MAPUSA: All Goa Bar and Restaurant Owners Association on Thursday appealed to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to allow them to restart their businesses as the owners were badly affected last year reeling under huge loss due to extended curfew.
President of the Association Michael Carrasco claimed 90 per cent of Goans are in this business and it is stopped without any relief. Businessmen are desperate and are ready to rent out and even sell their ancestral business to any one since no relief has been considered in any form.
“It looks like running a bar and restaurant is a crime in the Goan society. Last year, we had officially closed down for six months and this year for three months. To make the plight of suffering worse, the government has increased the license fees, hiked excise rates and implemented separate charges for AC and non AC premises. And now, charges for bars and restaurants as per area of operation. How does the government expect the Goans to survive,” Carrasco pointed out.
“The shack owners, migrant labourers etc have been given relief in some sort or other. Why can’t we? Today the fish market is open, malls are open wholesale liquor shops are open, why should we not be open. We are ready to follow all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) imposed by the government. Why should we suffer the wrath of COVID-19,” he further said.
“Since the positive cases and death rates have reduced, the government should consider reopening of our business to avoid distress sale, closure of business and renting out to non Goans. More than monetary losses, there are job losses as our industry is of unskilled and skill labour,” Carrasco added.
