Panaji, June 9: Social activist and former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes has claimed that the Goa Government has finally been compelled to acknowledge the need to constitute a Maritime Board under the provisions of the Indian Ports Act, 2025, following sustained public pressure and criticism.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Gomes said that the government’s recent announcement regarding the formation of a Maritime Board indicated that it had “bit the bait” and abandoned its silence on the issue.

“We got the government to finally declare that they have to constitute a Maritime Board under the Indian Ports Act 2025. That was what we wanted. The government was silent about the Maritime Board ever since the new law was enacted and appeared keen to continue using the Captain of Ports office more as a casino facilitation office,” Gomes alleged.

He further claimed that the growth of offshore casinos in Goa was facilitated by decisions taken through the Captain of Ports office, which he alleged often favoured casino interests.

According to Gomes, one of the major concerns relates to passenger safety. He alleged that a newly built casino vessel capable of carrying around 2,000 passengers was certified with safety provisions for only 400 passengers.

“Safety of life at sea mandates adequate safety equipment for every passenger. Yet a vessel built for 2000 passengers was reportedly certified with safety arrangements for only 400. Such issues raise serious questions about regulatory oversight,” he said.

Gomes argued that the proposed Maritime Board would provide a more transparent and accountable decision-making mechanism, as it would consist of multiple members rather than concentrating authority within a single office.

“The Board will have multiple decision-makers and, with increasing public awareness about the threats posed by casinos, some members may be compelled to dissent against decisions that favour casino interests,” he said.

Questioning the government’s decision to inaugurate a new Captain of Ports building, Gomes said the move lacked long-term vision.

“Even logically, how does it make sense to inaugurate a brand-new building as the ‘Captain of Ports Building’ when it may function in that capacity for only two or three months? The Indian Ports Act 2025 clearly recognises the future authority as the Maritime Board. This reflects short-sighted planning,” Gomes remarked.

The activist maintained that the government should move swiftly to establish the Maritime Board in accordance with the provisions of the new law and ensure that maritime governance in Goa is conducted through a transparent, accountable, and institution-based framework.