As the campaigns for and against web shop gambling gather momentum leading up to the December 3 referendum on the issue, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that the government will soon launch its own educational campaign.
Christie also reiterated to reporters, on the sidelines of the swearing in ceremony for North Abaco MP Renardo Curry as a parliamentary secretary, that the government will not take a position for or against gambling.
“I don’t want to go beyond the point where I appear to be backing one side,” he said.
“They (the public) can expect from me sufficient information for them to know what they are voting on, what they are voting for and what they are voting against. The government will ensure that that takes place,” he noted.
Already two groups have laid out reasons why Bahamians should either vote for or against the legalization of gaming.
The Save Our Bahamas group opposes the legalization of web shop gambling, and the Gaming Referendum Coalition is in favor.
According to the coalition’s recently established website www.voteyesbahamas.com, “the result of a ‘no’ vote threatens the financial health of our entire nation”.
The website claims that web shops contribute just over $50 million to the Bahamian economy annually and provide thousands of jobs.
According to the website, web shops pay $14,238,193 to the National Insurance Board (NIB) annually, and $12,277,650 annually to utility companies including Cable Bahamas, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company and the Water and Sewerage Corporation. Another $26,000,000 is paid to the Public Treasury.
“More than 3,000 jobs exist today thanks to the Bahamian-owned gaming industry with over 2,000 indirectly brought about by related activities,” the website said. “Nearly three percent of our available workforce is employed by our local gaming industry, providing much needed income and benefits to Bahamian families from all corners of our society. In each gaming-related business throughout this country are our mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, all making an honest living and taking care of their personal and familial responsibilities with the sweat of their brow.”
The website adds: “As well intended as some of the opponents of the gaming industry may be, we must not allow the ideals and personal beliefs of a minority to threaten our entire way of life.”
But the group of pastors behind the Save Our Bahamas group do not believe that they are in the minority. In its campaign, the group created a short video entitled “Pastors Saying Vote No”.
The short video features three pastors who each gave reasons why a “yes” vote would be a bad choice.
Bishop Walter Hanchell, president of Great Commission Ministries International, said gambling destroys lives and families.
“Gambling breeds corruption and originates out of greed,” he said in the video, which was shot in a church.
Pastor Cedric Moss, of Kingdom Life Church, reminded persons that “the word of God says keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have for God has promised, ‘never will I leave you, never will I forsake you’.”
Allan Lee, senior pastor of Calvary Bible Church, said gambling is based on greed and discontent.
“The Bible tells us that we should be content with what we have because God provides our needs,” he said.
By Krystel Rolle
Guardian Staff Reporter
