MARGAO
The SGPDA-appointed wholesale fish market sopo contractor Milagres Fernandes on Friday said that around 300 migrant vendors are illegally selling fish along the wholesale fish market road, right up to the Seraulim bridge, almost every day.
While denying claims made by the retail fish vendors that retail fish is being sold in the wholesale fish market, Milagres demanded to know why the retail fish vendors are not demanding the removal of the illegal migrant vendors doing illegal fish business on the wholesale fish market road.
Addressing the media in the wake of allegations made by Felix Gonsalves, President of Margao Retail Fish Vendors Association, that illegal retail fish sale is taking place in the wholesale fish market, Milagres dared Felix to hold a protest before the Margao Municipal Council to demand removal of the 300 migrants selling fish along the wholesale fish market road.
“Felix should complain against the 300 illegal migrant fish vendors doing fish business on the wholesale fish market road. We have not heard Felix complaining against the illegal migrants. Instead, he is pointing accusing fingers at the wholesale fish market. I want to clarify that the wholesale fish market is shut after 9 am every day. But illegal retail fish sale continues on the wholesale fish market road day in and out. It is surprising that Felix does not raise a word against the illegal migrants doing business on the road,” he said.
He added: The SGPDA jurisdiction does not extend to the wholesale fish market road. Hence, we have no power to stop the illegal fish sale on the road. The area falls in the domain of the Margao Municipal Council.
“It is surprising that neither the MMC cracks a whip against the illegal retail fish vendors nor is the retail fish vendors association taking any action to rid these migrants,” he said.
Claiming that Felix is talking the language of his godfather from Fatorda, Milagres dared the godfather to get rid of the migrants doing business in Fatorda opposite the KTC bus stand. “We don’t find Goans doing business in front of the KTC bus stand at the parking place. When local youth from Fatorda are keen to do business, the migrants are occupying the places everywhere in Fatorda,” he charged.
