TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Rejecting allegations of the Goencho Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), the traditional fishermen from Vasco have denied assaulting fishermen from Cansaulim and instead, claimed that one of their members had been assaulted by the Cansaulim fishermen.
Addressing a news conference on Saturday, the Vasco Traditional Fishermen Association (VTFA) comprising those from Baina, Desterro denied the GRE members assault allegations.
“None of our members assaulted any of the fishermen from Cansaulim at Hollant. On the contrary the fishermen from Cansaulim assaulted one of our labourers at Hollant on Thursday. In this regard, the traditional fishermen form Baina, Desterro and Vasco have filed a complaint against the fishermen of Cansaulim at Verna police station,” said VTFA President Custodia D’Souza.
Justifying the presence of their boats at Hollant beach, D’Souza added, “During monsoon, we use the Hollant beach for only 20 days to anchor our canoes due to the rough weather at Vasco and Baina beach. We have urged the government and the fisheries department to allow our boats to be anchored at Hollant beach during the monsoon.”
“GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues has directed us not to anchor our canoes at Hollant beach from Sunday onwards, but to keep them at Vasco or Baina beach.”
