...on the upcoming referendum on the legalization of the numbers industry in The Bahamas: ...A vote by the people to legalize the numbers industry will actually not legalize lottery gambling for Bahamians and legal residents... ...The Parliament would have to pass legislation amending our gaming laws

The parliamentary vote on gambling is not so simple

thenassauguardian editorial

There has been much discussion on the upcoming referendum on the legalization of the numbers industry in The Bahamas.  The industry has let it be known that it will spend $1.5 million on advertising for its cause.  The church has responded with vocal opposition to any further legalization of a practice it views as harmful to Bahamians.

A vote, however, by the people to legalize the numbers industry will actually not legalize lottery gambling for Bahamians and legal residents.  The Parliament would have to pass legislation amending our gaming laws.

In the Westminster parliamentary system votes on matters of conscience are usually free votes – that is, the party whips are removed and members vote their consciences without fear of party discipline for making a particular choice.  When the whip is on a member who votes against the party’s position could be expelled from that political party.

Assuming that there would be a free vote in Parliament on the issue of legalizing lottery gambling, it is unclear how the members would vote.  Some are practicing Christians and would not vote for gambling despite what their party leaders say.  Some members might also abstain from voting, fearing taking a public stance on such a contentious issue.  Such a scenario would put the will of the people up against the beliefs of the elected member of the legislature.

Therefore, there will be two fights in order for the lottery business to be legalized: one fight to win the referendum and the other to influence the MPs.

The church will have an advantage with the MPs.  MPs do not like to disappoint pastors and the church of Christ in The Bahamas.  A strong lobby on members by their respective pastors will be effective in getting at least a few MPs to vote no.

No MP wants to be named by the church as its opponent, pursuing an order against God.  What has for a long time prevented a referendum is the fear by our leaders of crossing the church.

Our politicians think a referendum will allow the people to choose and they will not have to be responsible for legalizing numbers, because it would be the people who make that choice.  But we all have forgotten that at the end of the day the MPs will have to do the deed.

Another scenario could emerge, however.  If the people vote overwhelmingly to legalize numbers the governing party and opposition could keep the whips on and force through the amendments making lotteries legal.

Much is unclear about what will happen with the proposed referendum and the vote in Parliament if the people say yes to the numbers game.  The governing party must chart carefully so it does not get in trouble with the process as the last government did during the referendum of 2002.

July 13,2012

thenassauguardian editorial

Caribbean Blog International

Bahamas' gaming industry for Bahamians and other residents cannot be stopped by no administration

The fate of the numbers men
thenassauguardian editorial:



The decision by the numbers bosses to speak with The Nassau Guardian this week was a significant development in the debate to legalize gambling for Bahamians.

A businessman claiming to speak on behalf of a number of numbers houses said that they opened up their books to representatives of the government in order to assist with what they thought was a process to fully legalize gambling.

But, what they thought was to happen, did not.

Instead, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has pledged a referendum if his party wins the government at the next general election.

The gambling issue seems too overwhelming for the Progressive Liberal Party. Its leader has not even attempted to take a position.

Meanwhile, the police have now increased their scrutiny of the openly illegal local gaming industry. One of the numbers bosses said that police cars are parked outside their businesses with increased frequency.

Some 10 to 20 percent of the staff at the numbers houses have, or will have to be, let go as a result of the police pressure, the number boss claimed.

Turning up the 'heat' on the number houses will not shut them down. The will of the people cannot be stopped by the state when the people no longer consent to an old law.

What is likely to happen as a result of increased police pressure on numbers houses is more corruption.

The numbers bosses will likely have to up their 'fees' to the agents of the state charged with investigating and arresting them.

There will be another sad consequence to not fully legalizing gambling. The police have scarce resources and a serious violent crime problem to deal with. Wasting time attempting to shut down the numbers houses will take resources away from a force struggling to catch and prosecute murderers, robbers and rapists.

With two homicide records in three years, and a current homicide count on pace to set a third such record, it seems illogical to assign officers to bother the numbers bosses rather than investigate violent crime.

The church leaders who oppose the full legalization of gambling are 'hit-n-run' commentators.

They always come out for the status quo, but do not realize that the continued prohibition only fuels corruption.

A more reasonable stand would be for preachers to call for moderation and restraint.

The numbers men are going nowhere. The local gaming industry cannot be stopped by a PLP or a Free National Movement (FNM) administration.

This is because the people want to do it in large numbers.

The more pressure a misguided state puts on the numbers men, the more they will use their money to buy the favor of those our leaders send after them.

This unwise fight is unhealthy for a Bahamas that has too many necessary battles to fight.

One day soon the numbers men will be respected businessmen just like the shipwreckers and bootleggers became. Their children now sit, decades later, in significant positions of power.

If this generation of political leaders do not see the wisdom of legitimizing them now, fear not, the next will.

June 10, 2010

thenassauguardian editorial

Bahamas Blog International

The revelation that the Bahamas government would not legalize gambling for Bahamians was like a slap in the face to some number house bosses

Numbers houses 'losing business'
By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:



The revelation that the government would not legalize gambling for Bahamians was like a slap in the face to some number house bosses, who claim the backlash that followed the government's decision has caused a decline in business and has forced them to make serious cutbacks.

One businessman, who claimed he was expressing views shared by Island Luck, FML and Asue Draw, which reportedly represent more than 70 percent of the local market, said after opening up their books to the government, they were shocked when it was revealed that the law would remain unchanged.

The businessman, who wished not to be named due to reported pressure from the police and financial institutions, said if someone had asked the number bosses two weeks ago whether their businesses would have been legalized, they would have said with absolute certainty that they would be.

While he said they respect the government's decision to leave the law as it is, they want to know what will happen next.

The comments came two weeks after the Cabinet Office announced that the government will not proceed with the legalization of gambling. The government has instead concluded that a referendum should be held after the next general election so Bahamians can have the final say on the divisive issue.

"Now what?" asked the group's spokesman, who added that since the government's declaration, police have been coming around their businesses more frequently and "harassing" their customers.

He said sometimes police cars are parked in front of their businesses, which has led to a drastic slowdown in business.

Things have gotten so bad, 10 to 20 percent of the staff working at the various sites have or will be laid off, the businessman said.

The number boss told The Nassau Guardian that representatives from the government and the Ministry of Finance approached them months ago seeking to get information to assist with the legalization of gambling.

"When the government made the announcement (that they were considering legalizing gambling) we opened our doors and we invited them in," he said.

"We provided them with all the necessary information that they needed. We wanted to support the government's decision, [we] wanted to help the country in terms of the deficit and we know the money could go a long way."

The businessman claimed that the bosses were told that by June 30 the necessary legislation would be passed in Parliament for the legalization of some form of gambling.

"We were all under the impression that it was going to be legalized," he said. "You don't have the Ministry of Finance walk through the number man's door if this is not something that the government has in mind. They contacted us," he stressed. "They met with us individually."

He said when they found out that the law would remain unchanged "it was a blow to everyone".

"We really didn't expect it. We were hoping that just like how they called us in the beginning, they would have called us back. We were accommodating. We had to hear about it in the paper. We don't know where to go from here. We want to know what is the government's position for the future. We need to know, the public needs to know because for every two people against it three people [are] for it."

The businessman said while he was not looking forward to his business being taxed, he was not against it and he was relieved that his business would be legitimate.

The prime minister has said the government would have collected $30 million to $40 million annually in revenue from the gambling business.

However, the businessman said based on the current market it would have been more like $15 million.

"I would love to see our $15 million a year build a school today and a hospital tomorrow," he said, adding that the Florida Lottery has donated millions of dollars toward education.

"We don't mind it being legalized," he continued. "It's a gray area that has not been enforced. We don't like the idea of being illegal businessmen. So the tax was never an issue. It's not a good feeling walking in banks and other financial institutions and being known as some number man, or getting the headache of getting kicked out of banks. We're mostly just guilty by association... because you're known as a number man, you're frowned upon and they just don't want to do business with you."

He said many Bahamians have pre-conceived notions that the gambling business leads to the bankruptcy of many people. However, he said the majority of people spend about $3 to $7 on a ticket to gamble.

"The average persons does not spend excessively on numbers. It's just the volume. You give a small investment for a big return. These people are putting in $1 and getting $900," he said.

Asked whether he considered the numbers business to be illegal, the businessman said, "We consider it to be illegal in a sense. The walk-in part of business could fall into the illegal category but the Internet is free for all."

Asked what he would say to the government, if given the opportunity, he said, "We're not complaining, we're not crying but it's just reality. We need to know where do we go from here."

June 9, 2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International