By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THE Royal Bahamas Police Force has launched an intensive investigation into all web shops throughout the country to determine whether illegal activities are taking place, according to Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade.
This new development came from the Commissioner yesterday just days after Chief Justice Michael Barnett lifted an interlocutory order that had kept web shops open.
Since then, the public and political pundits have been calling on the RBPF to take action and shut down number houses everywhere.
However, Mr Greenslade told The Tribune that it won’t work that way. He said the Force is now conducting a probe to see if web shop owners are deviating from the clauses of operation allowed in their business licenses.
He also said he would not discuss how, when or what tactics the police would use to carry out the clampdown.
“The police,” Mr Greenslade said, “will do what is allowed by law.
“With the web shops, if they have legitimate business licenses we cannot just go in and shut them down. If you do that then you are doing something illegal.
“But what we are doing from here on out is we are investigating these businesses and where we find that they are doing something illegal and not within the confines of the law we will shut them down. We are wide awake on this.
“If you are offending against the law as a business person we will take action against you.
“As for how, when, where it will be done, I will not have that discussion with anyone. But people will hear and see when the police force makes its move.”
Concern has been raised that the Christie administration is attempting to dodge the issue of shutting down web shops as it appears that no one in government wants to take on the job of enforcing the law.
On Wednesday, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said that although he was certain that the police force has enough personnel to do whatever needed to be done with web shops, he could not say what the definitive plans were.
He added that it was not his job to direct the police chief.
Dr Nottage said: “We haven’t spoken about shutting down the web shops, that’s not my job.
“It’s not the minister’s job to tell the commissioner how to do his job.”
He said that officials would have to wait on the advice of Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson before making a decision on the way forward.
Comments
TalRussell 11 years, 7 months ago
Com'on Commish stop the jok'in around cause me belly done ready to burst. Is there really the need for your Royal Policeman's to have to launch an "intensive investigation" into all web shops throughout the country to determine "whether illegal activities are taking place?
Commish you know's how money is tight, save the forces money and policeman's power and just you, with CJ Michael tagging alongside, walk into them web sops, "known and visible by they loud signature promoting to "play here and win here," cause honestly I believe that even you as the Commish in full uniform, with the CJ, all decked out in he colorful bright Judges robes, would have no problem buying numbers on the spot, if you two wanted to?
Why not you two, since it's no secret that your own damn policeman's been walk'in into these same gambling joints, in uniform for years to play they lucky numbers?
Just you cease the web shops many security videos and don't be too surprised who all you might see walking into them web shops to play they regular daily numbers, including some of them talk show radio host?
And, don't forget ZNS TV also has in it's possession the interview video footage featuring the faces and voices of the numbers "bosses," so it ain't go'in be hard to track down "who's who" running these gambling joints?
Oh, don't be bothering the Comrade Minister of Security Bernard about anything to do with the numbers, cause he done says it's none his damn business to be talk'in with you about such matters? Meaning he must be the only Bahamian alive who doesn't wish they could have such an opportunity talk directly withyou about curtailing criminal activities in we Bahamaland?
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2013…
concernedcitizen 11 years, 7 months ago
couldn,t of said it better myself ,comrade Tals
stillwaters 11 years, 7 months ago
Scary thing is, they can complete their intensive investigation by some well-paid consultants and conclude that there is absolutely no illegal activities taking place!!!! THEN WHAT????
concernedcitizen 11 years, 7 months ago
what do you think this time , bristish and soth african experts like for the referrendum ,or canadian experts like for the mold in PGC office ,,lmao
PKMShack 11 years, 7 months ago
We need an early election, enough of the bullshit. Time for them to go. Investigate what? the sign in the window says it all. He should be ashamed to say something so DUMB. And he's here to enforce the law. Just tired of these folks thinking all of us are just plain dumb and stupid answers will fly.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 7 months ago
about 75,000 of us weren,t too smart
TalRussell 11 years, 7 months ago
Commish how difficult is it to locate these web shops when the names of addresses of the web shops, who believe they have some divine legal right to sell numbers, can be found on file right on the court documents, filed by them, sitt'in right in the Chief Justice offices?
It ain't like holding a public Campaign Rally at Arawak Cay, was like it was some well kept secret. Pretty damn sure your policeman's must have been their video recording the rally ... ...right?
Here's another hint Commish. If you were go'in be opening web shops for mere Internet Searches, isn't it fair to say it's highly unlikely you would be selecting business names like; "Island Game, Island Luck, Whatt Fall, Chances and Paradise Games?
Commish, Whatt you think you testing your Luck for behind them darkened windows and security protected doors, if not for a Chance to Win at Numbers or playing some Game of Chance, is if it ain't to forever live on Paradise Island with lots Winnings?
And. all the church folks says ...Amen!
vinceP 11 years, 7 months ago
Sorry, but this is all about politics and its unfortunate that the people employed in web shops have to be treated this way. If an individual wants to go and play his/her money on numbers, then so be it. I know that for me personally, i don't skip a beat in playing the Florida lottery when i go away, and sometimes send my money with family or friends to have my tickets purchased. What many people don't consider is that aside from the people that would be added to our already alarming unemployment rate if the "numbers" industry was to go away, is also the other individuals that are probably playing numbers to help subsidize their current income in an effort to support their families. Many also don't consider the effect this will have on the destitute or desperate individual who simply feels/or is a unfortunate casualty of life and the "crappy hand" that some of us are dealt. This is real people,so what do you think will happen when those people no longer have this avenue to possibly make the extra few dollars to buy something so basic as food to put on the table? Do you honestly think that crime will not increase further? Lets be realistic, jobs are just not in abundance, our unemployment rate is almost at 15%, and in June we will have a few thousand more added to the unemployment lines. I truly empathize with all the people that this issue touches. I can only imagine how what these people have to deal with mentally and emotionally. This never should have gotten this far and should have been made fully legal a long time ago. We are taught to be slaves to an industry that we don't own, and we welcome tourist to our shores to gamble, yet we oppress our own?
bismark 11 years, 7 months ago
you are right that an individual has a right to do with his or her money,but everybody may not be as responsible as yourself,i have heard that foolishness all over the place,numbers help them pay bills?thats bullshit!unless you are winning everyday,i don't see it happening,i know a lot of people who play hundreds of dollars a month on numbers,the losing outnumber the winnings,but the thing is,they have that little extra to play,the majority of people don't,so they spend what little they have chasing a dream,thats all it is "everybody wins' ?the only person wins is the house they never lose.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 7 months ago
i too am amazed when anyone says it helps the small man pay his bills ,,,idiots ...the odds of picking 3 numbers are one in a thousand ,therefore at a dollar a throw over a lifetime you will spend 1000 to win 700 ..if you spend 5 dollars a day that is 17,000 dollars a year ,,selling numbers is more profitable then selling crack , on the little island i live there are about 6 to 8 number house for 3000 people and the people hanging around them remind me of the crackhouses in the 80,s ..bumming dollars from one another for there next roll or sitting in a trance spinning ,,,
jackbnimble 11 years, 7 months ago
This shouldn't be too hard to do. All you have to do is buy a number and the printed receipt says it all...and it does not say anything about "charges for surfing the web". It big and bold right there. The number you played and if you win, the directions brisk and bold on the receipt for how to collect "your winnings". Commish confused.
nowonder 11 years, 7 months ago
still waiting on the payoff
TalRussell 11 years, 7 months ago
My dear Comrades I, too, was struck by the comment that we should be able to do as we damn well please, even if to means to play the numbers at illegal gambling joints?
Even with our freedom of choices we had better teach our children how important it is to make the right choices in life.
Yes, even Jesus would want us to choose Him, but He also gave us the freedom to choose heaven, still many Bahamians should still prefer to one day retire in Hell, permanently?
If you think life as a gambler can be a living hell on earth, just you wait until you arrive at the main flaming gate of the real hell? Ain't go'in be no kindly gatekeeper named Saint Peter down there to make your last plea, for forgiveness to?
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 7 months ago
Bout say investigation! Folks walking in and out in 3 minutes? Tink dey surfin da web hey? Considering numbers have been illegal since day one our Police should by now have every single minute detail of how they operate. This "investigation" shouldn't take more than an hour.
vinceP 11 years, 7 months ago
Man words cannot express how i feel when i read some of the ridiculous things that are said by those who claim to represent GOD. It truly reminds me of the stories leading up to the crucifixion of JESUS, and the judgments that were levied against him by "MAN". What i find most amazing though, is that so many jack ass Bahamians flock to, and near worship some of the so called Religious leaders here in the Bahamas, who themselves have sought after worldly riches, and whats so funny is that my jack ass Bahamian people accept it. What ever happened to this? "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." That said, doesn't this mean that ALL of the wealthy pastors right here at home, right here in Nassau, many of which strongly opposed gambling, won't make to heaven because of their riches alone? But of course I'm sure some of you will find a way to justify their greed for wealth. Sorry, but many of you are nothing more than Sheep.
steplight 11 years, 7 months ago
Spiritual discernment is the key to the mysteries within policing the country. How does an organization whose duty is to enforce the law launch an investigation into webshops when all licences inside the country must come through that department before opening up? Why is it that political, police and religious aggravated negligence spells out - STRESS OUT THE PEOPLE AND COLLECT THE MONEY, THEY WOULDNT BE WATCHING WHERE THE HANDS ARE UNDER THE TABLE. Get real. The warnings issued in January 1990 about not recognizing it 20 years later has been right on target. Dr.Myles Munroe call the Bahamas to repentance because your conference on Paradise Island unleashed everything we are now seeing. Take accountability for not calling the nation to national repentance then because just as Dr.Patricia Morgan said IT WOULD BE AS GOD SAID IT WOULD BE, HEADING ON THE WRONG PATH. The time for a change is to turn this country around and do what is right, honourable. It has been hell for those who work hard, long and honestly to have anyone play with the small change they have. Police Force stop collecting kickbacks and get it in your heads the monies you take from anyone without doing your job correctly will come back to haunt you in this lifetime and in short order.
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