By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
THE government has sent a team of officials to Las Vegas to study the gaming laws and practices in place there, the minster responsible for gaming Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday.
With the date for the referendum on legalising gambling expected to be announced in a few weeks, Mr Wilchcombe said the team is not only considering how to modernise the laws we have, but also how to craft new legislation as it becomes needed in the future.
“The team is made up of members of the Bahamas Hotel Association, the Gaming Board and of course the Ministry of Tourism – all intended to ensure we are able to modernise the gaming industry in the Bahamas,” he said.
“In fact, we are giving consideration to moving from having a Gaming Board to having a Gaming Commission because of the type of games that are being introduced now and for what we are expecting to be doing in the future.
“Of course we must be competitive and to be competitive it requires us to adapt and to respond as quickly as we possibly can in this ever competitive world.”
Last month, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced that a team of consultants from the United Kingdom were hired to give “clarity” to the question of a gaming system for Bahamians.
Mr Christie also said the consultants were expected to meet with the casino side of the industry to ensure there is not conflict should gambling for Bahamians be legalised. He said a report on their findings is expected “very soon”.
The referendum will seek to ascertain the will of the Bahamian electorate as to whether a national lottery should be instituted and/or whether what are popularly referred to as web cafes or web shops should be legalised, regulated, licenced and taxed.
The Prime Minister said there will be a 30-day period between calling the referendum and the actual voting day, so that the public can be educated and informed on the issues. This will include debates, panel discussions and published position-papers.
The referendum will not extend to any other forms of gambling, including casino gambling.
All components that applied to the general election will apply to the referendum with exception that instead of voting for a particular candidate, voters will be voting on specific questions and marking an ‘X’ in either the yes or no box on the ballots.
Those eligible to vote in the last general election, whether they did so or not, will be eligible to vote in the referendum and will not need to register again, he explained.
Mr Christie said persons who were not registered for the May 7 elections, but are eligible to vote, can do so provided they register ten days before the referendum.
Comments
Ironvelvet 12 years, 1 month ago
What utter nonsense!! First the goverment wasted money on consultants from the UK to tell them about the widely known ills of gambling and what any revenue would do for a country. Ahem! Giving the Brits a free tree to an island vacation.
NOW!! We are going to waste more money on sending governmental officials to Las Vegas and goverment is not considering allowing Bahamians to gamble in casinoes?!! Please will someone explain how this hair-brained idea has any legs to even be taken seriously!!! You want to understand gaming commissions, please use the world wide web....its an awesome tool to find information!!
This is wasteful and buffoonery at best!
reverendrichlive 12 years, 1 month ago
I totally agree with you. The website can provide amply information about gambling. Personally, I think it's just an excuse to visit Las Vegas to so that they can " let their hair down." I am a Bahamian Gospel Minister who lived and worked in Vegas, my wife and I relocated to Florida in 2011; so, I know first hand what goes on once the " cats are out the bag." Ha...ha ! At any rate, we have many well-informed, educated, legally-skilled personnels within the Bahamas that are well able to write our own laws, by-laws, guidlines and regulations to govern legalized gambling in the Bahamas. We boast of being independent. What message are we sending by always depending on some foreign consultants. Do we still need to be governed by the British, or some other? In the words of Jamacian music legend Bob Marley, most Bahamian and a lot of Bahamian politicians still need to " Emancipate themselves from mental slavery free .
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…
helpagency 12 years, 1 month ago
In the words of Bahamians "dey could theef hey". We need to let politicians know that we are not stupid and that we will no longer tolerate such blatant selfishness and disrespect for our intelligence. Every time a new party comes into office they feel the need to rape our treasury and our people. Remember the trips to africa and other places. It is time for Bahamians to aggressively put a stop to this from both the PLP and the FNM
helpagency 12 years, 1 month ago
It is unfortunate that our need for money does not push us to create and develop an environment for scientists, inventors, educators, developers, etc rather than one for gamblers and other forms of vice. It definitely speaks to our level of intelligence and ability in this country. We have always taken the easy out. Time to change or MO
dudu 11 years, 9 months ago
This a very interesting post,I've heard of some place it is like http://arrangeyourvacation.com/travel-b…">Las Vegas for Australians but I don't know its name.I anyone of you know what I am talking about please replay me thank you
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