MARGAO: Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao has informed that the repatriation of the stranded seafarers will begin from Monday. He has flayed the attempts of politicising the issue of seafarers by various individuals. He congratulated the Prime Minister and Goa’s Chief Minister for enforcement of the lockdown which has saved the country from major infection of Coronavirus.
Churchill reminded that he was the first one to send a letter to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister and the Foreign Affairs Ministry with the help of his daughter Valanka Alemao. There are 22,000 Indian crew members on 213 various ships across the world and over 8,200 Goans among them. Twenty per cent will remain on ship for skeletal services and at least 15,000 will return back to India.
Goans have presence on almost all the ships across the globe.
Churchill said, “I had prayed to Saint Francis Xavier and Jesus for the repatriation of seafarers. Several came asking me about their dear ones stranded abroad. I have my son-in-law on one of the ships. We wrote to the PM with all the details of the seafarers of Goans and Indians and asked for the return of the Goans.”
Prime Minister of India has ordered the return of the sailors and the CM has been told that return of seafarers will start from Monday and will be in three phases. “PM and DG Shipping says that the seafarers will disembark on the port that the boat reaches and will be in the quarantine rooms,” said Churchill. Churchill also updated that the Chief Minister of Goa has arranged for at least 10,000 rooms at various locations for quarantine facilities.
Asking various individuals in Goa not to politicise the issue, Churchill said, “Many spoke on the issue of seafarers but they came after my pursuance to the PM. Don’t politicise just any issue, there is a system for repatriation and you can’t speak against CM or PM for no reason. Many wrote and spoke regarding the issue. Some of our seafarers have agreed to what the persons politicising spoke. Don’t fall for false politicising. They want to extract benefits from you. The persons who are politicising are to be blamed for the mess and confusion if any.”
Churchill told that Charter flights for seafarers at deep sea will also be arranged.
“I commend the Chief Minister. He is working with a cool head and has been speaking to the Prime Minister thrice a day. He has been corresponding with the Centre for the return of the seafarers,” sad Churchill while adding that there are political elements who are waiting for the CM be pulled down from his Chair. “Trust Churchill, I am working” he said.
