Debate over the legalization of lottery gambling continues to dominate the conversation on talk radio and in the news media. Such intense interest in our national affairs is certainly important and to be encouraged, but with no referendum on the immediate horizon to what extent does such conjecture even serve a purpose?
To add some more of our opinion to the national conversation, we appeal to the public to step back and contemplate the current “lottery” practice in The Bahamas. First, the current numbers house operations are not representative of a national lottery. Second, the numbers houses are illegal enterprises. Third, Bahamians know the numbers house owners, some of whom speak openly to the press.
Therefore, we, as the public, are privy to the ongoing operations of illegal activity by known persons and as such are witnesses and coconspirators in criminal activity punishable by law.
The open practice of playing numbers makes a farce of our entire justice system. We must do better and it is time to bring resolution to this issue.
The government claims to condemn criminal activity, yet feels obliged to not only debate but also pay for a referendum to essentially right a wrong. If such a referendum even comes to fruition, the Bahamian taxpayer will bear the burden when numbers operators make significant sums of money illegally with no hint of punishment.
Furthermore, it is absolutely absurd that the government has engaged a U.K. consulting firm to offer advice on a national lottery. To the Office of the Prime Minister, exactly who is paying for such a review? And why is the government engaging a consultant when Bahamians may vote down the proposition rendering such a review useless? And why the U.K.? The U.S. lottery system is very familiar to those Bahamians who may wish to partake in a national lotto.
How can we have a national debate or engage consultants on gambling when the government has yet to decide if it will only legalize web shops or develop a national lotto, or both? Before any more money and effort is spent on this issue, we need a statement in writing from the government detailing its position on a gambling referendum. Such political indecision only fuels fodder for talk show pundits.
At the crux of the political banter is the numbers house owner. Perched atop heaps of illegal cash, the owner goes about daily business as his minions play happily almost oblivious to the debate.
Owners should not be complacent in their current standing, if a referendum does not occur, fails or passes it is clear that numbers house operations in The Bahamas must change.
The government should never have allowed numbers houses to rise as they have. They should have been shut down long ago if they were illegal. If the sector is to be made legal, then those operations would be allowed. Under the current confusion, The Bahamas conveys the message that breaking the law does not have consequences.
And on a final note, it is with irony that the government will not take a stand on the matter. Prime Minister Perry Christie said: “As prime minister, I am supported by a significant number of people. Why should I try to preempt their free choice on the matter by saying vote for the PLP in this position because the PLP’s position is such?”
Please correct us if we are wrong, but the PLP did take a stand on the constitutional referendum for equal rights for women. The PLP launched a campaign against that referendum based on the flaws of “process” to deny women equal rights.
Women are treated as second-class citizens while numbers bosses parade around town, and your party has nothing to say about it? We are speechless.
Editorial
The Nassau Guardian
August 28, 2012
