The Consul General is in touch with Raj Gopal, General Manager of Meranti Alliance Shipping who has assured that all the difficulties are being resolved. Lasrado also confirmed that the wages of all the crew members are being worked out for payment. The NRI Cell headed by Dr Wilfred Menezes Mesquita is constantly following up on the matter with the concerned authorities.
According to the NRI Affairs Director, U D Kamat, Felicidade Lasrado, wife of Otto along with Goa Seamen Association President, Dickson Vaz met him and on the basis of their representation, an email was sent to the Consul General of India in Cape Town the same afternoon explaining the difficulties faced by Lasrado, working as the chief cook and other crew members.
The Consul General promptly spoke to Lasrado and got to know from him that he and the other crew members are fine and have adequate supplies of provision on board the ship which is anchored 2 to 3 miles from the shores of Cape Town. The Consul General is also in touch with Meranti Alliance Shipping.
Meanwhile, the defaultingr company apparently has a liability of around $1 lakh 40 thousand which is around Rs 93 lakh against the salaries of the 18-member crew. The crew have not received any communication regarding the court case between the shipping company and the International Transport Federation.
