MARGAO: The Goa Forward Party has strongly condemned what it called the immoral behavior of the government of reducing a purely humanitarian rescue operation to a revenue-generating and extortion operation to rescue a bankrupt State.
GFP Chief Vijai Sardesai has prayed that Goenkars stuck abroad, whether offshore or onshore, and seeking urgent repatriation due to their distress do not have to go through more such ordeals due to the tussle of the government with their companies to milch them to the maximum in their moment of helplessness and misery.
In a statement, Sardesai reminded that holding the seafarers to ransom due to the refusal or inability of the companies or their agents to pay for the demanded charges by the Goa Government for paid quarantine is immoral and illegal as per the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR) of the United Nations of which India is a prestigious member and signatory.
“These regulations operational in times of a pandemic clearly state in Article 40 that under no circumstances shall travellers or conveyance operators be denied the ability to depart from the territory of a State Party pending payment of the charges referred to in paragraphs 1 or 2 of this Article (IHR 40.6),” he added.
He further reminded the Goa Government of the WHO guidelines (February 11, 2020)” on “Repatriation and Quarantine” whereby it states that “travellers should be treated with respect for their dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms and minimize any discomfort or distress associated with such measures, including by treating all travellers with courtesy and respect; taking into consideration the gender, sociocultural, ethnic or religious concerns of travellers”.
In view of the above, the GFP demands that the Goa Government follows the International Health Regulations in toto as it supersedes any national or local regulations and supports wholeheartedly the legitimate demands of the Goa Seamen Association of India (GSAI).
While urging the government to expedite efforts so that other Goenkars, especially those on Karnika and Angrya ships or on land within the country, return to Goa at the earliest, he demanded that the Government simultaneously draw up detailed repatriation plans for the bulk of the tarvottis.
He said the GFP is particularly concerned by the way the government is arm twisting the seafarers’ companies or their agents to pay for the quarantine.
“These companies have taken care of the seamen for nearly two months without much ado despite the unresponsiveness, insensitivity and irresponsibility displayed by the Indian and Goa governments,” he said.
