the goan I network
VASCO
Hitting back at Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, the Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Society Ltd has dared Almeida to file an FIR against coal handling activity and dredging at MPT before pointing fingers at the canoe owners.
The members of the society were addressing media persons in response to Almeida’s statement on Friday that the Old Cross fishing canoe owners at Baina were into illegal fishing activity for which he would would file an FIR against them.
“It is a welcome sign that the Vasco MLA has finally opened his eyes to the illegalities. He should also file an FIR against illegal activities that happened in the port town during his tenure of seven years,” said the society President Custodio D’Souza.
“Our members feel that our society is being targeted for speaking against coal handling activity in Goa and for filing a PIL demanding its complete ban at MPT.”
“We wish to inform the MLA and the government to provide jobs to locals before pointing fingers at our society.” “Almeida should file an FIR against MPT as well, since the latter has been troubling fishermen by undertaking dredging against which we went to the NGT. We had shown the people of Goa the harmful effects dredging undertaken by MPT would have, but Almeida was a silent witness during the struggles of the fishermen,” said D’Souza.
He said that when coal handling was stopped, no local MLA had come forward in support of their movement and questioned Almeida’s silence in the matter.
“During the last sever years of his tenure as MLA, Almeida has never once said he would file an FIR against coal handling or dredging activity of the MPT.”
