NT NETWORK
NAVELIM
Over 200 fishing boat owners along with trawler boat owners on Monday submitted a memorandum to the Minister for Fisheries Avertano Furtado to oppose any move of the government to take over the registered union and societies at the Cutbona jetty.
The delegation lead by the president of the Cutbona boat owners association (CBOA) Savio D’Silva called upon the Minister expressing their concern over news reports of a possible move by the government to take over the societies and union at the Cutbona jetty and warned that any move to take over would result in a law and order problem, for which a few disgruntled elements in the fishing industry will be held responsible.
The memorandum pointed out that a few disgruntled elements have already formed a separate group, of which majority boat owners are not members. These are the same boat owners who use LED lights for fishing illegally.
The CBOA president said that they are quite confident that they are fit enough to run the affairs of the union as they have no hidden agenda like others, adding that the election to the office bearers for the new season must be held on majority basis on the floor of the house as was held in the past.
He warned that that the purse-seine and fishing boat owners has the full support from villagers and they will go to any length to oppose any move of taking away the union by a few selfish boat owners.
Furtado meanwhile assured the boat owners that he will look into the matter raised by the boat owners.
Later speaking to reporters he said that the matter was raised that the union is not registered, however he said that the registration documents of the union were produced along with the memorandum to support their claim.
He further informed that the boat owners had also raised concern over the lack of boat pulling facilities at Cutbona and sought from the government to acquire land to set up repairs for boats during the off season.