the goan I network
MARGAO
Niz Kharvis (traditional fishermen) are up in arms over the SGPDA’s decision to shut down retail sale of fish in the wholesale fish market after 9 am, saying the PDA’s decision has pushed them on the roads and affected their livelihood.
They squarely blamed the president of SGPDA retail market Association, Felix Gonsalves behind the PDA decision to crack the whip against the traditional fishermen. An agitated fish vendor even threatened to sell fish at the stalls owned by Felix in the PDA market if their livelihood is not restored immediately.
Three days after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inspected the PDA wholesale and retail markets, before giving instructions to shut retail operations at the wholesale fish market after 9 am, the traditional fishermen have found themselves in a tight spot, with the SGPDA appointed sopo contractor evicting all vendors from the wholesale fish market after 9 am. These fish vendors, hailing from Salcete coastal belt, have all along maintained there cannot be specific timings for the traditional fishermen given that they come to the market with the catch anytime of the day.
“Unlike Felix Gonsalves, we are Niz Kharvis. Our men go out to the sea for fishing and we get the catch in the market for sale. Sometimes, we get plenty of fish and there are days when we have to contend with only one or two baskets,” a woman fish vendor pointed out, demanding to know where are they going to sell their catch if the wholesale gate is closed for the traditional fishermen.
Another vendor blamed the retail fish Association leader behind their present condition. “Felix owns many stalls in the retail market. Besides, he employs migrants to carry out the retail business. On the other hand, our livelihood is solely dependent on the fishing occupation,” she said, while making a fervent plea to the PDA authorities to exempt the traditional fishermen from the timings in the wholesale fish market. Felix and the other vendors in the retail market should find out why people are patronizing the vendors in the wholesale fish market. “Since we get the catch in the market, we sell at a reasonable rates. Felix and the vendors either procure the fish from us, the boat owners and the trawler owners and sell the same in the retail market at a higher rate,” the fishermen asserted.
