MAPUSA
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Sunday reiterated that water sports business should be run by the Goans and he would support the operators come what may.
Lobo also expressed fears that somewhere down the line the government will tender the water sports activity and the business will slip into the hands of outsiders.
“We are not misguiding the water sports operators. But we are firmly backing the operators because that is one business that is left with the Goans. The operators are following the queue system. They are also displaying the rate chart. So what is the problem,” Lobo said.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had recently said that some MLAs were misguiding the water sport operators and that he would push for transparency and discipline in water sports activity.
Lobo rooted for the locals to conduct the water sports activity in the State.
“I support them as coastal belt MLA. Why do you want Goan boys to work under somebody else? They have their own investment in the entire water sports activities. The water sports business should not be under some water sports operators of Haryana or some other State,” he said.
He said the involvement of Goa Electronics Limited (GEL) was a stop gap arrangement.
“GEL is not here to do water sports activities. The government is bound to tender the entire operations somewhere down the line. And when it is tendered then how one can stop people from other States from taking the tender?” he asked.
The water sports operators have also strongly opposed the current system put in place by the Tourism Department where GEL is tasked with the job of collecting fees from customers which is later refunded to the operators.
“They are taking your money and giving it back to you after two days. How is it possible? It’s like I am a hotel owner and the government is telling me to give all my rooms to GEL. So GEL will bring customers and sell the rooms. It depends on GEL to promote you or not,” Lobo opined.
