Team Herald
PANJIM: The movement to move out the “flotel” casino from Britona, in River Mandovi, is gathering momentum with the local church backing the villagers’ protest.
Britona church priest Fr Mathew Fernandes, speaking to Herald, said that the casino was too close for the comfort of the villagers. “The casino is very close to the church and we do not want it there,” he said.
Fr Mathew also stated that the place where the casino “flotel” is anchored is disrupting the business of traditional fishermen. “A lot of people here depend on fishing, which is their livelihood and their business would suffer because of the casino,” he said.
The priest also said that the village is already facing issues due to the ‘Hotel Deltin’, which owns the flotel casino. “The village is facing parking problems and other issues due to this hotel. The villagers are worried that the youth may get carried away and take to gambling,” he said.
Fr Mathew said that not only Britona, they do not want casinos anywhere in river Mandovi or in Goa.
The priest was also critical of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who he said is too busy to meet the villagers. “Our locals under the banner of Britona Villagers Front approached the CM’s office for an appointment to express our grievances but his office informed us he is too busy for the next two months,” he said.
Following a threat from locals and a group of MLAs, Captain of Ports has decided to shift the fifth casino in River Mandovi that was granted a licence by the government. “We have decided to relocate the vessel at Ribandar, opposite the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary,” said Captain of Ports, James Braganza.
Earlier on Friday a group of legislators had threatened that the government would face a law and order situation if it failed to shift the new casino from its location near Britona.
Britona residents had also objected to the vessel calling it illegal. Villagers under the banner of Britona Villagers Front had threatened an agitation if the government fails to remove the vessel from River Mandovi.
