Team Herald
CANACONA: With the State witnessing a massive influx of migrants these days, it has come to light that of 200-odd shops in Chaudi more than half are owned by non-Goans.
The residents of Canacona are alarmed and disturbed to witness how fast the original Goan shopkeepers in the taluka are being replaced by non-Goans.
Traders of Goan origin carrying out business in Canacona sensing the migrant threat to their existence had organised themselves by forming the Association of Businessmen of Canacona a few years ago with people of Goan origin as registered members.
Their main concern was to uphold and protect the interests of the local businessmen.
Despite its inception a few years ago, the Goan businessmen have been disappearing thick and fast from the taluka.
Association president Diogo da Silva, who is spearheading the movement to protect and promote Goan businessmen in Canacona says, “With things going out of control, we have to put an end to the dilution of Goan shopkeepers from the market in the taluka.”
“With no support from the government, we are being driven to extinction. Our complaints in the past over unhealthy practices by the non-Goan traders have received no encouraging results,” da Silva added.
“Today, there are around 250 shops selling different wares in Chaudi, of these 150 are run by non-Goans. Show me any place in the world where outside shopkeepers are more than locals,” he said.
Anil Bhagat, vice president of the Traders Association of Canacona said, “Our government says that we cannot safeguard the interests of locals when it comes to employment of Goans in private sector, what Goans have to do? Go to London?”
“We request our MLA Isidore Fernandes to raise this issue at a proper platform; the day is not far when all shops in Canacona will be run by non-Goans and Canaconkars will be left sucking their fingers,” da Silva and Bhagat lamented.
