The bill to amend the Lotteries and Gaming Act passed in the House of Assembly last night turned into a moral argument with some opposition Members of Parliament calling it “unchristian” to expand gaming in the Bahamas and others accusing the government of starting a move toward legalizing gambling for Bahamians.
But one independent MP, South Andros, Whitney Bastian, sees the matter a different way. He said in fact that religious leaders will now preach about him until “thy kingdom come.”
“I am sick and tired of hypocritical, three-faced religious ministers of our country who can’t wait to collect a donation from the Crystal Palace and Atlantis every year and can’t wait for their members who have lucrative jobs in the casinos to drop in their Sunday and Sabbath ties and can’t wait to be hosted to one of those lavish banquets in their honour right next to the casino, while their members walk up and pin their hard-earned monies on the pastor, his wife and his children and then present the pastor and his wife the keys to a spanking new automobile while the members have to take the church bus home,” said Mr. Bastian, who addressed the late evening session of parliament.
The amendment before the House will expand gaming in casinos, providing for sports betting to allow visitors to be able to place bets on horse and dog races.
The measure has sparked fears and concerns among some that the government is pushing the gaming issue and may be moving toward introducing legal gambling for Bahamians.
Christian Council President Bishop Samuel Greene said recently that gambling is a poor and unchristian excuse for bolstering economic activity.
More pressure was brought on from the church Tuesday night. Baptist Leader Rev. Dr. William Thompson said that his denomination – the largest in the country – will not support legalizing gaming for citizens.
Government Members of Parliament yesterday stressed that the measure before the House of Assembly would not allow Bahamians to gamble, but will only provide more employment opportunities and give casinos a more competitive edge. While FNM Members of Parliament Neko Grant and Kenneth Russell slammed the government for bringing the bill to parliament, the Member for Montagu Brent Symonette said he had no problem supporting the bill.
But Mr. Symonette said he was concerned that the legislation may be appealing to special interest groups.
Some opposition members hinted that the government is granting favours to local casino owners who may have provided their own favours to government ministers, including the loan of a personal jet.
While Mr. Grant and Mr. Russell said they feared that eventual legalization of gaming will take food out of the mouths of families, other Members like Works and Utilities Minister Bradley Roberts pointed out that many Bahamians are gambling illegally already.
“I am also told that large numbers of Bahamians earn their living from this enterprise,” he said. “I am also told that Bahamians from all walks of life participate in the illegal gambling of our land.”
This thorny issue should be the subject of a referendum, Mr. Roberts told Members of the House of Assembly.
“It is time in my view that we in the Bahamas let the Bahamian people decide,” he said. “In this regard, our stance or lack thereof to date has caused the full concept of democracy to pass us by…And from a spiritual perspective, we know that not everything that is lawful is necessarily good for everyone.”
He added that, “Just as it is a matter of free choice to follow the Lord Jesus Christ into salvation, likewise it is a matter of choice to decide to place a wager… Persons should know what is good for them and what is not.”
Prime Minister Perry Christie reiterated last night that his government will not move to legalize gambling unless it was sure that it was in the interest of the Bahamian people and it was what the people wanted.
Mr. Christie said he sees the church as a partner with political leaders that enables the government to speak more effectively to Bahamians.
The prime minister has appointed at least one church leader to every statutory board he has named so far.
By Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
