VASCO: The tour operators and the pre-approved excursion agents for the cruise liner “Ocean Odyssey” have strongly denied the charges levelled against them by the Mormugao Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Salim Shaikh who sought to blame the tour operator for the unfortunate incident that took place at the Mormugao Port.
The claims made by the DySP that pre-arrangements were not made or that the police had not been intimidated earlier about the arrival of the coaches or that the coaches booked by the tour company had no passes to enter the port’s premises, were flatly denied with proof.
Francis Vaz, the Goa-based manager of the tour operator company Le Passage to India, shared photos of the RFID Cards they had procured, which act as passes and have other details required to permit their entry.
He added that they had procured these cards as usual as they had done on earlier occasions too.
“I am surprised to hear that the DySP is claiming that we had come without the passes for the buses. We have been handling cruise liners for many years and are fully aware of the procedures to be followed. We are aware of all protocols about the port and abide by it,” said Vaz.
Vaz further produced a copy of the letter they had sent to the Mormugao PI on December 10th, four days before the arrival of the cruise liner at the Mormugao Port.
“After hearing the DySP’s interview it seems that he was misinformed by the Police Inspector (PI) of Mormugao who was officially informed by a letter we had sent to the PI on December 10th, we have an acknowledged copy of the same,” said Vaz.
“I can understand that he is trying to protect the Mormugao PI who definitely failed to perform his duty and allowed the drivers to take an upper hand that eventually led to this ugly incident at the harbour. It is unfortunate that the Vasco SDPO made these comments without ascertaining the facts,” Vaz added.
Otto De Oliveira Fernandes, the sole proprietor of International Travel Bureau Travel Agent and Cruise Handling Agent also reacted to the DySP’s statement when contacted by Herald.
“It's a ridiculous statement to make ...no cruise operator takes his coaches to the Harbour without the RFID passes without which the coaches cannot enter the port. Besides, the taxi drivers have no authority to stop us and it is the job of the CISF to check for passes at the gate,” said Otto.
“One of the drivers of the 4 coaches was assaulted by the taxi drivers, his eardrum is punctured and bleeding. The Chief Minister was told this in the morning and he asked that a complaint be registered and the concerned taxi driver to be arrested,” Otto added.