Vaccinate or we move the
court: GF warning to govt
MARGAO
The Goa Forward has demanded that the Goa government and MPT start a vaccination centre for the seafarers at the port at the earliest to facilitate the Goan seafarers to join ships.
Party spokesman Prashant Naik warned that the regional party will have no option other than knocking the doors of the judiciary.
Addressing the media, Naik said the Director General of Shipping had issues a circular around mid-May over vaccination for the seafaring community and the Ports across the country where the seafarers can take the jab. He, however, lamented that he vaccination centre is yet to start at MPT, leaving the Goan seafarers in the lunch. “Unless the seafarers are vaccinated, they cannot join the ships. This means they will further remain unemployed for want of vaccination.
The Goa Forward spokesman further said the nodal officer appointed for the MPT port does not receive calls, only raising apprehensions in the minds of the seamen over the seriousness on the part of the MPT and the government in starting the vaccination centre at the MPT.
“We intend to take the matter to the court. But, we would like to tell the Chief Minister that it does not augur well for any government to function as per the court orders. Hence, the government should immediately start the vaccination exercise for the seafarers before we are forced to go to the court”, he added.
Will enable seafarers to join
ships at the earliest: Luizinho
MARGAO: Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro has appealed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to accord priority for the vaccination of Seafarers.
Drawing attention of the government to the fact that the Director General of Shipping has recognized seafarers as key workers, Faleiro said vaccination for the seafarers will enable the seamen to join ships at the earliest.
Expressing concern over the threat posed to the people of Goa from the deadly Coronavirus, Faleiro stressed on the need to take immediate action to purchase the vaccine from manufactures abroad if the central government is unable to meet the requirement of the state.
“Out of our total population of 15 lakhs, barely 2,84,989 people have been vaccinated with first dose and 95,820 fully vaccinated in the State. As of today we are having 2.22 lakh active cases and 4,454 deaths on a country average. Though, vaccine giants, Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Sputnik were initially not given the permission to have the vaccination drive in India, today, we need to approach globally. It is my earnest appeal to you for the sake of the safety of the people of Goa to please procure the vaccine to cover the entire population of Goa in a time-bound manner”, he said.
The MLA said overload on the current computerised portal due to the rush of thousands of people trying to register their names to get themselves vaccinated has created widespread anxiety amongst the local people who may start agitations in every village. “We have to join hands together in this fight against the Corona virus and rise to the occasion to meet this challenge in the interest of the people of Goa”, he added.
