TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Taking up cudgels for the beleaguered water sports operators from Salcete’s coastal belt, Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva on Friday urged Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to safeguard the interests of the water sports operators by scrapping the GTDC tender for a single window system.
Conveying his support to the water sports operators after a delegation led by South Goa Water Sports Association President, Domingos Rodrigues called on him, Caitu said he has already taken up with the Chief Minister the demands of the water sports operators. “These waters sports operators were once traditional fishermen, who were displaced by tourism along the coast. To make a livelihood, they and their dependents then ventured into tourism related activities such as water sports, shacks and taxi business, but now they are threatened by outsiders who want to take over the business,” Caitu said, adding that the government should protect the interest of the sons of the soil eking a livelihood in the tourism industry.
Domingos wondered how the GTDC could float a tender for water sports activity when the government has not invested any money in the activities. “Water sports activity was ushered in by the traditional fishermen. We have invested our money in the business by taking huge loans,” he said.
Domingos thanked MLAs Michael Lobo and Caitu Silva for rallying behind them.
