In fact, boat owners from Cutbona said they had extended support to the government when an announcement was made in the State budget. They however added that the government never approached them formally on how to go about with the proposal. “From the beginning, the boat owners are open to any government proposal to sell subsidised fish. What we had heard was just an announcement. No one had ever approached the boat owners for the purchase of bulk fish. In fact, we are still unaware of the mechanism that the government wants to put in place vis-a-vis the proposal,” informed spokesman of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union, Elvis Gomes.
Former Cutbona Boat Owners Union President Patrick D’Silva said the government decision to sell subsidised fish in designated stalls is acceptable to the boat owners.
