TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Asserting that a large number of foreigners, including Nepalis, are employed in casinos in the State, Congress spokesman Reginaldo Lourenco on Monday said it was a myth that these floating gambling dens offer opportunities to unemployed Goans.
Addressing media persons, he said that it is appalling and outrageous that casinos in Goa, especially the onshore ones operated by Rakesh Wadhwa have been set up to provide livelihood to Nepalis, Irish/Zimbabweans, Sri Lankans, Bengalis and those from Uttarakhand.
He called upon the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to wake up from his deep slumber and weed out the wrong casino operators from Goa for good.
“In all the casinos of Rakesh Wadha, high-paying jobs of directors, vice-presidents, general managers, casino managers, gaming managers, cash managers, marketing managers are specially assigned to foreigners or non-Goans. By and large, the indigenous Goans are left with low-profile jobs of drivers, bouncers, stewards, F&B assistants, HR executives, supervisors etc.,” he added.
“Chief Minister’s idea to reserve 80 per cent jobs on casinos to Goans is a myth. It is disgusting that our CM could not ensure to see that all the jobs went to Goans. The Department of Labour and Employment has done absolutely nothing to combat the employment of outsiders in place of Goans in the casinos,” he added.
Moreover, the Curtorim MLA said it was a myth that casinos promote tourism in Goa. He said that maximum punters at Wadhwa’s three onshore casinos located in Varca, Majorda and Taleigao are niz Goemkars, adding that the lives of many families in the villages of Santa Cruz, Merces, Aldona, Chinchinim, Velim, Curtorim, Majorda etc., have been devastated economically and socially by these casinos.
He expressed surprise that the Chief Minister was quiet on the moves of Wadhwa to get another Nepali casino in Goa at Porvorim. “The government is least interested in throwing out the bad casino operators out and it is busy renewing licenses and giving new ones to dubious casino operators,” he alleged.
