Tourist taxi operators from Varca and the Salcete coastal belt have opposed a star-category resort's reported plans to buy cars and coaches to ferry its guests. They fear the move would take the business and the livelihood of self-employed local drivers, and they have threatened to take to the streets if the management goes ahead.
South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes backed the operators at a meeting in Varca. He described them as brand ambassadors of Goa's tourism industry, and warned ministers, hoteliers and others that branding local taxi operators as mafias would no longer be tolerated.
The meeting
Varca sarpanch Flavia Barretto, Benaulim Zilla Panchayat member Luiza Rodrigues, Congress block president Keith Gracias, Warren Alemao and other Congress leaders joined the operators. Fernandes was invited because of concern over the resort's reported plans to buy more vehicles, on top of vehicles it has already acquired.
He reminded the management that local taxi operators had ferried its guests for years and had contributed to the hospitality industry, that a coordinated effort would be launched to protect their interests, and that he had raised issues affecting taxi operators in Parliament on three occasions and would now take up their concerns collectively. "The resort cannot take steps that displace local tourist taxi operators who depend on this business to earn their livelihood and support their families. The management should stop purchasing vehicles and allow self-employed locals to continue operating in this sector."
What the operators asked
Operator representative Savio Goes said the meeting was called over the resort's reported plans to buy coaches and taxis, which could affect local operators, and warned that the operators and the people of Goa would take to the streets if necessary. "The resort is already operating restaurants, spas and other facilities. We request the management not to interfere in the taxi business, which is the livelihood of self-employed locals."
Barretto, Rodrigues and Warren Alemao assured the operators of their support. The report does not name the resort, and it gives no date for the meeting.