the goan I network
MARGAO
An owner of a sausage and meat outlet even remarked that young people may consider making Portuguese passports to seek a job abroad if the government fails to bail out the industry.
A visit to Goa’s lone wholesale fish market in the commercial capital and the PDA mega market on Sunday brought to the fore the worst fears of the wholesale fish traders. Day two of the Supreme Court ban on bars had a telling effect on the wholesale fish business. It was pointed out that purchase of fish by bar and restaurant owners took a hit during the last two days after the Apex Court ban order came into effect from Saturday.
A wholesale fish agent Jamir Sheikh said that business in the wholesale fish market has been down since the last two days and feared further losses in the coming days. “We had customers who purchased 5-20 kgs of fish almost everyday or on alternate days. We have not seen these customers today after the ban came into force,” he said.
At the SGPDA mega retail market the mood among vendors and traders was no better. Victor Crasto, owner of a sausage and meat outlet, said the SC order has hit him and similar business in a big way. “Meat and meat products used to go the bars and restaurants. This has come down since the last two says. Like me, there are others who had ventured into an independent business to eke out a living. With the SC ban, we do not know our future. May be, we will have to also join many Goan youths who have travelled abroad with Portuguese passports. Let us wait and see how things unfold in the near future,” he added.
Jamir Ahmed Kazi, a vegetable vendor in the PDA retail market, pointed out that his regular customers running bars and restaurants have not visited the market since yesterday. “We used to receive major orders from bars and restaurants and small caterers. More than 50 per cent of my business is down. The number of visitors to the PDA market has come down today though being a Sunday,” he added.
Chicken stall owners and other traders echoed similar sentiments and said that the impact will be felt the most after Easter, while hoping against hope that the government bail out the liquor businesses for their very survival.
