Handover Candolim jetty within 8 days: fisher folks

PANJIM, DEC 22
Goa’s Fishing Community has given a furious ultimatum of eight days to the Government to allot the fishing jetty at Candolim exclusively for the use of fishermen, failing which they have threatened launch agitation across the State.
The threatening call comes a week after the brawl between traditional fishermen and water sports operators over dominating the use of Candolim jetty for their respective business.
 “We have written to the Director of Fisheries that if the jetty is not handed over to the fishing community within eight days, the fishing community will agitate on the streets of Goa,” Genchea Raponkarancho Ekvott President Agnelo Rodrigues told reporters today.
The incident, on December 15 occurred when a fisheries department official installed a sign board at Sinquerim (Candolim) jetty stating that the jetty will be used by traditional fishermen. This was followed by an argument and altercation between the two business groups.
The fishermen have cautioned Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes not to behave like a ‘goonda’ and stop interfering in the fishing community.
 “The MLA is deliberately trying to divide the coastal residents of the area on the basis of region and occupation by pitting traditional fishermen against water sports operators and Candolim residents against those from Calangute,” he alleged.
They have also vehemently refused allegations by the MLA that NFF chief Mathany Saldanha ‘collected money’ to instigate the incident.
National Fishworkers Forum  had severely criticized the incident alleging that water sports operators supported by Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes assaulted a traditional fisherman.
Fisheries Director S Verenkar, when contacted said that fisheries officer Halankar is carrying out an inquiry into the incident.
Calangute police is already investigating into the complaint and counter complaint against the two groups.