By Candia Dames~ Guardian News Editor ~ candia@nasguard.com:
Opposition Leader Perry Christie said yesterday the Progressive Liberal Party has not yet come to a position on whether gambling should be legalized in The Bahamas for Bahamians, but he said the issue is up for consideration now that it has been thrust back into the national spotlight.
"This is a vexing problem for the country because of the [number] of people we know certainly are involved in playing the games," he said. "A government faced with that reality must either do its best to advise the population that it will have strict enforcement or alternatively it has to consider some realities. Now the difficulty about gaming is that all governments up to now have sort of elected to avoid the calamitous social consequences and people who talk about having freedom, they say 'well you're interfering with our freedom', but governments knew from the experience of some other countries that it has a dire impact upon populations and people who are tempted to go for the big prize and spending even their children's lunch money. "
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told reporters yesterday that he had advised Christie that his government was considering legalizing gambling.
Christie said this was not a formal advisement, but took place during a social occasion.
"I raised the question as to whether it will be consideration for a referendum where the people will have an unfettered right to determine... but he said the consideration was being given to some kind of immediate amendment of the law," Christie said.
"Clearly, consultation with civil society and the church is necessary because it is an issue that could really divide the country into a bitter fight and it is important therefore that the government meets with the opposition, meets with the churches and other important groups in our society with a view to see if there is common ground."
Ingraham confirmed that he met recently with the Christian Council and indicated what the government was considering.
Asked whether the PLP would support legalizing gambling for Bahamians, Christie said, "The opposition has always up to this point treated gambling as it did with capital punishment where it's a vote of conscience... We have members who are church members in a meaningful way in our grouping in the PLP, who I know flatly will support the position of the church and there are others who will take a different point of view.
"And so, the opposition, based on the prime minister's casual conversation with me, has put it up for mention in our discussions but we have not had any deliberations beyond what is the position of some individuals within the group. And so, it's a matter for us to... stand and wait to see what is taking place."
April 14, 2010
thenassauguardian
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
