Months after the failed January 28, 2013 gaming referendum, gambling continues to be one of the most divisive ...and unnecessarily distracting issues in The Bahamas

A bad gamble

Gaming Bill resurrects calls for end to discrimination

By CANDIA DAMES
Guardian News Editor
candia@nasguard.com

The government of Prime Minister Perry Christie had another bad week last week.

In fact, it seems the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration has been tying itself into one strangling knot after another.

Leading up to the first anniversary of its May 7 victory, it is finding itself increasingly on the defensive and has been making the kinds of moves that awaken public angst and weaken the confidence of citizens in their government.

An increasingly hostile and confusing tone on work permits, a highly publicized immigration blunder at Atlantis resort and the junior national security minister’s suggestion that the Americans are fueling our crime problem by sending us criminal deportees were all matters that caught our attention last week.

But it was public reaction to The Nassau Guardian’s revelation on the proposed Gaming Act 2013, and an announcement that web shop layoffs could come as early as this week, that showed most clearly that the government has a lot of work to do to stem what seems to be rising anti-PLP sentiment.

Months after the failed January 28 referendum, gambling continues to be one of the most divisive and unnecessarily distracting issues in The Bahamas.

In the lead up to that referendum, there was great confusion about the process.

In the weeks and months since, there remains great confusion on the way forward for the web shop sector.

By far, the matter that is dominating national discussion is that proposed act on gambling.

As we reported, it would permit holders of casino licenses in The Bahamas to facilitate online and mobile gambling.

With a deal sealed with Las Vegas’ Cantor Gaming, Atlantis is set to offer its guests mobile gaming as of this week.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, who has responsibility for gaming, said yesterday this will be offered during a “test period” and the property would have to apply for the relevant license to continue mobile gaming and eventually introduce online gaming.

The failed gambling referendum notwithstanding, many people are insulted by the discriminatory bill that would allow Atlantis, Baha Mar and the holders of other casino licenses in The Bahamas to do legally what is being denied Bahamian business people.

The bill has been in the works since shortly after the Christie administration came to office last year.

It was developed outside any considerations connected to the gambling referendum, and the government worked closely with industry stakeholders in its development.

The outrage over the government’s ongoing discriminatory approach to the gambling issue is most understandable when added to the fact that the new bill excludes permanent residents and work permit holders from the class of people not permitted to gamble legally.

The bill speaks only to the prohibition of Bahamian citizens.

Under existing legislation, permanent residents and work permit holders are also prohibited from gambling.

For Bahamians, the move could not be more insulting.

Another provision of the new bill would allow people outside The Bahamas to gamble via the website of a local gaming license holder.

But those people must be in jurisdictions that allow online gambling.

Wilchcombe said there will be tight controls to guard against Bahamians gambling from other jurisdictions.

REFORMS

While Bahamians ought to be concerned over the matter, any hysteria and anger toward the investors who have long been pushing for these industry reforms are misdirected, in my view.

As good and valued investors, Atlantis and Baha Mar deserve to have legislation passed for the protection and improvement of the gaming sector and the tourism industry.

The decision to block Bahamians from gambling in local casinos is not the investors’ decision.

The casino operators in fact have said more than once that they would welcome Bahamians gambling in casinos.

The decision to keep Bahamians from gambling in casinos is the government’s continuation of a controversial and discriminatory decades-old policy.

Wilchcombe said yesterday the policy has served us well and it would need to be carefully examined before any changes are made because there are serious social and economic considerations.

“We have always restricted Bahamians from participating in the gaming activity at our casinos and it was in fact the best compromise for a tourism destination and a country that has a strong opposition from Bahamians participating, particularly the church,” he said, referring to the initial decision on casino gambling several decades ago.

“Way back then, it was a happy compromise and I think that it has proven to be beneficial for the country and it has not hurt The Bahamas.

“We have been able to build an economy without income tax, etc. and it’s really because of our progressive tourism industry, one which included gaming.”

Wilchcombe also rightly pointed to the need and desire for the gaming aspect of tourism to be more competitive — thus the need for the Gaming Bill.

Anyone who takes offense to this bill ought to take that up with their government — not the holders of casino licenses who have for years been working with the government (the former administration included) to effect these necessary reforms for a more competitive gaming industry.

In a paper outlining recommendations for reforms, casino licensees note that in recent years, casino gaming has expanded worldwide.

To stay competitive, the largest jurisdictions have been forced to update their regulations to accommodate shifting consumer tastes, technology and potential sources of new tax revenues, the document points out.

It adds that Nevada, Macau, Singapore, New Jersey and the U.S. Gulf Coast states have structured their laws to reflect recent developments.

Casino operators are hoping the reforms outlined in the Gaming Bill would drive gaming revenues and create a sustainable competitive advantage.

They made 14 recommendations to the government in a document titled “Guide to modernization of casino regulations in The Bahamas”.

One of the recommendations calls for segmented VIP gaming suites and salons. It would allow enclosed gaming rooms to be located anywhere on the resort campus of a licensed casino.

Other recommendations include credit card payments for chips and duty free exemption for gaming equipment and interactive/mobile gaming.

The licensees also proposed the impostion of an entry level for permanent residents and work permit holders.

The document notes that in Singapore, residents must buy a daily pass for US$100 or yearly pass for US$2,000 for casino entry, limiting access to those with financial means.

Wilchcombe said without critical reforms, the gaming sector would lose ground.

THREAT

A separate but very closely related issue involves the web shop industry, which is reportedly suffering under a threat of raids.

Bahamian citizens must continue to demand an end to discrimination on gaming.

Had the referendum passed on January 28, one assumes the government would have been well on its way in structuring a properly regulated web shop sector.

But Bahamian citizens would still have been barred from casino gambling.

The absence of that question from the ballot is one reason some people gave for voting against the regularization and taxation of web shops and the establishment of a national lottery.

It is also the reason some people gave for staying away from the polls altogether.  Voter turnout in fact was less than 50 percent.

Prime Minister Perry Christie has promised that while the casino question was not on the January 28 ballot, it would be a question on the ballot of a promised constitutional referendum if the Constitutional Commission recommends that it be addressed.

It would be unfortunate if the discriminatory nature of the bill derails the industry’s push toward modernization and reform.

But the failed referendum should not be taken as a true reflection of the views of the electorate on gambling.

Had the government taken its time and addressed gambling for Bahamians in its totality and in a clear process where adequate information was provided, it might have avoided anger and confusion over this very necessary step it is taking for casino owners.

Bahamian businessespeople who have for years been operating web shops now feel like second-class citizens, as do Bahamians who are being told about the provision that would provide for work permit holders and permanent residents to take part in an industry they have been told to keep out.

Wilchcombe has said the Cabinet will review the bill tomorrow.

Perhaps it would also examine why so many people have reacted so strongly against it.

April 29, 2013

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

In reality, the Vote Yes lobby lost the gambling referendum because it had a number of powerful forces ranged against it: certain churches ...the official opposition party ...the most successful third party in Bahamian history ...and a former prime minister who commands an enormous personal following

A Victory For The Pharisees

By PACO NUNEZ

Tribune News Editor

pnunez@tribunemedia.net

 

 

 

IN botching the gambling referendum, Perry Christie and his Progressive Liberal Party dealt a serious blow to the prospects for liberalism and progress in the Bahamas.

 

The overwhelming “no” vote did more than ensure gambling remains illegal for Bahamians; it empowered a religious movement that is on a mission to suppress certain personal freedoms and insinuate itself into everything we do – from what we watch on TV, to what happens in our bedrooms.

 

Forget all the talk of preserving the country’s Christian roots. Those at the forefront of the Vote No movement represent a fundamentalism which harks back to a past that never existed, which seeks to establish something entirely new – a moral police state.

 

And now, even more than before, the “Save our Bahamas” pastors, the Christian Council, and their followers will believe they have a mandate to push their views on the rest of society.

 

In reality, the Vote Yes lobby lost the referendum because it had a number of powerful forces ranged against it: certain churches, the official opposition party, the most successful third party in Bahamian history, and a former prime minister who commands an enormous personal following.

 

And, those who either voted “no” or stayed home, did so for a variety of reasons. Church loyalty was certainly one of them, but there was also party loyalty, resentment that the promised gambling education campaign never materialised, and suspicion the referendum was really a reward for certain web shop bosses who donated to the PLP’s election campaign.

 

Also, a certain degree of apathy was in hindsight probably inevitable. Many Bahamians who might support legal gambling didn’t see the point of going to the trouble of voting for an activity they already engage in on a daily basis with no hindrance whatsoever.

 

But the pastors won’t see it that way. To them this will have been a victory for forces of conservatism and coerced conformity – proof that Bahamians overwhelmingly want to live under a religious regime.

 

Now that gambling is defeated, we can be sure that other pet peeves of the Christian Council will be next in the crosshairs; issues such as homosexuality, the showcasing of “immoral” films, performances by “unchristian” musicians.

 

We may even have another campaign defending the right of a man to rape his wife.

 

A few years ago, when the Bill to make marital rape illegal was introduced by the FNM administration, only to be denounced as immoral by the Christian Council, INSIGHT noted that “The public statements of Council members over the past several years have made it clear they feel social progress – defined by most of the western world as having to do with rights and democracy – threatens much of what they hold dear. After all many of them have become exceedingly comfortable in their roles as the self-appointed moral arbiters of the nation.”

 

Back in 2006, when the Play and Films Control Board banned the film Brokeback Mountain at the request of a group of pastors, local theatre director Philip Burrows said: “You have a group of people who are telling grown men and women what they can and cannot watch. I cannot understand denying people the right to make their own choices.”

 

Neither could the rest of the world. An Associated Press story about the ban was reprinted by hundreds of newspapers around the world, and brought widespread condemnation down on a country that has nothing to rely on for survival but its international reputation.

 

Then, as now, it was the government – the very entity charged with safeguarding our reputation – which opened the door to this kind of nearsighted and dangerous fundamentalism.

 

The fact that the abetment was unintentional this time around is no excuse.

 

Had there been a proper education campaign as promised, had the arguments for and against casino gambling at least been discussed, or had Mr Christie committed to banning anyone who broke the old gambling laws from ownership in the new industry, things might have been different.

 

Certainly, he would have neutralised the strongest arguments for voting “no” put forward by his political opponents, thereby making it a real liberals-vs-pastors referendum.

 

As it was, those of us who support the expansion of rights and personal freedoms were left with an impossible choice: vote “no” and support continued discrimination against Bahamians in their own country, or vote “yes” and run the risk of allowing the government to form a gambling cartel of campaign donors, to the exclusion of all other citizens.

 

Either way, you were voting against equal rights.

 

In making it so, Mr Christie and his colleagues are guilty of squandering a priceless opportunity and retarding the cause of progress for who knows how many years to come.

 

Gambling is in many ways, the last frontier in overcoming our colonial past.

 

Gambling is in many ways, the last frontier in overcoming our colonial past. It is the modern theatre of our civil rights struggle.

 

Amid all the moral, economic and other arguments, one fact is undisputed: a foreigner can come to this country and do something a Bahamian cannot.

 

That is no different from any other form of discrimination, be it assigned bus seats, separate schools, restaurants reserved for a specific group of people.

 

The Save Our Bahamas crew do have a point in this regard - if we really believe gambling is morally wrong, we should ban it outright, for foreigners as well as locals, and have the courage to suffer the economic consequences of taking a stand against hypocrisy.

 

The pastors, it should also be said, make no apologies for what they believe and do not hide what they stand for.

 

Meanwhile, the Progressive Liberal Party, by virtue of its very name, is supposed to be a force for progress and liberalism.

 

They have a lot of explaining to do.

 

What do you think?

 

Email your questions or comments to pnunez@tribunemedia.net, or join the conversation at http://www.tribune242.com/news/opinion/insight/

 

February 04, 2013

 

Tribune 242

 

Caribbean Blog International

 

Prime Minister Perry Christie says that he was surprised by the results of the January 28, 2013 gambling referendum

Christie Surprised By Gambling Referendum Results

By Sasha Lightbourne
The Bahama Journal







Prime Minister Perry Christie admitted he was surprised by the results of the gambling referendum last week.

Mr. Christie was speaking to reporters before he headed into his weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.
“Yes I probably was surprised by the outcome in the sense that I thought it would be a much closer election,” he said.

“I was prepared for any outcome and I tried to evidence that. The matter is before the courts now so I won’t speak to that issue but we are prepared for whatever decision is made by the courts.”

Bahamians were asked to vote on two questions – “Do you support the regulation and taxation of web shop gaming” and “Do you support the establishment of a national lottery?”

Prime Minister Christie also refuted the fact that many felt he made a mistake by having the referendum when he did.

“You never make mistakes when you are deepening democracy,” he told reporters.

“I promised before the elections that I would have a referendum. I indicated I had no horse in the race. This thing swirled with controversy and it was what it was. The people voted and I acted upon the vote. It is now a matter for the minister of national security and the attorney general.”

The majority of constituencies across the country voted ‘no’ in both questions.

Up to press time last night 43,393 voted ‘no’ and 28,787 voted ‘yes’.

Bains Town and Grants Town and Centreville were the only constituencies that voted ‘yes’.

According to Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall, ballots from some of the constituencies took up to three hours to recount and added that as the figures rolled in it grew increasingly clear that based on the votes the Bahamians are giving two thumbs down to regulating any form of gambling in the country.

“For question number one the total number of votes, unofficial figures, were 30,767 who voted yes and for the same question those who voted no were 48,012,” he said last week.

“For question number two the yes total is 32,170 and the no votes were 46,961.”
The acting parliamentary commissioner added that the recount is a mandatory requirement set out in the Parliamentary Act.

It did not take very long for the results from last week’s Monday’s gambling vote to be known, coming out just 40 minutes after the polls closed.

February 06, 2013

Jones Bahamas

Caribbean Blog International 

What's the Talk after The Victorious NO Vote ...in the January 28, 2013 Gambling Referendum

What The Web Shop Employees And Patrons Say After The Vote

By PAUL G TURNQUEST

Chief Reporter

pturnquest@tribunemedia.net

WEB SHOPS throughout the country remained open yesterday despite the resounding “no” vote in Monday’s gambling referendum.

The Tribune visited a number of these establishments and spoke with employees and patrons. Many persons expressed their disappointment in the Bahamian electorate, whom they feel did not consider the “human impact” their vote would have.

Heidi Cadet, the store manager at FML’s Bridge Plaza location, said her job is important to her. The single mother of two said she currently is renting an apartment, but had dreams of one day owning her own piece of land in New Providence.

She said these dreams, at least for the time being, are now in limbo.

“This job has been good to me. I have never had a bad day here.

“I was here since 2005. I watched as this company grew from punching numbers to where we are today. I am highly disappointed in yesterday’s vote because I don’t know what is next.”

After Monday’s vote, Ms Cadet said employees at their location, and at web shops in general, are concerned that any minute now, police could break in the doors and raid them.

“I hope the Prime Minister will make the right choice. I’m prepared to live with whatever decision he makes, but the big question is, is he willing to help us if they shut us down? We can’t go to the church,” she said.

As for the referendum, Ms Cadet and other web shop employees said they felt the process was “rushed” and not properly managed.

“People didn’t know what they were voting on. To most employees this is their only means of employment. If I were to lose my job, I do not have any other options,” she said.

Echoing these sentiments was Felix Bethel, a security guard at Bahama Dreams’ head office on East Bay Street.

With a wife and 14 children, Mr Bethel said his job with Bahama Dreams is the only thing “saving him” right now.

“Without this, I don’t know where I would be. There are zero opportunities out there,” he said.

Mr Bethel said he is currently in court for child support, having been in arrears some $4,000. His job he said, is the only thing keeping him out of jail.

“I can’t go to the church and say lend me $4,000. This is not a game,” he said.

Another employee at Island Luck’s office on Bay and Armstrong Streets said she has been employed at the company for two and a half years now. However, after Monday, she said she is unsure how much longer that will be the case.

Wishing not to be identified, the employee said Monday’s vote “hurt a lot of us.”

“We don’t know if they will keep us open or closed. We are only hoping for the best.”

Damas Sainvil, a security guard at the same location, said he’s been employed now with Island Luck for three years.

Having voted “Yes” in the referendum, Mr Sainvil said he was “surprised” at the outcome.

“If you don’t have a job, you can’t live here. You have to eat. You cannot live like a dog,” he said.

With two children and a wife, Mr Sainvil said he is the sole provider in his home. He said he cannot imagine what he will do if he were to lose his job.

Temra Russell, a cashier at Bahama Dreams, told The Tribune that she felt “betrayed” by the Bahamian people.

“I feel some Bahamians don’t have your best interest at heart, taking bread out of people’s mouth,” she said.

Ms Russell’s co-worker, Kenneva Goddard, said she was scared watching the votes being counted on Monday night.

“That was my job they were dealing with. I don’t think people understood the questions. And people didn’t understand or care about what would happen to us, the employees. If I didn’t have this job I would be at home. I would have to start all over again,” she said.

January 30, 2013

Tribune 242 

Caribbean Blog International

Gambling is a vice not a virtue... ...Vote NO!! ... in the January 28, 2013 Gaming Referendum

By Margery Moncrieffe

I want to share some revelation given to me by God my Father on the gambling issue. I am coming from a spiritual perspective. Anyone who is engaged in spiritual warfare or has studied it knows that demonic entities and spirits travel in groups. A personal sin is different from a national sin. When gambling is legalized nationally one can expect to see the kindred spirits to accompany it , manifesting themselves in larger numbers. These demons are murder, suicide, witchcraft, violence, lasciviousness and sexual immorality to name a few.

... I want to comment on witchcraft. Do we forget that regular gamblers use dream books, numerology, psychic dreams to give them numbers? I have a personal friend who told me she paid a Haitian to go to Haiti and ask a witchcraft worker for a number. Believe it or not? He gave her a number, she played it and won. She was able to pay off her mortgage she said. Yes that all seems good, at first, but does God tell us to consult demons for numbers or does he ask us to trust him that he can provide?? Mark 4:19, 1Timothy:9-10.

I want to challenge any gambler, especially the high rollers, that if they were to sow as much money they invest in gambling with no return, into the Kingdom of God, they would see financial blessings. I am a living witness of many seeds sowed and I watched God multiply my seed. I sowed a $100 dollar seed into a church once and the Prophet told me I would see my daughter get that particular seed returned for me a $15,000 profit, this was five years of high school I did not have to pay for, if we want to play the numbers game. The problem is most people cannot wait for the slow and steady increase from God where he builds your character to handle it. We want the get rich quick scheme, which leads to destruction. Hence the bible calls it "the deceitfulness of riches." Why? It does not last.

Has anyone done any research on the life of gamblers? How many of them have been able to keep their riches?? How do their lives end up? I know a few and all of them that I know end up broke, dead broke. Is this what we want for our nation at this time? Are we going to sell our birthright for a mess of pottage? Do we want to lose the prosperity and favour that has been upon the Bahamas for a mess of pottage? Choose wisely.

All I can say is that we will see an increase in crime, sexual immorality. poverty, and other ills if we as a nation choose this path. I am not a prophet of doom, I am just making everyone aware of the causes. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I reiterate, choose wisely.

Margery Moncrieffe on Facebook

Caribbean Blog International

Since the General Election in May 2012, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Prime Minister Perry Christie have undermined the democratic process in The Bahamas... ...We suggest the Bahamian public ignore the PLP’s pro-gambling propaganda ...and vote NO in Monday January 28, 2013 Referendum

Vote no

The Nassau Guardian Editorial

We congratulate the government on its resounding success to undermine a democratic process.  The gaming referendum has descended into a political spectacle besieged by lies and pathetic explanations.  How can we place confidence in a government that belittles the intellect of Bahamians?

The Nassau Guardian will not surrender its integrity to the Progressive Liberal Party’s campaign to swindle yes votes from unsuspecting Bahamian voters.  We give this government a vote of “no” confidence and encourage our readers to do the same and vote no.

The government repeatedly denies a position on the gaming referendum, yet it continuously retracts statements from party members.  Such blatant support by the prime minister and his party reveals not only a flawed process, but a biased one as well.

On Sunday, January 20, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said: “The PLP urges all Bahamians to see the broader national picture and vote yes on Referendum Day.”

Roberts went on further to say: “The PLP is now obliged to encourage Bahamians to make this bold and progressive step in the economic interest of the country by voting yes on Referendum Day.”

This was said only for the chairman to retract his party’s position later that day.

“It is well documented that I support a yes vote in the upcoming referendum and I do so proudly,” Roberts said.

“Many in my party agree; some do not.”

For a prime minister who did not want his party to influence votes, many of his party members have been vocal supporters of the yes vote in the referendum.  Christie skirts the issue of his position with forward-leaning statements on the anticipation of web shops being made legal.

“People are anticipating that it would be legal.  So when we started off and I talked about a limited amount of licenses, it will be interesting to see how many applications there will be in the event of a yes vote because there has been a tremendous increase,” he said.

But Christie meets a potential no vote with apprehension and reiterates the problems and costs of enforcement.

“Whether it’s a no vote, it’s going to be a tremendous cost.  The state will have to pay for directing resources to assist in setting up a regime to enforce the no vote and that will require a significant amount of money.  And I presume those people who [are] advocating are aware of that,” he said.

Furthermore, Christie laments the impossible nature of stopping Internet-based gaming and cites the possibility that Craig Flowers may continue operations from the Turks and Caicos unimpeded.

“Mr. Flowers, I’m advised, is licensed in the Turks and Caicos Islands to conduct gaming and I presume that he is able to do that and still conduct his Internet gaming from the Turks and Caicos,” he said.

“I don’t want to suggest anything otherwise.  What we have to deal with is how does one go about addressing Internet gaming.  It’s a very difficult subject – the impossibility of stopping people from what they want to do.  Laws haven’t been designed by man that have effectively stopped that kind of illegal or irregular operation.”

Though Christie bemoans the annoyances of a no vote above, such statements pale in comparison with his brazen comments that a no vote would lead to unemployment and higher taxes.

“We are going to have a real situation that we would be confronted by for a no vote, because yes these people will either have to go deeper underground illegally or we will have to find a way to find alternative employment for them,” he said.

The proliferation of illegal gaming operations has allowed for the employment of numerous people.  However, for the prime minister to indicate that a Bahamian voter who votes no is responsible for this possibility of unemployment is unacceptable.

It is absolutely astounding that the prime minister can claim no position when he continues to reiterate the problems of a no vote.

Christie as prime minister of The Bahamas is being less than honest with all of his utterances on the referendum other than for his outright preference for a yes vote.

Since the election in May 2012, the PLP and Christie have undermined the democratic process in The Bahamas.  We suggest the Bahamian public ignore the PLP’s pro-gambling propaganda and vote no on Monday.  Misleading statements inherently breed distrust and this government has made a mockery of the referendum process.  The Bahamas needs more than ever a prime minister who upholds his position and leads Bahamians.

January 24, 2013

thenassauguardian editorial

Caribbean Blog International

Prime Minister Perry Christie's Statements on Web-shops... and the Approaching Gambling Referendum are Very Concerning...

Prime Minister’s Statement….Very Concerning!




For Immediate Release
January 17, 2013


In a recent interview, Prime Minister Perry Christie espoused that the country would have a dilemma if the electorate vote against regularizing the web-shops. He said that if they do not regularize web-shops, people will have to go deeper underground illegally or we will have to find a way to find alternative employment for them.

In addition the Prime Minister stated that his administration will not move on closing the web-shops before the referendum and he continued by saying that it will take a lot of effort and costs a lot of money so to do. The Prime Minister’s words were, “I would not dare open my mouth and tell them they cannot be employed with the yes vote people who they are working for. I would not dare do that because no one else is helping them – social services in some instances will help with rent payments but they need jobs”. The Prime Minister went on to say that, “the government has to be prepared to find jobs and that everyone knows what the economy of the Bahamas is facing”. In this regard, may I remind the Prime Minister of his election campaign promise when the PLP convinced the Bahamian people that they had the answer to job creation.

In the Bahamas it is generally accepted that the web-shop gaming is illegal. There is no legislation on this activity and there is no proposed legislation for the Bahamian people to consider. Surprisingly, the Commissioner of Police a few days ago said that he was too tolerant with this illegal activity. No doubt, if web-shop gaming was legal, we would not be having this discussion.

I am of the view that something is terribly wrong when the Prime Minister of the Bahamas uttered those words…trying to justify an illegal act! Moreover the Prime Minister was very much out of order and I dare say had no authority to make such a pronouncement. If an act is illegal, The Prime Minister does not determine if the illegal act ought to continue. It is the Commissioner of Police to act on the illegality! Now I know that the Prime Minister is in a very difficult position. The fact of the matter is that illegal gaming in the Bahamas has continued to prosper because successive governments have become “silent partners” in these entities by allowing them to operate and refusing to uphold the law of the land. But Mr. Prime Minister…right is right and wrong is wrong!

The Prime Minister of this beloved Bahamas should never be seen to condone wrongdoing. That is what our Prime Minister did. Leaders must lead by example and this is a very poor example to set. No wonder there are some persons in this country that have a blatant disregard for the laws of the land.

No doubt the international community is also watching this process and I am most concern of their perception of our Prime Minister and consequently the Bahamas as a result of the Prime Minister’s comments.

Following up on these comments by the Prime Minister, Mr. Christie is still adamant that he does not have “a horse in the race”. In my view, the Prime Minister made his position quite clear as to what he would like to see transpire on the 28th January 2013, but in any event, we as a people should know what our Prime Minister’s position is on this issue. At the very least, the Prime Minister’s constituents ought to know his position. As a matter of fact…they should insist.

Branville McCartney
DNA Leader

Caribbean Blog International

Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis - Free National Movement (FNM) leader says that the gambling referendum is a "royal mess"... and that The Bahamas has once again become "A Nation for sale!" ... ...IF YOU DON'T KNOW, VOTE NO!

Free National Movement

Press Conference

Wednesday January 16th, 2013

Final Position on the Gambling Referendum

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE

January 16th, 2013

In a Press Conference held at the FNM Headquarters today, FNM Party Leader, Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis stated that the referendum is a "royal mess" and that The Bahamas has once again become "A Nation for sale!"

Dr. Minnis has charged that the PLP government has made no reasonable efforts to answer the dozens of questions posed by the Free National Movement regarding the referendum, and that despite their stated position of no horse in the race, everything the Prime Minister has said has suggested otherwise. He said that the government has also failed to produce the draft regulations on gambling which were promised, but has instead kept the people in the dark.

Dr. Minnis: "Perry Christie is another Otis Redding, singing DREAMS, DREAMS DREAMS TO REMEMBER! The PLP sold a dream on mortgages, dreams on national health insurance, and dreams of employment. Perry Christie and the PLP, sold Dreams Dreams Dreams to remember!"

Dr. Minnis stated that the referendum process is being rushed and is flawed. In the absence of the necessary information, The Free National Movement party recommends that Bahamians vote NO on BOTH questions on the upcoming referendum.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, VOTE NO!

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE

The gambling debate / Referendum 2013:... ...Michael Burke, a reformed gambling addict, who was disbarred after stealing nearly $2 million from his clients ...recently warned that up to 30,000 Bahamians could develop a compulsive gambling problem ...if the numbers racket is legalised in The Bahamas

Make Web Shops Contribute Towards Gambling Treatment- Reformed Addict Speaks Out

By Rogan Smith
The Bahama Journal



The Christie administration is being advised to get an agreement from web shop operators stating that they will contribute a percentage of their revenue towards treatment for gambling addiction if Bahamians vote to legalise gambling this month.

Michael Burke, a reformed gambling addict, who was disbarred after stealing nearly $2 million from his clients, recently warned that up to 30,000 Bahamians could develop a compulsive gambling problem if the numbers racket is legalised.

The Michigan resident, who wrote the book, “Never Enough: One Lawyer’s True Story Of How He Gambled His Career Away,” said the government needs to lock in an agreement before issuing any licences.

“My suggestion is, get an agreement beforehand, before any of the licences are issued so that they can set aside part of that money for the treatment of the individuals in the families who will be destroyed because of this activity,” he said.

“If you do it before the licences are granted, I guarantee you the people in the [web] cafés will say ‘fine, we’ll pay it, we want to help those people out.’ But, if you wait until after the licences are issued they will never speak to you again. All they will say is ‘we’re paying our taxes; we’re doing what we’re bound to do.’ You want to get this done before this is signed into law. Once it’s signed into law this aspect of it is finished because you must accept what’s coming next.”

Burke predicted that if Bahamians vote to legalise web shop gaming the number houses will be transformed into mini casinos.

“Somewhere down the road this is what happens once you bring gambling into your community,” he said.

“For the small amount of people who are going to be affected, my God, do something for them up front. All they have to do is get an agreement to take two or three per cent of the cafes’ revenue from the lotteries and put it aside.”

He urged the government to follow Louisiana’s lead. The US state implemented CORE, Center of Recovery. CORE was conceived in 1998 with the sole purpose of providing treatment for those whose lives have been adversely affected by gambling.

Gambling addicts can go to CORE free of charge.

Burke said while he understands that the government does not want to raise taxes, taxing web shops is a “regressive tax.” He noted that poor Bahamians will mostly be impacted.

“The government doesn’t have the will or the stomach to raise taxes. Because of that, you’re going to have a growth of gambling that is going to be unbelievable.”

On January 28, Bahamians will decide whether they want games of chance legalised.

The church is divided on the issue. Some claim its “destructive” while others believe the government could benefit from the increased revenue that taxing web shops would bring.

“I’ve always felt the issue of morality belongs to the churches. I know you have strong churches in The Bahamas and I’ve read some things that are troubling where some churches say that this is no longer a bad activity,” Burke said.

“Governments use it as a way of raising money. As long as the people of your community tell their politicians ‘we don’t want to pay anymore taxes; you’ve taxed us to death’ they’ll find ways like gambling to raise the money. The government is going to do what it needs to do to raise funds until the people get back to the point where they say, ‘this isn’t how we want to pay for our services; tax us all equally and we’ll pay’.”

Burke’s gambling addiction not only cost him his reputation, it cost him his career.

The author comes from a family of attorneys. His grandfather was an attorney and a judge at the Nuremberg War Crime Trials after the Second World War. His father was also an attorney and headed the State Liquor Control Commission for the state of Michigan.

In his book, he details the ugly side of his addiction. He forged his wife’s signature to remortgage their home and he stole money from 15 of his law firm’s clients.

Some of those clients have since been paid back in full, thanks to the insurance company, which paid close to $1 million to make amends. He now owes that amount to the company.

He also served time in Jackson State Prison, the largest walled prison in the world.

There, he shared space with “some of the most terrible people you’d ever find.”

At the time of his sentencing each of his victims was allowed to make a statement.

“As I was putting the book together I decided that one way I could show respect for my victims was to begin each chapter of the book with a quote from one of the victims taken from the sentencing transcript. That afternoon, I sat in a courtroom where I had practiced law for 25 years and listened to my clients explain how my actions had affected their lives,” he said.

“I cannot describe the pain it brought to me and the pain endured by my clients. Following is the quote from Chapter 1. ‘I’ve known Mike and his family for 15 years. Our daughters are good friends. We have common friends in this courtroom right now and it really pains me. I’m sure his family feels the same devastation my family has felt. But….when I look at Mike I don’t see him as a victim of gambling addiction. I see him as a cold, calculating criminal’.”

While Burke says the vast majority of people can gamble without any harmful consequences.

Studies have shown that only a small percentage of people develop a compulsive gambling problem.

“Unfortunately that small percentage of the population turns out to be a large number of people. And that number has a staggering effect on family and friends. I strongly suggest to my friends in recovery for substance abuse (alcoholism) that they should never gamble. The vast majority of compulsive gamblers I have met come from a substance abuse background, either themselves or somewhere in their family history,” he said.

He can be reached at neverenough@w5.com.

15 January 2013

Jones Bahamas

Caribbean Blog International

The upcoming gambling referendum is not about PLP or FNM... ...It is about country first... ...The way to box the choice on January 28 is to vote NO on web shop gaming ...and to vote YES on a national lottery

For sake of country: Vote no on web shops
Front Porch

BY SIMON


The biggest loser in a yes vote to “support the regulation and taxation of web shop gaming” will be the Bahamian people.  It should be noted that while that is the language of the proposed referendum question, the issue is really whether to legalize what is currently a criminal enterprise.

The chief honchos of a yes vote on web shops want a no vote on a national lottery: Just about everybody wins with a national lottery, while only a few win with the legalization of web shops.
For the sake of country, Bahamians should vote no to the greed of a few who may literally laugh all the way to the bank, if not seek to open a bank, to deposit their jackpot of profits galore.
The crap game to allow for the legalization of web shops has generally been promoted by a coalition of self interests bent on maximizing personal gain and greed at the expense of the broader interests of the vast majority of Bahamians.

The big winners in a yes vote may be a briar patch of certain criminal enterprises and their paid agents, alongside a wheel of fortune of certain politicians in hock to their paymasters.
Then there are certain reverend gentlemen who are delighted to have the money changers right up front in the sanctuary of the temple.  The love of money may be the root of certain evil inasmuch as it may be the root of hypocrisy of biblical proportions.

The legalization of all forms of gambling is opposed by some.  For others, various forms of gambling are not inherently unethical.  For the latter, the ethical and policy questions concern what forms of gambling and how gambling is to be administered, regulated and taxed.

These ethical and policy questions involve what kind of lottery system would be best for the country in terms of who would receive the greater benefit of funds generated by a lottery.

Initiatives

With a national lottery, most of the funds should go to the Public Treasury, utilized for public purposes like a greater number of scholarships for students, more financial support for culture, sports, youth programs and other initiatives of social good.

A concern and caveat: It remains uncertain what the government means by a national lottery, who will run such an enterprise, and how profits are to be distributed.

But, if there is a majority yes vote on a national lottery, it can be redeveloped into a more progressive lottery over time if the current administration fails to develop the type of national lottery more beneficial to the greater good.

In voting yes for web shops, the bulk of the millions would be jammed into the already overflowing coffers and overstuffed vaults of a few to be used for their private pleasure, making some people wealthier while starving the public purse of badly needed funds needed to empower working Bahamians.

In saying yes to web shops, voters would be saying a resounding no to the needs of the children and future generations of Bahamians.  In terms of social justice and the needs of the poor and working class Bahamians, a government-owned national lottery is overwhelmingly more in the interest of the country.

The intense yes vote drive for web cafes has littered the country with billboards, t-shirts, broadcast commercials, social media efforts, jingles, giveaways, rum-soaked parties and other means of enticing and inducing voters.

Was any of the largesse for this slick campaign from illegally-derived funds?  What does it say about our democracy if the funds for certain campaigns related to the yes vote are not from legal sources?  And how much have they spent?  Millions?

Does the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) have reason to investigate the source of funds being used to run certain broadcast ads?

Unseemly

The yes vote extravaganza has a democratic right to engage in such an orgy and frenzy of enticement and inducement.  Yet it has mostly been unseemly.  Some of the activities coincided with the Christmas season, mocking the spirit of gift-giving by raffling gifts more out of seeming self-interest than true generosity.

In many lower income neighborhoods there are signs encouraging poorer Bahamians to vote yes to further enrich numbers bosses secure in gated enclaves where they may count their many millions in splendor and comfort.

What will help to educate and empower greater numbers of poorer Bahamians will be the greater amount of dedicated funds from a national lottery rather than the lesser amount of taxes derived from the proceeds of web shops.

It is nauseating to watch as some pretend to be Robin Hood, though they more resemble the Sheriff of Nottingham, who happily banked the wealth of the poor to enrich his pocket and ambitions.  And, make no mistake, the web shop millions are made up of the dollars of many Bahamians who can least afford it.

The ratings group Moody's Investors Service recently “downgraded its sovereign credit rating for The Bahamas by one notch to Baa1, citing limited economic growth prospects”.

With the need for increased revenues relative to the government’s annual deficit and the country’s overall debt, a national lottery would generate a greater amount of funds dedicated to various areas of the national budget, especially those areas that are likely to be the first victims of spending cuts.

A national lottery is no panacea on issues of deficit and debt.  But a national lottery may better help to address both more so than legalizing web shops, from which the country would generate less critically needed revenue.

Those uncertain as to whether they will vote, have a self-interest and a patriotic obligation to vote.  In abstaining from voting, one may very well help advance the narrower interests of some.

The upcoming referendum is not about PLP or FNM.  It is about country first.  The way to box the choice on January 28 is to vote no on web shops and to vote yes on a national lottery.

thenassauguardian

• frontporchguardian@gmail.com
www.bahamapundit.com

Caribbean Blog International

2013 Gambling Referendum Issues: ... ...since we are dealing with gaming ...the question as to whether Bahamians and permanent residents ought to be allowed to gamble in the casinos of The Bahamas should have been a consideration by way of the impending January 28, 2013 referendum

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Press Release: Christie Government....A Missed Opportunity

Three weeks before the Referendum on Gaming, the Christie Administration has revealed the questions to be posed on the 28th January 2013. In a National Address to the nation last night, the Honorable Dr. Bernard Nottage said that the two questions are: Do you support the regulation and taxation of web shop gaming and do you support the establishment of a National Lottery?

There are concerns with these questions as presented.

Firstly, are the two questions going to be on the same ballot or will there be two distinct questions? This has to be clarified and we ask the government to clarify their position as soon as possible.

Secondly, in connection with the question…Do you support regulation and taxation of web shop gaming, this question presupposes the legalization of web shops. The question should have been, “Do you support the legalization, regulation and taxation of web shop gaming?” The question for the Christie Government is what about the legalization of web shops and its operations? This concern seems to have been overlooked by the government.

The fact of the matter is that no matter how you vote in connection with this question, there is a predetermined position. If you vote yes…then regulation and taxation would be in place. If you vote no…then web shops and their operations would remain in the same position as they were prior to the referendum. I ask the government to kindly answer this particular concern. What happens to the web shops if there is a no vote for its regulation and taxation?

In addition, what regulations are we, the Bahamian people voting for? This government has not informed the Bahamian people of this information. Do they intend to do so before the referendum? I think it is necessary. Further, how would taxation be effected? We have no answers to this! If it is regulated, are there going to be any sanctions placed on those who were operating unregulated for all these years? What would be the preconditions to those who wish to be regulated?

In connection with the question on the establishment of a National lottery, what has caused the Prime Minister to change his mind on this question? You would indeed remember that during the election campaign the Prime Minister said that they would hold a referendum on whether there ought to be a national lottery. After the election, the Prime Minister said that he consulted with a foreign entity and was advised that a national lottery would not work in the Bahamas. This certainly is indicative that the Prime Minister did not do his research prior to the election and during the campaign said certain things for political expediency! Now the Prime Minister has placed the question of the National Lottery on the ballot. The question we, as Bahamians, would like to know is what changed the Prime Minister’s mind. We have not todate seen the report as mentioned previously, we are not aware of how much we, the Bahamian people, had to pay for the said report and no explanation has been given to the Bahamian people as to why the Prime Minister is now rejecting the conclusion of the report. The Prime Minister was elected by the Bahamian people to act on their behalf and in the best interest of the Bahamian people. We are entitled to know the answers to these questions!

Finally, since we are dealing with gaming, the question as to whether Bahamians and permanent residents ought to be allowed to gamble in the casinos should have been a consideration by way of referendum.

The government has a lot of questions to answer and again has missed a prime opportunity to properly enhance our democracy!


Branville McCartney
DNA Leader

Caribbean Blog International

The January 28, 2013 Gambling Referendum Questions are: ...Do you support the regulation and taxation of Web Shop gaming? and... Do you support the establishment of a National Lottery?

Gambling Referendum Questions Revealed

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE TWO questions for the January 28th gambling referendum that will decide the future of gambling in the Bahamas were revealed last night by National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage.

In his national address to the country, Dr Nottage announced the questions in accordance with the order of Governor-General Sir Arthur Foulkes who, yesterday, ordered for a referendum on the issue to be held on January 28.

“As stipulated by that order,” Dr Nottage said, “Bahamians will be presented with two questions.”

“The first question reads as follows; Do you support the regulation and taxation of Web Shop gaming? The second question reads as follows; Do you support the establishment of a National Lottery?”

Voters, he added, in accordance with section 59 of the 2012 Referendum Regulations, must “place one cross only in the space opposite the word ‘yes’ if he supports the question, or in the space opposite the word ‘no’, if he does not support the question.”

“Fellow Bahamians, the procedures to be followed in the conduct of this national Referendum for the most part mirror those that are followed in voting at General Elections for members of the House of Assembly. However, in the case of a Referendum there are no political candidates. Instead, as indicated there are questions to which the voter is to answer either “yes” or “no”. A “Yes” vote means you support the question and “No” vote means you do not.”

“The result of the poll will be determined by a simple majority of the number of “Yes” versus the number of

“No” votes”, the national security minister said.

The Parliamentary Commissioner will hold a briefing session with Local Observers to advise them of their role in the referendum prior to the advanced poll.

Dr Nottage also emphasized that only those who were eligible to vote in last year’s general elections will be allowed to vote in the polls of the gambling referendum.

“Persons who reached the age of eighteen (18) after May 7th and all other eligible Bahamians who have not yet registered may still do so. The voters register will close on the 10th January 2012. Anyone not registered by then will not be eligible to vote.”

In last night’s address, important dates in lead up to January 28’s referendum were also touched on.

The Parliamentary Commissioner will publish notification of the Referendum tomorrow January 4. The Voter Register closes on January 10 and January 19, the Voter Register will be certified by the parliamentary commissioner.

Regarding persons interested in voting but unavailable on the day in question due to being out of the jurisdiction or other reasons, the minister said that an advanced poll will take place on January 21.

“On Monday, 21st January, 2013 an advanced poll, inclusive of overseas voting, will take place. Qualified persons who are desirous of voting in the advance poll either as an overseas voter or a special voter have until Thursday, 10th January, 2013 to submit the relevant completed application form to the Parliamentary Commissioner.”

“For those persons who reside overseas, a completed Form J must be submitted. Special voters, namely election officials, those who on referendum day are likely to be hospitalized, undergoing medical attention, etc., must complete Form K.”

While it was noted that there would be no election agents in the referendum, regulations “empower” the minister to appoint a maximum of three local observers per polling station to ensure fairness of the process “including at least two persons representing the views of those members of the public interested in the “yes” and “no” vote.”

“The appointment of the Local Observers shall be made in writing and signed by the Minister,” he added.

The minister concluded his address by highlighting the importance of the populace voicing their issue and position on the regulation and taxing of Web Shops and the establishment of a National Lottery.

“Let me remind you, that while for the purposes of the efficient management of the Referendum you will be voting within your constituency, the results of the Referendum will be determined by a simple majority of the total number of votes cast nationally for each question.”

“The Government is committed to participatory democracy and believes in the timeless tenet that public policy should consistently reflect the collective will, desires, aspirations and sensibilities of you the Bahamian people. We pledge to be guided by this fundamental ethical and democratic principle through all of our deliberations on your behalf.”

“The Government of The Bahamas encourages all Bahamians to exercise their right, to express their views freely, to conduct themselves peacefully and to be tolerant of the views of others,” he concluded.

January 03, 2013

Tribune 242 

Caribbean Blog International

...Bahamians should roundly defeat the upcoming referendum question on legalizing web shops

Vote no on referendum: PLP sells out the country

Front Porch

By Simon

On multiple grounds, Bahamians should roundly defeat the upcoming referendum question on legalizing web shops.  First, there is a stunning and insulting lack of transparency.

Moreover, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) that cried foul over a lack of process during the last referendum has been breathtakingly hypocritical and cynical in terms of the lack of process in its rush to give certain numbers houses an early Christmas gift.  This referendum involves both a perceived conflict of interest and a betrayal of the common good.

A part of the back-story of the PLP’s decision to hold a referendum solely on the question of legalizing the current criminal enterprise of selected web shops involves a bizarre statement recently made by Prime Minister Perry Christie.

When asked if his party accepted campaign donations from various illegal numbers houses for the recent general election, former prime minister and Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Hubert Ingraham said that while individual candidates may have, he did not accept such donations on behalf of the party.

By stunning contrast Christie said he didn’t know whether the PLP received donations from such illegal enterprises.  Bahamians will have to judge whether they find credible Christie and his stated ignorance on this matter.

 

Ignorance

What is incredible is that on a matter of which there is widespread suspicion of a conflict of interest by Christie and his party is that he has claimed ignorance on whether donations were received.

Imagine the British or Canadian prime minister claiming ignorance about potential donations from illegal sources in the run-up to a major vote in Parliament or a referendum.  He would be hounded by the press and perhaps hounded out of office.  But here in The Bahamas Christie is hiding behind a claim of ignorance.

The potential conflict of interest on the referendum question is as transparent as it appears massive.  This referendum is a defining moment in Christie’s legacy.  It spells the death-knell of the progressive spirit in the PLP, a party now fully in thrall to special interests and a self-serving oligarchy whose mantra is: PLPs first.

This is a shameful and disgraceful moment for the country, for the PLP and for Perry Christie, who will go down in Bahamian history for selling out the Bahamian people.

Are we to be treated to the same contempt for our intelligence and contempt for the national interest by Christie on the matter of oil drilling?  He has also failed to be transparent about his relationship with and the consulting fees he received from a company conducting oil drilling tests.

Having failed to expand constitutional rights for women in its last term, the first referendum held by the PLP, the party of corporatist interests, is one that will narrowly and overwhelmingly benefit special interests at the expense of a broader common good.

Women of The Bahamas be damned.  The question of legalizing windfall profits for illegal enterprises is more a priority for a referendum under the PLP than your rights.

 

Dictator

In its election charter, the PLP promised a referendum on a national lottery and gambling in general.  It has broken its promise citing a report by consultants which the Christie government has refused to make public.  If we have paid for this report, why can’t we see it?  This is the behavior of a dictator, not a democrat.

The message to the Bahamian people: Go to hell and drop dead.  Not only won’t we tell you what’s in the report.  We also don’t see a need to justify the limited nature of the question or why we changed our position.

In one of the most pathetic, insulting and dismissive statements ever made by a prime minister, Christie offered a litany of nonsense in his communication to the House on web shop gaming: “Firstly, I reiterate that my government and party will maintain a position of complete neutrality on the referendum question.  We will not campaign for or against either side to the question, nor will we offer any encouragement for either a yes vote or a no vote.  We are going to stay out of the fray and let the Bahamian people decide what they want without any cajoling or coaxing one way or the other.”

What utter hogwash!  How stunningly disingenuous!  By so narrowly defining what will be voted on and who may benefit, Christie’s PLP has dispensed with any pretense of neutrality.  And, then, he seeks to insult the intelligence of the Bahamian people by claiming neutrality.

There is the old joke of a wife looking through the keyhole of a hotel room, watching her husband and best friend disrobing and cooing at each other.  At the last minute before certain matters transpired, one of their undergarments is flung over the keyhole, so the wife never actually sees the deed done.  It is -- pun intended – a revealing story.

Christie’s non-transparent and pathetic statement continued: “I hasten to add, however, that not all existing web shops would be legalized.  Instead, it would only be those that are duly licensed in due course.”  Really?  Like whom, prime minister?  Anybody in particular, or might we take bets on who may be licensed?  Might you give us some examples?

Then there was this from the prime minister who is morphing from late-again to last minute: “The precise phraseology of the question that will be put to the electorate in the referendum will be announced well ahead of the referendum itself.”

Is this a joke?  Clearly, timeliness has never been one of Christie’s strengths.  Mere weeks before the referendum on a single question, and his administration can’t tell us the question.  And this from the party that criticized the FNM on process?

On the basis of process, and according to what the PLP self-servingly claimed at the last referendum, this question should be defeated.  The referendum has been rushed, the question is still not known mere weeks before the referendum, promised questions are left out, and there is insufficient time for well-organized and thorough forums for debate.

 

Obligation

More so, there is so much we don’t know in terms of the details of possible legislation, which the government has an obligation to address in greater detail before a referendum.  Christie and the PLP cannot be trusted on this front.

Christie also offered this false equivalence between how casinos and web shops should be taxed: “This would be in addition to the annual taxes that would be payable, based on the revenues of the licensed web shops, similar to the taxation structure that applies to casinos.”

He noted that the government expects between $15 million and $20 million in revenue from legalized numbers.  Yet, estimates from study of the industry by the Ministry of Finance prior to May 1, 2012, suggested in excess of $40 million annually.  Why have estimates seemingly been halved?

There are many other questions of public policy and social justice left unanswered by Christie, a number of which require urgent discussion prior to the referendum.  The debate has been joined by the general public, some churches and others, including the Democratic National Alliance, which released a clear position on the referendum.

Meanwhile and unfortunately, the opposition FNM has appeared bungling and inept.  Rashly and idiotically, Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis pledged to vote yes on a gambling referendum months ago, before a question to be put to the electorate has been framed and finalized.

One Lorraine Gibson defended Minnis’ statement as his personal view.  This is the kind of silly defense that might be made by a green pre-law student or a naïve political activist.  On questions of such moment and import it is best for any leader to make a statement on behalf of his party.

The FNM needs to get its act together and issue an intelligent, vigorous and consistent position on one of the most important issues before the Bahamian people during the current administration’s tenure.  The country cannot afford a feckless government and prime minister as well as a feckless opposition and leader of the opposition.

November 06, 2012

thenassauguardian

bahamapundit.com

frontporchguardian@gmail.com

...the proposed gambling referendum could be dead on arrival (DOA)

By Dennis Dames

As the news surfaces about the upcoming gambling referendum and the possible questions on its ballot – one thing is certain, and that is:  the confusion mounts.  Are we going to vote half of the way or the full nine yards on Bahamians gambling in The Bahamas?

Is the referendum going to be about a national lottery, legalizing web shops, casino gambling for Bahamians, or what?  The success of the vote will depend on the ballot menu.

Some Bahamians voters want the whole hog; which is the legalization of all forms of gambling for the native gamblers period.  Others simply want to do their thing in the web shops without having to look over their shoulders for a possible law enforcement raid.  Then, there are those among us who want to play numbers exclusively; whether it’s lotto, lottery, Island Luck, Flowers, Asue Draw and so on and so forth.

Does the government of The Bahamas intends to please all the Bahamian gamblers with the referendum questions or only some?  Is it really fair to still have tourists gambling in certain places and Bahamians in others - when the smoke of the vote is cleared?

Do we actually know what we are doing in relations to the proposed referendum?  I agree that the Christie administration has enough votes in the Bahamian parliament to do whatever they want in regards to the gambling question for Bahamians in The Bahamas.

It looks like the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is playing with fire in relations to legalized gambling for Bahamians in their country, as there is no guarantee that the “yes” vote will prevail in the referendum.  If it doesn’t, do Perry Christie and the PLP have the guts to close down every illegal gambling establishment in the country?

I doubt it.

So, it is my view that the PLP government could be setting itself up for a major defeat with their proposed impending referendum on gambling for the Bahamian gamblers in The Bahamas.

It is a grossly false assumption for one to postulate that every Bahamian who gambles in some form or another in these islands - will tow a line on referendum day, and vote yes or no to whatever the questions are – in my humble opinion.  Many Pastors will ensure that their flock is motivated on voting day to defeat the gambling for Bahamians question.

So again I say, that the powers that be - is playing a serious game of political Russian roulette with this gambling matter for Bahamians; which could result in the political demise of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).

Be progressive Mr. Christie, and move in the Bahamian Parliament to settle the gambling for Bahamian concerns once and for all.  If tourists could gamble legally in our beloved country, then – we Bahamians must be able to do so too.   There is nothing complicated about this; except to say that the proposed gambling referendum could be dead on arrival (DOA).

Sunday September 23, 2012

Caribbean Blog International

In waging a fight on the road to the gambling referendum ...the numbers men are doing more than attempting to legalize their businesses... ...They are challenging the role of the church in the modern Bahamas

The church vs. the numbers men: A fight for legitimacy

thenassauguardian editorial

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Movement (FNM) have historically dared not cross the church for decades on the issue of gambling for Bahamians in The Bahamas.  Instead, both parties as governments turned away and did not see the numbers houses.

In recent years, with the rise of Internet technology and steely boldness, the numbers men of old and their new contemporaries came from the shadows and openly set up illegal shops in front of the political parties and police, declaring to Bahamians that they are now forces who will no longer accept being repressed.

The numbers bosses now sponsor charitable events, advertise and one has even donated openly to at least one government agency.

The Bahamas is a very protestant nation with the overwhelming majority of its people identifying themselves as Christians.  Churchgoing is high.  Consequently, the political parties have not wanted to face-off against a church that, for the most part, has been rabidly against gambling.

Despite this fear by our great political parties, the numbers bosses have now decided that it is time to demonstrate to the church of Christ and its Bahamian leaders that they do not fear them.  They have set up a lobby and have let it be known that $1.5 million will be spent in an advertising effort to win the referendum.  Via this act, they have declared opposition to the church.

The Bahamian church is not used to this direct a challenge.  It has historically been able to shout down adversaries on the gambling issue.  Now, with a referendum having been pledged, the church has an opponent.

The stakes are high for this referendum.  In our modern history the church has felt it had the upper hand on issues such as this.  A defeat here will lessen the perceived power of the church.  It would also demonstrate that well-funded lobbies on moral issues could win against the church in a public fight.

What would a defeated church do?  If it preaches to its members to vote against the legalization of gambling and those members overwhelmingly disobey their pastors, that act of defiance by Bahamians would demonstrate that though many sit in pews on Sundays, they do not listen to the people who speak from them with full regard.

In waging a fight in this referendum the numbers men are doing more than attempting to legalize their businesses.  They are challenging the role of the church in the modern Bahamas.

The pastors who like to make statements on this and that moral issue need to know that on the issue of gambling they are in a fight for legitimacy.  Certainly, if the church loses it will not be totally illegitimate and irrelevant.  It would just fall a notch in influence.  And the next time a group thinks about challenging the church, if it loses this referendum fight, that group won’t be as afraid, further expanding secularism in The Bahamas.

Aug 04, 2012

thenassauguardian editorial

Caribbean Blog International

The Gambling Referendum Debate: ...Ed Fields - Kerzner International senior vice president says that he agrees with Baha Mar vice president - Robert Sands on casino gambling for Bahamians should not be rushed... ...the focus should be on liberalising the “numbers business” first

'Numbers First, Before Casinos'


By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIANS should focus on liberalising the “numbers business” first before attempting to addressing the issue of casino gambling, according to Ed Fields, Kerzner International senior vice president.

While he noted it was also an “overdue” issue, Mr Fields said he sided with Baha Mar vice president Robert Sands that casino gambling should not be rushed.

“We need to go down that road, whether we’re going down it two months from now or three months, we should be doing it.

“It should be a basic question on do you agree with liberalizing gambling for Bahamians,” he said. “Now once that question is answered then the powers that be can start examining what we should be doing (next). Let’s legalize it, let’s tax the heck out of it, let’s take some of those tax dollars and put it to helping people who might have an addiction, let’s take the money and put it into education and arts and culture.”

The contentious debate over whether or not the country should liberalize “web shop” gaming and establish a national lottery has stormed since it was announced that the longstanding issue would be put to a referendum before the end of the year.

There has also been criticism of the scope of the proposed referendum, with former prime minister Hubert Ingraham stating that the referendum should address gaming in its entirety.

The Bahamas Christian Council has accused the government of rushing a gambling referendum, while some local pastors have called for all gambling participation – including the participation of tourists in casinos – to be outlawed.

While he said he could not comment on the referendum’s timeline, Mr Fields said a resolution on the issue was “long overdue”.

“We took literally 50 years to get to where we are today with the institution of Bahamians not being allowed to gamble in casinos. We can’t just overnight change that paradigm without there being some ramifications. So I ‘m supportive of it but I think it’s something that we have to take one step at a time.”

“Liberalizing the numbers business,” he said, “is something we are doing now and so let’s get that off the plate and then we can have a discussion about casino gambling in terms of how you qualify to gamble.”

In response to claims that liberalisation would engender a rise in addiction and other social ills, Mr Fields said that taxes would provide funding for counselling and related help.

“Not everyone who gambles is addicted to gambling, it’s a small percentage like every other activity, sex, shopping, eating, not everyone is a kleptomaniac,” he said.

“Right now as I speak there is zero dollars that is being committed to counselling people who are addicted to gambling, so let’s just assume that there are a number of people who are addicted to gambling, well if we were taxing the numbers business or the gambling business then we could allocate a percentage of that to counselling and helping.

He added: “It cant be worse than what we have now.”

July 30, 2012

Tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

The gambling referendum debate: ...Current government position of not considering casino and other forms of gaming ownership ...and participation for Bahamian residents falls far short of my expectation ...says Sidney Strachan - former Bahamas Gaming Reform (BGR) leader

Gambling Argument Flawed, Says Advocate


By Sasha Lightbourne
The Bahama Journal


A former Bahamas Gaming Reform (BGR) leader said that the gambling argument is flawed and may not benefit the government once a referendum is called.

In a press statement, Sidney Strachan argued that the church may have the “upper hand” on the gambling issue.

“Current government position of not considering casino and other forms of gaming ownership and participation for Bahamian residents falls far short of my expectation,” he said.

“The BGR has long proffered that Bahamians are treated as third class citizens in their own country. To say only current players will be allowed to be owners in the ‘Numbers game’ go against free enterprise in any democratic society. The Bahamas government, in my opinion, is being disingenuous in stating it proposes to regularise gaming in its current form.”

Mr. Strachan said many of the gaming representatives who are agitating for gambling to be regularised will experience many challenges operating in a legal environment based on current gaming regulations.

“Additionally, I envision many legal, copyright and regulatory challenges for the operators and The Bahamas Government if the ‘numbers’ business is legally allowed in its current form,” he added.

“In these instances, illegal operations were ordered to come to a complete stop and licences were granted to applicants based on their ability to obtain such licences. However, in some instances some large scale illegal gaming continued. Under the current online gaming ‘numbers’ system, I envision many obstacles to having this formally instituted in its present form. The platitudes from some of our leaders can only serve to placate number bosses while pulling the wool over Bahamian eyes once again.”

Addressing the efforts of the newly formed ‘We Care’ group, Mr. Strachan indicated that current gaming owners are making critical mistakes in lobbying on their own behalf and it will prove to be a “blight and a clear conflict of interest” on the government.

“It is in poor judgment and taste and even if we were to obtain this partial gaming victory it will be a negative reflection on how we conduct business in The Bahamas,” Mr. Strachan continued.

“Make no mistake; I support regularisation of ‘numbers’ and hold that the good vs. evil argument is ridiculous. However, anything short of opening up gaming completely to allow all Bahamian residents to be owners and players can never be a complete victory.”

Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis told the Bahama Journal Wednesday that his party will stick to having the referendum before the end of the year and that Mr. Christie is expected to come to the public soon with all the details.

“The prime minister will be making an announcement very shortly,” Mr. Davis said at the time.
“Mr. Christie’s announcement could come as early as next week, I’m not sure, but I know that as of now he is ready to go to the nation to explain the way forward and to set the framework for the referendum to be held.”

There has been much public debate surrounding the legalisation of gambling over of the past few weeks, so much so, that the contentious issue has even divided the Bahamas Christian Council (BCC).

The BCC has said it is “diametrically opposed” to gambling, however, Mt. Calvary Baptist Pastor Dr. Philip McPhee believes there are benefits to be derived from its legalisation.

He recently held a discussion with several other pastors and the proprietors of numbers houses.
Despite his stance, the pastor says has never gambled and does not intend to change, even if the law changes.

The Mount Calvary Baptist pastor’s stance on gambling shocked many in the religious sector who questioned why a clergyman would support the illegal trade.

While shying away from getting involved in the back and forth, head of the local Roman Catholic Church Archbishop Patrick Pinder reiterated his church’s position yesterday, which is, that it does not support the legalisation of gambling.

July 20, 2012

The Bahama Journal

Caribbean Blog International