Citizens for Justice President - Bishop Walter Hanchell and President of The Bahamas in Prophecy Movement - Pastor Micklyn Seymour both expressed shock and surprise over comments made by Reverend Philip McPhee ...about the contributions illegal numbers houses are making to national development

Pastor faces outrage on gambling issue

McPhee’s colleagues ‘shocked’ at recent meeting

By Royston Jones Jr.
Guardian Staff Reporter
royston@nasguard.com

Two pastors yesterday expressed outrage over comments made by Reverend Philip McPhee about the contributions illegal numbers houses are making to national development.

Citizens for Justice President Bishop Walter Hanchell and President of The Bahamas in Prophecy Movement Pastor Micklyn Seymour both expressed shock and surprise over the statements.

The men spoke to The Nassau Guardian in separate interviews.

McPhee said on Thursday that a group of about 20 prominent local pastors, including three members of the Bahamas Christian Council, had become “sensitized” to the idea of how taxes generated from a legalized numbers industry could benefit The Bahamas.

However, McPhee did not say he supported gambling.

After reading McPhee’s comments yesterday, Hanchell urged pastors to take a public stand to warn Bahamians of the “destructive” effects of gambling, which he claimed far outweigh any benefits that could come about from a regulated numbers industry.

The government has promised to hold a referendum on gambling before the end of the year.

Hanchell said, “Gambling is not something that The Bahamas should embrace. It is too destructive. We will pay for generations down the road if we legalize the illegal numbers racket.”

Seymour said he was very disappointed by McPhee’s comments.

He said the Christian community cannot afford to be divided on the issue, and he thinks McPhee was misled.

He also said he was surprised that McPhee arranged a meeting with ‘We Care’, a coalition of web shop owners. The meeting took place on Tuesday.

“I believe that [gambling] should not be promoted and I am calling on all of the Christian leaders to unite in force and speak with one voice.” Seymour said.

“I am very disappointed in the great man to be speaking and supporting that in any which way. He ought to condemn gambling.”

Seymour added that any country that has to turn to legalizing gambling to help its people is a nation in “desperation”.

On Thursday, McPhee said, “We got a very positive input of what the web companies are all about, what they are doing and how they contribute in many ways to the benefit of the country.

“A lot of us were not aware of those contributions. One web company has given over $1 million to fund various regattas and cultural events such as Junkanoo, and has sponsored many summer programs, feeding programs and clothing programs.

“A lot of these men have been very active in giving a lot to sustain other various programs. Those were articulated to the pastors which brought about a sense of sensitizing.”

While McPhee said the pastors are against gambling, he said, “The whole aspect of it is, if the country is benefiting from national insurance [contributions] from these companies and they are getting other benefits, then something needs to be done so these people are looked at as major contributors to the development of our country.”

CEO of Island Luck Sebas Bastian said on Wednesday that ‘We Care’ will invest around $1.5 million to educate Bahamians on industry related issues, and on various community-based initiatives over the next few months.

Hanchell said he was not opposed to anyone supporting the less fortunate in society but questioned whether the motive behind the contributions was to gain acceptance and influence to support legalizing gambling.

“People are being deceived by these web shop owners with their mega bucks and all they are trying to do is stay in business,” he said.

“They have made enough money on the backs of poor Bahamians and I think we should shut them down and… tell them to invest their money in something legal.”

Hanchell said he was speaking from 20 years of experience as a gambling addict who has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Some people believe that legalizing and taxing marijuana has benefits, Seymour said, but he questioned whether that meant the drug should be made legal.

Jul 08, 2012

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

Dr. Victor Cooper of New Bethany Baptist Cathedral urged the nation’s leaders to put the issue of gambling to a referendum ...and determine ways to tax the dozens of numbers houses that are in business throughout The Bahamas

Pastors urge action on gambling

Numbers houses come under fire

By Taneka Thompson
Guardian Senior Reporter
taneka@nasguard.com

A Baptist pastor yesterday urged the nation’s leaders to put the issue of gambling to a referendum and determine ways to tax the dozens of numbers houses that are in business.

Dr. Victor Cooper of New Bethany Baptist Cathedral made the call at a press conference with other religious leaders held to discuss crime.

“Let the people make a decision because the reality is, and sometimes we overlook this aspect of it, these gambling houses are making a lot of money and not paying any taxes whatsoever,” Cooper said.

“There must be some serious consideration given again to the whole issue of gambling with the electorate making a decision as to whether or not this is the way we want to go and then how does the country benefit in return from all the money being expended.”

Bishop Walter Hanchell, president of Great Commission Ministries, said it is time for the country to stop being politically correct about gambling and tackle the social issue head on.

“We have developed into a gambling culture where it is now almost acceptable to gamble. We say that gambling is illegal except for the casinos, but these gambling houses have licenses to operate and they are operating right in front of the police blatantly,” he said.

“We must address it because drugs and gambling are related; in my opinion they all are criminal acts. We need to stop trying to be politically correct and deal with these social issues in the right way.”

Hanchell added that while he is morally opposed to gambling he sees it as a discriminatory practice to allow foreigners to gamble legally in the country while Bahamian citizens cannot.

“I stopped gambling 30 years ago,” he said.  “I don’t support gambling in any form, but it is wrong to allow a foreigner to have any rights in a country where the citizens don’t have the same right and privilege. That is discrimination against your own people.”

Earlier on in its current term, the Ingraham administration considered the question of legalizing numbers houses, but eventually shelved the idea, promising instead to hold a referendum if it is successful at the next general election.

The issue has been a prickly one for successive governments, which have faced strong objections from the church at any hint of legalizing gambling for Bahamians.

Yesterday, the pastors also decried the current levels of crime and violence in the country and called on their counterparts from other churches to reach out to troubled members of the community.

“Murders are becoming an epidemic. Our leaders, church [and] community must come up with solutions to bring murders to an end,” Hanchell said.

Senior Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church Bishop Simeon Hall said drugs, gambling, alcoholism and the decay of the family structure are all to blame for the current crime crisis.

So far this year, 31 murders have been recorded in The Bahamas.

Up to this point last year, 37 murders were recorded.

Apr 05, 2012

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

...disappointed by the Government's decision not to legalise gambling for Bahamians

'Good has come' from $6m Numbers Houses
By CHESTER ROBARDS
Business Reporter
crobards@tribunemedia.net:


Numbers Houses employ up to 3,000 Bahamians directly with an annual payroll of $6 million, and make $1.2 million in per annum charitable donations, a senior executive told Tribune Business yesterday, adding that the sector could become an $80-$100 million industry if legalised.

Making his case for legalising local gambling or playing numbers, Dicrius Ramsey, general manager of Island Luck, said numbers houses have come to employ directly 3,000 individuals - and indirectly 2,000 - a workforce just 3,000 less than the Bahamas' largest private sector employer, Atlantis.

And with government funding slashed to many community organisations, the Numbers Houses have taken over the role and inject as much as $100,000 per month into those organizations.

Mr Ramsey said, though, that many organisations are reluctant to receive their money publicly, as they are afraid of what some in the community might say about the origin of the funds.

"Some people take it on top of the table, some people take it under the table," he said.

Island Luck recently donated to Doris Johnson High School some $9,000 worth of new computers - the first in the school's history, according to Mr Ramsey. He has also personally made $5,000 donations to the Bilney Lane Children's Home and to the Unity Home.

Mr Ramsey argued that the Government has missed out on a substantial revenue source by choosing to not legalise gambling for Bahamians. Yet he added that shutting down the industry would mean a spike in unemployment and severe a revenue stream for countless entities.

He said the four leading numbers houses spend up to $50,000 per month on cable TV bills, $90,000 on electricity costs, and $75,000 on National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions, while creating indirect employment for the upkeep of their establishments.

Mr Ramsey said the four large number houses pay collectively more than $100,000 in rent for their locations, and carry a $500,000 per month payroll.

"You are talking about half a million in payroll alone and 3,000 people employed," he said. "We want serious consideration to call it a local gaming industry, and we are looking for some regulations to be put in place, so it is recognised as a viable entity. I don't know who outside of government has a half-million payroll monthly."

And Mr Ramsey's figures do not take into account the many smaller number houses that dot the islands.

He said those in the industry were disappointed by the Government's decision not to legalise gambling for Bahamians. He called the law that prohibits the practice archaic, and compared the choice to spend disposable income on gambling to the choice to spend money on the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

He argued that gambling does not contribute to the decay of the Bahamas' moral and social fabric, but that alcohol consumption does.

"Nobody can say that the gaming industry is wreaking havoc on the moral and social fabric," said Mr Ramsey. "Our position is that the local gaming industry... who does it really offend?

"We want people to understand this is a business and it is growing, and we want it to be here for a long time with a seal of approval."

Arguments have arisen from both sides of the fence, with some claiming legalised gambling would 'breed poverty', while others claim the extra tax revenues could be the answer to the Government's high debt.

"Good has come from these web shops," said Mr Ramsey. "They are contributing to the cultural development, and as profits continue to exist, I am quite sure the local community will see a lot more giving back because everyone will give back once it is profitable."

July 06, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas 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