Team Herald
PANJIM: The COVID-19 pandemic did not deter the Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) from celebrating the 58th National Maritime Day at Casa do Povo Hall, St Estevam, with great passion and enthusiasm, recently.
Adv Narendra Sawaikar, NRI Commissioner, Goa, was the chief guest on the occasion; Parish Priest Fr John Diniz and Corlim Zilla Panchayat member Siddesh Naik graced as guests of honour. Orlando Menezes, chairperson of the Minorities Corporation (Goa); Joaquim Monteiro (president St Estevam Sports Club) and Captain Diogo Pereira were special invitees.
While addressing, Adv Sawaikar highlighted the crucial role played by seafarers and called them heroes of the seas.
He assured all his help to alleviate their grievances and announced that the seafarers pension that had been stopped for a while will resume from next month with retrospective effect from January 2021.
Fr Diniz, while reminding that St Estevam is a predominantly seafarer community, assured his prayers and full support to work for their welfare and wellbeing.
Siddesh assured that with the assistance of his Central Minister-father he will not leave any stone unturned to see that the grievances of the seafarer community, who are a significant number in his constituency, are promptly heard and addressed by the Central Ministry.
Captain Diogo enlightened audience on the importance of the National Maritime Day and its significance today. Frank Viegas, president of GSAI, appealed to the NRI Commissioner to take up with the Central Shipping Ministry the seven crucial demands of the seafarer community that were explained in details in the memorandum sent by GSAI to the Union Minister of Shipping, on the occasion of the 58th National Maritime Day.
Benny da Costa, GSAI Secretary welcomed the gathering while Treasurer Santana Pereira proposed a vote of thanks. A half-day health camp was organised in collaboration with Manipal Hospitals with a specific focus on Cancer and Orthopedic check-up by specialised doctors. The health camp ended at 2 pm with many people from the village and surrounding areas availing of healthcare services.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, adequate precautions were taken and COVID-appropriate protocols were put in place with the number restricted to just 50 people for the inaugural ceremony.
