Pastors Calling For All Gambling To Be Outlawed
By KHRISNA VIRGIL and RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporters
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
AS the Bahamas Christian Council hits out at the government for rushing a gambling referendum, some local pastors are taking it one step further and calling for all gambling participation – including the participation of tourists in casinos – to be outlawed.
Bishop
Cedric Moss, senior pastor at the Kingdom Life Church, has joined the
debate on the legalisation of gambling and given it a new twist.
Speaking
to The Big T, Bishop Moss said that civic and religious leaders failed
the country when they allowed casino gambling to be introduced in 1973.
“Carlton
Francis was right when he said gambling was no way to develop a new
nation,” he said, adding that he believed “previous leaders and church
leaders failed us by introducing gambling in our country.”
Bishop
Moss said: “Bahamians are not hurt by gambling. Tourists are hurt by
gambling. They are financially raped by casinos. I am saddened that we
loose casinos on them to harm them and their families.”
Speaking
about the effects of gambling, he said: “You just have to Google and
see the negative effects gambling has on cities like Atlantic City which
allow gambling. Bahamians gambling has a different affect on the
Bahamas than tourists gambling in the Bahamas. What Bahamians don’t
realise is that many tourists who gamble in our casinos don’t want
casinos in their cities.”
“The
government has ignored the church on this issue since 1973. We are
opposed to all forms of gambling, including numbers and casino gambling.
I think we should think thoughtfully on how we could legally bring
casino gambling to a close. It was a bad decision in the beginning. To
let Bahamians gamble in casinos would be another bad decision.”
Another pastor, Rev Rex Major, said casino gambling is undesirable for the country.
“The
remarks by Carlton Francis during the voting on the Opposition’s
resolution in condemning the government’s casino policy should set the
tone for our national priorities,” he said.
“At
that time, Mr Francis reminded the Parliamentarians and the nation that
he thought that as a new nation, the country should first aspire for
certain other qualities rather than dollars and cents value. Gambling
encourages a reckless parasitic approach to life—in which one human
fleeces another with no genuine personal regard for his neighbour’s
welfare.”
Rev
Matthew Allen, senior pastor at the Kingdom Minded Fellowship Centre
International, said that while he is against gambling, he also
disapproves of the hypocrisy religious leaders have exhibited.
“It’s
pathetic, nauseating listening to the religious leaders of today trying
to scripturally justify their opposition to gambling, whereas it’s some
of these very same religious leaders who are called upon to say the
opening prayer and pronounce blessing upon various resorts and casinos.
How hypocritical could one be?”
Meanwhile,
the Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) is hitting out at the government
for focusing on gambling legislation at a time when the country is
facing so many pressing national issues.
BCC
president Rev Ranford Patterson said yesterday that reducing crime and
focusing on the country’s economy should be priorities for the Christie
administration, and not seeking to expedite a gambling vote which would
cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
His
words came amid public speculation about the driving force behind the
government’s urgency to see referendum plans through to completion.
Controversy has also surrounded the level of its thoroughness, as
Bahamians having the right to gamble in casinos has been dismissed.
“We
are opposed to gambling in this country in any capacity. I believe
there are so many more pressing issues that need our attention along
with social ills. I always hear people speak about this $40 million to
be gained by the numbers business, but I am of the firm belief that we
would need to spend more on law enforcement to police this thing
properly.
“Do
you know how many people would spend all they had to gamble? Social
Services would need more resources to help people. The Christian Council
is here to present the fact and people should be made aware of
implications as a result of making this thing legal,” Rev Patterson
said.
Two
weeks ago, a Baha Mar executive told The Tribune that in his view
Bahamians have not matured enough to be permitted to gamble in local
casinos.
Robert
“Sandy” Sands, senior vice-president of external and governmental
affairs at Baha Mar, said that while he supports regularising number
houses, he is not an advocate of Bahamians being allowed to gamble in
casinos.
“I
am a strong advocate of limited relaxation for Bahamians gambling in
casinos. I believe the government should examine the opportunity for
high net worth for persons who can verify their ability to sustain
gambling for limited periods like over a month or something like that.
“I support gambling for persons who come on short-term work permits, especially in the entertainment business.
“I
also support gambling for persons of high net worth who have permanent
residency in the country and people with second homes,” he said.
“However,
I do not support opening the floodgates totally. We are not a
disciplined enough community. I understand rights, but there are some
rights we have to take away from individuals for their own benefit. We
have to find the balance and even with the liberalisation of the number
houses there might be an opportunity where numbers may be able to be
purchased through a window at the casino. But no, I do not support
Bahamians gambling in the casino.”
On
Thursday, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham criticised the
government for not giving Bahamians the opportunity to decide whether
they should participate in casino gambling.
“The public of the Bahamas ought to have a right to decide whether they want to gamble in the casino or not,” he said.
July 20, 2012
