VIKRAM NAYAK
VASCO
At a time when offshore casinos have been an emotive issue and have evoked mixed reactions in the State, yet another casino vessel arrived on board a mother ship at the MPT on Wednesday afternoon.
According to details on the MPT website, the vessel ‘Eide Trader’ arrived at Berth 10 in the MPT from Port Said at about 2 pm on Wednesday to unload “Casino vessel Angrosy IV”, with the shipper/receiver being Neo Majestic.
While it is uncertain where the ship would be operational, highly placed sources said the new casino ship is likely to move to Jaigad/Ratnagiri on a trial run and for some minor works, before returning to Goa a few days later.
However, the timing of the arrival of the new casino ship on board another feeder heavy lift ship, amid political uncertainties in the State and the ill-health of CM Manohar Parrikar, has been questioned by some in the port town.
“We need to find out who has got the casino ship and where it would be operational,” said activist Vikram Sarmalkar.
Wondering if the BJP government wanted to turn Goa into Las Vegas by bringing in more and more casino ships, Sarmalkar added: “We should not allow any more casinos and people must come on roads against this move.”
“While the government has failed to provide employment to the youth, casinos are only out to destroy people. It was the same Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who had taken a protest march while in the opposition to stop casinos in Goa,” said Sarmalkar.
Another resident, while speaking on condition of anonymity, sought to link the arrival of the casino ship with Laxmi Pujan day.
“The vessel had arrived on Laxmi Pujan day probably because in the olden days, gambling was considered an auspicious activity during Diwali. Although law prohibits this age-old practice, most people hold on to the tradition and gamble during the Puja season.” “It is believed that gambling on Laxmi Pujan day brings wealth and prosperity. No matter what, but we cannot allow any more casinos. People have lost all their wealth because of casinos and this vessel must not be allowed to operate,” said the resident.
