MARGAO
Insisting there cannot be timings for the traditional fishermen in the wholesale fish market, a group of original fishermen led by former Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva and John Fernandes on Thursday called on the SGPDA Chairperson Dr Renuka Da Silva with a plea to accommodate them in the wholesale fish market.
Both Caitu and John maintained that the SGPDA can verify the ID documents of the traditional fishermen and earmark them a place in the wholesale fish market without imposing any restriction in the
timings.
Saying that they have no objection to the crack down initiated against retail sale in the wholesale fish market, Caitu demanded that the SGPDA should protect the interest of the traditional fishermen. "The traditional fishermen bring fish in the market depending on the catch. Hence, we maintain there cannot be timings for the traditional fishermen in a wholesale fish market," Caitu said, adding ‘after verifying the IDs, the PDA can accommodate the traditional fishermen in a separate place in the market'.
John Fernandes told the media after the meeting that the traditional fishermen have sought 15 days time to submit the ID and other documents so that they are allotted separate area in the market. "It is our birthright to catch and sell fish. We do not accept the timings sought to be imposed by the SGPDA. When one ventures out into the sea, the fishermen do not know when they would catch and return back to the market. There are some fish agents who are instigating the PDA to impose timings," he said.
SGPDA Chairperson Renuka Da Silva told the media that the PDA is only trying put a system in place in the wholesale fish market before the GSIDC brings around a complete turnaround in the market. "Right now, one can get everything in the wholesale fish market, right from retail fish, sausages, ropes, bakery products, etc. This has to stop," she asserted.
On the demands raised by the traditional fishermen, the SGPDA chairperson said the PDA will take the views of all the stakeholders into confidence before taking a call. "We have obtained the opinion of the trawler owners, ramponkars and the traders. We want to provide a clean and hygienic market where there's no place for retail sale of fish in the wholesale fish market," Renuka added.
Saying that they have no objection to the crack down initiated against retail sale in the wholesale fish market, Caitu demanded that the SGPDA should protect the interest of the traditional fishermen. "The traditional fishermen bring fish in the market depending on the catch. Hence, we maintain there cannot be timings for the traditional fishermen in a wholesale fish market," Caitu said, adding ‘after verifying the IDs, the PDA can accommodate the traditional fishermen in a separate place in the market'.
John Fernandes told the media after the meeting that the traditional fishermen have sought 15 days time to submit the ID and other documents so that they are allotted separate area in the market. "It is our birthright to catch and sell fish. We do not accept the timings sought to be imposed by the SGPDA. When one ventures out into the sea, the fishermen do not know when they would catch and return back to the market. There are some fish agents who are instigating the PDA to impose timings," he said.
SGPDA Chairperson Renuka Da Silva told the media that the PDA is only trying put a system in place in the wholesale fish market before the GSIDC brings around a complete turnaround in the market. "Right now, one can get everything in the wholesale fish market, right from retail fish, sausages, ropes, bakery products, etc. This has to stop," she asserted.
On the demands raised by the traditional fishermen, the SGPDA chairperson said the PDA will take the views of all the stakeholders into confidence before taking a call. "We have obtained the opinion of the trawler owners, ramponkars and the traders. We want to provide a clean and hygienic market where there's no place for retail sale of fish in the wholesale fish market," Renuka added.
