VELSAO: Responding to the removal of the Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro, fishermen have demanded that Monteiro should be suspended with immediate effect and investigation should be conducted for not allowing the ban on usage of LED lights while fishing. They have claimed that during the time of cholera outbreak when the labourers were struggling to survive, Monteiro was on a tour to Norway, neglecting her duties.
Fishermen have also demanded criminal action and investigation against her for not implementing the LED ban which was imposed by the Centre since 2016. O Heraldo has exposed how Monteiro allowed construction of a private jetty of an influential fisherman without notifying it in the gazette as mandated. O Heraldo had also exposed how the same influential fisherman had organized a jaunt to Norway for the Minister for fisheries and fisheries director and others and lakhs of public money had been spent to fund this jaunt government exchequer.
Olencio Simoes, General Secretary GRE said, She should not be relieved, she should be immediately suspended. There should be an investigation why LED lights were not banned since 2016.
Fishermen Francis Braganza told Herald TV, that had been opposed LED fishing since 2016 when the law was made. But she did not implement the law, he alleged.