The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING the announcement that the much discussed gambling referendum will be postponed until next year, the acting chairman of the Free National Movement said the Prime Minister must have listened to the FNM’s advice.

Last night, Prime Minister Perry Christie told the press the hotly debated referendum on the legalisation of web shop gaming – which was set to be held on December 3 – will now take place on January 28, 2013.

Speaking last night following the announcement, Dr Duane Sands told The Tribune: “I guess he has listened to the FNM and he now understands there was too much confusion and that this whole affair has been mismanaged.”

The Prime Minister has done something “reasonable” in giving the people more time, Dr Sands said, noting he planned to contact FNM party leader Hubert Minnis who would be “quite interested” in commenting.

On Sunday, Dr Minnis called on Bahamians to vote “no” in the upcoming web-shop referendum if the government fails to clear up the “national confusion” over the issue.

“We have arrived at a point where there are very deep concerns as to the process used, the true intentions, and the competence of the governing PLP’s handling of this matter of critical national, economic and social importance,” he said.

He demanded answers from the government to a series of questions which inquire about the integrity of the government’s consultant report and $20 million tax revenue prediction, among other things. He also questioned how a “non-constitutional referendum” could change existing Bahamian law and the legal basis of holding such a referendum.

The answers to the party’s questions will help Bahamians “best decide” what’s in the nation’s interest, he claimed.