Customs and immigration officials were caught off guard
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
VASCO: The Dabolim Airport authority’s unexpected decision to open the new terminus to allow 102 delegates from Macau, who are participating in the 3rd Lusofonia Games, caught the airport staff and other officials at Dabolim airport by surprise on Thursday.
The sudden decision also caught Lusofonia Games officials as well as customs and immigration officials off guard, as they had to rush to the new terminus at the last minute to handle the delegates in the premises.
While workers at Dabolim airport were seen frantically cleaning the dusty baggage conveyor belts with soft brooms and a vacuum cleaner, volunteers of the Lusofonia Games were seen busy arranging banners for the Lusofonia Games mascot and other display material.
Speaking to Herald, an official from the Lusofonia Games said the landing of the delegates at the new airport terminus was decided at the last minute. “As a result, we had to rush in all our volunteers to the new venue to make necessary arrangements.”
“We were at the old airport terminus since midnight to welcome the delegates from Portugal and Mozambique, as they arrived at about 2.30 am and later in the day, we welcomed delegates from Cape Verde,” said the source.
“We later shifted from the old Dabolim terminus to the new one to welcome delegates from Macau, as the decision taken at the last minute. It was very hectic as we had to get ourselves organised in no time to welcome the delegates. We had to shift everything and everyone, including the volunteers, to the new terminus to welcome the delegates,” added the source.
When contacted, Dabolim airport officials said they had permitted the use of the new terminus at the last minute for the arrival of the delegates from Macau.
“The State government had requested us to allow the delegates to land at the new terminus. It was a great feeling to allow the delegates of the 3rd Lusofonia Games to land at the new Dabolim airport terminus,” Airport Director M Suresh told Herald.
“About 750 delegates of Lusofonia Games are expected to arrive at
the Dabolim airport and delegates less than 10 in number will land at the old airport terminus. Larger delegations will be allowed to land at the new terminus,” he said.
While workers at Dabolim airport were seen frantically cleaning the dusty baggage conveyor belts with soft brooms and a vacuum cleaner, volunteers of the Lusofonia Games were seen busy arranging banners and display material
