MARGAO: The Goan Seaman Association of India (GSAI) had a meeting with the South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, demanding that the seafarer baggage allowance of 40 kg to be retained while transit to domestic flights.
GSAI members further plan on meeting NRI Affairs minister and Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado at the secretariat on Friday to discuss about the urgent requirement of a seafarer cell in Goa, where the seaman and their family can get help and information for their grievance like salary, job, termination of job contracts documentation, even to get legal opinion and knowing their rights onboard the ship.
GSAI president Dixon Vaz, vice president Joe Fernandes, assistant secretary, Franklin D’Costa and member Otto Lasrado met Sawaikar and also reiterated their demand for an NRI/seafarer cell to be formed as an additional department to help the seafarers with their grievances.
The meeting lasted for an hour where Sawaikar gave them assurances that it would be taken up for discussion with the chief minister.
We expressed clearly to MP Advocate Sawaikar the urgent requirement of seafarer cell in Goa, and gave the example of Otto Lasrado and how his family faced distress during the entire South Africa episode,” said Vaz.
Vaz further stated that Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised to set up the cell during the election campaign of the 2012 assembly elections before he became chief minister but the promise has not been fulfilled. GSAI requested the government to speed up the process of forming the seafarer cell.
