THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Will Salcete's lone Minister Filipe NeriRodrigues and the ruling as well supporting MLAs from theseafarers-dominated taluka effectively take up with Chief MinisterPramod Sawant the question of the early return of beleaguered seamenstranded across the world due to the coronavirus pandemic?
This question has come to haunt the electedrepresentatives as anxiety runs large amongst the beleagueredseafarers and their families back home with no sign of their earlyreturn, and with fears of a lockdown in the foreign countries mayblock the save movement of the people.
What has caused anxiety is the fact that whilethe Chief Minister has claimed that he has taken up with the PrimeMinister Narendra Modi the issue on the early return of thebeleaguered seafarers, the ground reality has not changed till date.The Indian seafarers continue to be holed up onboard vessels, whilecrew members from other countries have been flown back home by theirrespective governments.
Sources in the know informed that the rulinggovernment and MLAs have been flooded with inquiries on the safety ofthe Goan seamen, right from their families, religious leaders andfriends.
Fisheries Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues saidthe Chief Minister has taken strong cognizance of the situation. “TheChief Minister has taken up the issue in the right direction. He hasraised the issue with the Union Ministries concerned. The CM hasunderstood the sentiments of the people and the grievances of theseafarers stranded abroad,” Filipe Neri added.
The Fisheries Minister, who represents VelimAssembly constituency, said that he had taken up the matter withUnion Ayush Minister Sripad Naik so that the latter conveys thesentiments of the people of Goa to the Centre. “The Union Ministerhas already written to the ministries concerned and is personallyfollowing up the matter,” Filipe Neri added.
“I understand the apprehensions of the peoplethat bringing back the seamen may go haywire if these foreigncountries go for a lockdown. The government is aware of this,” hesaid.
Congress-turned-BJP MLAs Clafacio Dias andWilfred D’Sa, whose Cuncolim and Nuvem constituencies are home to alarge number of seafarers, said they had discussed with issue withthe CM at the last meeting. “The CM has promised of initiatingaction so that the seafarers are brought home safely. I am confidenthe will do the needful," Cuncolim MLA Clafacio said.
His Nuvem counterpart, Wilfred D’Sa, echoedsimilar sentiments. “At the last meeting with the CM, the issue ofseafarers was discussed. The CM has assured to get back home the Goanseafarers”, D’Sa added.
NCP Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, who issupporting the BJP government from outside, said he had not onlywritten a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but has beendoing the following up with Chief Minister, PramodSawant. “Thegovernment is working out the modalities for the early return of theseafarers back home. It has been decided to get Goan seafarers rightin Goa and fly others to their respective states”, Churchill said.
With time running out, the BJP-government hasindeed come under the scanner of the seafaring community, which hadcontributed immensely towards Goa’s economy over the years.
