MARGAO
Questioning the rationale behind moves to displace them from selling fish in the wholesale fish market, traditional fishermen inhabiting the Salcete and Mormugao coast on Monday conveyed a message loud and clear to the SGPDA, Margao Municipality and the political leaders that the SGPDA wholesale fish market was basically built for the Niz Goemkars to sell fish catch and not for the fish traders or the migrant fishermen.
President of Goeyche Rampankancho Ekvott president Agnelo Rodirgues wondered whether the authorities consider the traditional fishermen as dogs while giving preference to fish from coming into the wholesale fish market from outside the state.
Members of the GRE led by Agnelo Rodrigues, general secretary Olencio Simoes, leaders of fishermen from Benaulim and Colva, Jose Fernandes, Antush and many others participated at a meeting held in the district Colletorate, South attended by SGPDA Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, SGPDA Member Secretary Sheikh Ali, MMC Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar, Additional collector, south Dipak Desai to work out a solution to the wholesale fish market tangle.
The meeting was called to listen to the grievances of the traditional fishermen arising out of the decision by the MMC and the SGPDA to stop illegal retail fish market outside the wholesale fish market.
The traditional fishermen pointed out that they have no issue if the MMC and the PDA stop the illegal migrants from selling fish, but questioned the rationale behind stopping the traditional fishermen from selling fish catch in the wholesale fish market.
“Are the traditional fishermen dogs that they have no entry to the wholesale fish market. This market was built for the local fishermen and not for the fish traders from outside the state and the migrant fishermen. The government and the SGPDA should support the fishermen in eking out a livelihood”, Agnelo appealed.
He asserted that 10 am timing at the wholesale fish market is being introduced by the SGPDA in the interest of the fish traders. “Traditional fishermen have no fixed timings. They come to the market when they catch fish in the sea. There cannot be timings for the fishermen”, he said.
When the officials insisted that the fishermen should intervene in the High court and submit their say, GRE general secretary Olencio Simoes sought to now the stand of the SGPDA on the question of allowing traditional fishermen to use the wholesale fish market throughout the day. He also demanded to know why the high Court order in the instant case is sought to be implemented quickly when so many court orders have been violated with impunity.
Olencio further pointed out that the wholesale fish market and the surroundings have come under the High Court scanner because of the failure of the authorities to maintain hygiene and cleanliness. “Why should the traditional fishermen suffer because of the authorities”, he questioned.
Making his stand clear, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat explained that the SGPDA will have to allow the fishermen to do business inside the wholesale fish market till the completion of the market building under construction. He, however, insisted that migrant fish vendors should not have no place in the market.
Taking up cudgels for the beleaguered fishermen, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas reminded the government that the traditional fishermen cannot be punished just because the PDA and the MMC have failed to maintain hygiene and cleanliness in and around the wholesale fish market.
