the goan I network
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed that the central government has devised a three-phased approach to resolve the seafarers' issue.
"Central Government has finalized their Standard Operating procedure today. The SOP lays down that the issue will be handled in three phases. Firstly, those who are on Indian coast. The decision about these seafarers will be made in the next three to four days. Secondly, those who are in the deep sea and in the next eight to ten days, there will be a decision on how to repatriate them through Indian ports via sea route. Thirdly, those seafarers who are not onboard a ship and are on land in a foreign country. Ministry of Home Affairs will finalize the procedure about repatriating them in the next two to four days," CM stated.
He further said that the SOP for quarantining the repatriated seafarers will be followed by the state government.
Meanwhile, around 14 family members of Goan seafarers on Wednesday morning began a hunger strike outside the official residence of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at Altinho in Panaji demanding a quick decision in the favour of immediate repatriation of Goan seafarers stranded overseas.
Taking note of the protest, CM Sawant requested two members of the gathering for a meeting. After the meeting, the wife of a Goan seafarer, Gina Pereira said that she had been told to meet the nodal officer for seafarers’ Anthony. “He told me to meet the NRI Director, who is the nodal officer, for details about all that has been done to repatriate the seafarers and has asked me to come and meet him
again on Thursday,” she stated.
Thereafter, the protesters were warned against gathering in violation of Section 144. As they refused to disperse, Panaji Police quickly swung into action and arrested 14 protestors including 12 women and two men, who were released shortly after. They have been booked primarily under Section 188 of IPC for disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant.
When asked about her decision to protest, Pereira said that she was tired of waiting and worrying about the wellbeing of her husband, who has been stuck onboard a ship for over a month. The placard she held up before the CM’s residence in protest of the government’s slow response to the matter read, “Our government is dead. Can’t bring back our seafarers”.
A member of a seafarer’s family, Dixon Vaz, said that others like him were tired of getting assurances. “Everyone keeps assuring us that the government is working on it, that the Prime Minister’sOffice is aware about this. Nothing has happened. Four seafarers have lost their lives already. There are a few in the hospital. Lockdown does not mean that people should die without food and water. Seafarers are not virus carriers. They are people who are helping the economy of this country. They are not sick. They have already got health certification after completing a 20 day quarantine,” he explained while alleging that unlike the governments of several other countries, Indian government had failed to reach out to the embassies.
Captain Venzy Viegas, one of the protestors, said that there is confusion among the people now. “There is a big difference between seafarers and others stranded on shore. Seafarers do not have any medical facilities while at sea. They are not infected. Make a corridor and bring them back,” he pleaded. Captain Viegas informed that the group has also made a submission before the International chamber of shipping in the hope of expediting the repatriation.
Wife of a Goan seafarer from Verna, Merlin Rodrigues disclosed that her husband is stranded in the United Kingdom. She stated, “No one on the boat has any infection. They are scared and sleepless. We are naturally tense about their wellbeing. Their food will run short onboard.” Lavina Fernandes, whose husband is stranded at Nassau, Bahamas pointed out that most other countries have begun repatriating their nationals a long time ago.
