PNJ tourism boats in Sinquerim river troubles fishers

Photo shows troubled fisherman J.G.D.Fernandes at Sinquerim Jetty with limited space for his fishing cannoe against PNJ Tourism boats

With active blessings of Goa Government administration tourism PNJ boats are creating troubles for fishers at Sinquerim Jetty. PNJ tourism boats have hijacked Jetty that was constructed for the purpose of fishing during the monsoon season. 

PNJ boats have proved to be intruders in smooth functioning of fishing businesses of small scale fishers in Sinquerim river.

It is also learned that Candolim fishers has filed complaint before Captain of Ports, Director of Fisheries and Director of Fisheries. It is learned that few vested interests outside and inside the Administration at Tourism Department and Captain of Ports are colluding in the process of impoverishment of fishing communities in Sinquerim river affecting fishers from Candolim, Sinquerim, Nerul etc.

It is a need of the hour that Goa Government administration stop its hostile attitude towards fishers of Sinquerim river and do away with all the PNJ tourism boats from June 01 to August 31. 

It is leaned from RTI documents that tourism department that most of these PNJ Boats are without valid permissions from tourim department functioning with backing of office of Captain of Ports.

It is learned that All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) has applied for appointment with States top authorities viz Governor of Goa  Chief Minister of Goa and State Chief Secretary to resolve this issue as the PNJ tourism Boats are permitted through central government law : Inland Vessels Act.

People of Goa are watching as to when insult and harrasment of fishers will stop.

Goa Labour Commisioner Office in crisis

There is indication that the office of the Goa Labour Commisioner has decended into chaotic crisis. Goa labour commisioner no longer care for his seniors forget about the welfare of workers in Goa. 

Here is the case of Nestlé Contract workers in Maulingem village in North Goa that Labour Commisioner doesn't even respect his seniors (office of Labour Secretary) at the Secretariat at Porvorim. 

Labour Commisioners' office has been petitioned  to convene meeting to negotiate Charter of Demands put forth by Rashtriya Mulnivasi Bhahujan Karmachari Sangh (RMBKS) to Nestlé India Limited as early as 10 March 2025. Even Nestle India Limited petitioned the to Goa Labour Commisioner in a letter dated 17 April 2025 to sort out problems raised in the Union letters to the Labour commisioner.

Labour Commisioner however chose to give deaf ears to both the contract workers as well as Nestlé India Limited. One is pushed to wonder as to in whose service Goa Commisioner of Labour is functioning.

The letter published here is from Under Secretary (Labour) dated 25 June 2025 pleading with Labour Commioner to expedite the matter earliest. However dozen days have gone by and the office of Labour Commisioner is still in deep glorious slumber as there is no sign of urgency to resolve the issues. In fact his assistant labour commisioner at Mapusa - Milind Goveker - even has audacity to tell the Union that he has no time.

This behaviour of Labour administration on Goa reaming non-coperative to issues of illegal termination and illegal Suspension of comtract workers at Nestlé India Limited at Maulingem is gradually pushing the workers towards hunger and starvation. And it is not known as to what pleasure Goa labour administration derived so far and continues to derive infinitely to behave in this way.

Officer who is currently occupying the of Labour Commisioner is one named Levinson Martins.