Withdraw all agreements of deep-sea fishing deal, says Latin Catholic Church

By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Latin Catholic (LC) Church got here out with sharp criticism of the now-cancelled deal between the state-owned Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) with the US-based EMCC International for deep-sea fishing, saying it may have an effect on the livelihood of fishermen within the state.  

Fr Eugin Perera, former vicar basic, Latin Catholic Church, stated that the federal government’s cancellation of an settlement on the deal was to create a “smokescreen”. “Cancelling one agreement is to fool people. We want all the agreements to be cancelled. The government’s action has proved that the chief minister and the fisheries minister had told lies. Hence, the government should cancel all the agreements with the American firm and protect the interests of fishermen,” he stated. 

He stated the federal government had solely partially withdrawn the agreements. “The deal was made on account of company curiosity. If we glance completely into its clauses, we will see that there’s nothing to guard the pursuits of fishermen. Also, the American firm has no earlier expertise in making fishing boat and ships for the aim.

At least, the state authorities ought to have referred to as for a dialogue with the stakeholders involved and brought them into confidence earlier than signing the settlement,” Perera advised TNIE. The LC Church may even assist the statewide coastal hartal on Saturday referred to as by the Kerala co-ordination committee for the welfare of fishermen within the state.