MARGAO
While welcoming the decision of Lotus Resorts to withdraw the letter issued to Somava Vasappa Malagimani, the Benaulim Tourist Taxi
Association on Friday has vowed not to allow any migrants in the tourist taxi business in the village.
Leader of the tourist taxi operators, Roque Fernandes further told the media that the association will not allow any restaurants in the village to engage migrant drivers, saying the tourist taxi business was the only business left with Goans.
“Our Association is clear that we will not tolerate any migrant entering into the tourist taxi business in the village. If some of the migrants are engaged in other businesses, it is for the authorities to act. But we will not allow any Laamani or migrant to enter into the tourist taxi business in our village,” he said.
To a question, Roque said the 88 drivers registered with the Benaulim Tourist Taxi Association are all local youth. “There may be a couple of migrant drivers employed by restaurants to ply their taxis, but we will now approach them to ensure that only Goan youth are employed in this business. This is the only business left with the Goan youth and we want to protect the same for them,” he added.
While clarifying that the tourist taxi operators are not against migrants engaged in other businesses, Roque, however, demanded that the authorities should crack a whip against Laamanis and migrants creating nuisance and exploiting foreign tourists on the beach belt.
“Why are the authorities silent when migrants create nuisance for the tourists? The Laamanis exploit foreign tourists by selling them items at exorbitant rates,” he said, while alleging that cross massages are also taking place on the beach belt.
