in the market, alleging they are engaging in retail fish sales in the wholesale fish market.
They pointed out that while Goan fish vendors are being displaced from the wholesale fish market, migrant vendors are enjoying unrestricted access without any restrictions from the SGPDA.
After patiently listening to the vendors, the Goa Forward Chief instructed the contractor to permit the fish vendors to conduct their business inside the wholesale fish market until 10 am.
He said, “Since the fish vendors are all Niz Goemkars, let them conduct their business inside the market until 10 am. They should not be displaced. In the past, we had decided to allow a small group of Goan fish vendors to operate inside the wholesale fish market.”
The Fatorda MLA, noting that the wholesale fish market is located in the Fatorda constituency and does not provide any benefits to the people of the constituency, warned that he would not tolerate any attempts to displace Goan vendors from the wholesale fish market and promote migrant vendors.
He added, “Normally, I do not interfere at the wholesale fish market, although it falls within my Fatorda constituency. I have decided to intervene on behalf of the fish vendors since they are all Goans.”
He stated that a group of Goan fish vendors would be allowed to sell fish in the wholesale fish market until 10 am.
Fisherwoman Liberata Fernandes from Colva expressed gratitude to the Fatorda MLA for delivering justice and stated that they would continue to sell in the wholesale fish market until 10 am.
She mentioned, “I am 78 years old and still follow the tradition of selling fish. After the PDA representative warned us to stop fish sales in the market, we decided to approach MLA Sardesai.”
