Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SS)

Panaji, Apr 30: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Wednesday advised the state government to accelerate efforts to bring back the Goan seafarers and NRIs living abroad, who wish to return. They further commented that the government should not try to 'arm-twist' shipping companies and cruise line firms to pay for quarantining the seafarers.

Vijay Sardesai, the president of the GFP said they would be glad if the seafarer companies can afford and are willing to pay for the reasonable charges. However, demanding these companies to pay for the quarantine of their crew is like ‘holding a gun to their head’.

The International Labour Organization said that Regulation 2.5 of the Marine Labour Convention, 2006 states that seafarers have the right to be repatriated at no cost to themselves in the circumstances and under the conditions specified in the Code. The ILO’S Covid-19 guidelines for states including India states that members must permit the entry of seafarers holding a valid seafarer’s identity document supplemented by a passport when entry is requested for: (a) joining their ship or transferring to another ship; (b) passing in transit to join their ship in another country or for repatriation.

GFP, still a part of the NDA, claimed that the government’s stance could lead to the jeopardizing of future job prospects for the Goan seafarers.

Sardesai commented that several companies have taken care of their crew members for almost two months and that many cruise liners are on the verge of collapsing due to the economic fall.

The party urged the state government to develop an effective repatriation plan for Goan seamen and Goan origin NRIs stuck in foreign countries.

Sardesai expressed their joy on the return of the seafarers from the Marella Discovery as well as the disappointment in the way the whole operation was executed.