PANAJI
On National Maritime Day, Goencho Avaaz Party paid tribute to Goan seafarers and their critical role as key stakeholders in the shipping and maritime industry. The party also hailed the seafarer community as significant contributors to Goa’s economy.
Goencho Avaaz Party said that Goan seafarers serve as brand ambassadors of Goa. "For generations, they have built a name for themselves having served in the hospitality and catering industry or in the navigation or maintenance department on board cruise liners. They have raised the bar for Goa and Goans in shores afar. Today, we salute our Goan brothers who have played an integral role in being part and parcel of India’s rich maritime history."
Captain Viriato Fernandes, State Convenor of Goencho Avaaz Party, recalls that the party and Goan seafarers have a special relationship. "Last year, the pandemic hit Goan seafarers hard, who found themselves stranded across the world. We were alarmed by the situation and wanted to do our bit to bring home our Goan seafarers. Goencho Avaaz started researching the situation and was shocked to find that the Ministry of Shipping didn’t have any data on this issue. After painstaking and laborious research, Goencho Avaaz identified 22,449 Indian seafarers including Goans who found themselves left high and dry overseas. Goencho Avaaz also managed to track down the positions of various ships holding these seafarers. We worked in conjunction with The Home Ministry in New Delhi to reunite the missing seafarers with their families back home.
"But our efforts don’t stop here. We are saddened that the Goa government has made no provision to take care of our seafarers, who for years together have been sending foreign exchange back home and as a result providing economic succour to their motherland. But now that the seafarers need help, the government has turned a blind eye. Goencho Avaaz party assures our fellow Goan seafarers that we will continue to fight for your rights and to ensure that you receive the recognition and assistance that is rightfully yours."
