New Gaming Act shows referendum was a farce - Bran

As of Friday, April 26, 2013

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

The government’s new proposed Gaming Act only proves the January referendum on the legalisation of web shop gaming was a “farce,” according to DNA Leader Branville McCartney.

It is obvious, he said, that the proposed Act – which will allow for casino operators to offer on-line gaming to guests – was discussed prior to the referendum.

“The document really gives the resorts that are owned by a foreign entity, the right to have Internet gaming in certain areas – almost similar to what the web shops do,” Mr McCatney said.

“The referendum spoke about legalising web shops for Bahamians, when in fact, they had a negotiated legislation prior to the referendum that would have ousted Bahamians, which this Bill does, from carrying on internet gaming. That is totally not right. That is totally unfair. And it really shows that this whole fiasco of a referendum was a farce.

“Think about it. They have legislation in place that would have totally eliminated Internet gaming for Bahamians and Bahamians owning the Internet web shops. They have legislation that they negotiated prior to the referendum; and bear in mind this issue of the referendum is still going on in the court.

“Yet they put to the Bahamian people this question of web shop gaming when in fact they knew that they had legislation to oust web shop gaming for Bahamians and for Bahamians to own web shops.”

Mr McCartney said although he does not have a difficulty with resorts offering internet gaming, not to allow Bahamians to own part of that industry “is a travesty.”

“This is a government that spoke about Bahamians first,” he said.

The former Immigration State Minister also criticised the government’s reported hiring of foreign professionals to help with the draft legislation.

“It is my understanding that the person who drafted the Bill is a person from South Africa who was paid in the vicinity of close to $600,000 to draft that piece of legislation,” he said.

“My the concern there is we do have Bahamians who can do that sort of thing. I wish to remind this government that in the early 1950s, Atlantic City came to the Bahamas to get the blueprint on gaming.

“We have 1,049 lawyers in this country and at the end of the day, they went outside the country, paid more than half a million dollars for a piece of legislation to be drafted. Putting Bahamians first, eh? That’s very curious in my view.”

More like this story

bahamian242 11 years, 6 months ago

I can't believe the dis-loyalties of this elected government! The referendum we had on the 28th January past, was just a farce, and a complete dis-respect to the voters of this Commonwealth! This is what I have to say about hearing of this new gaming act that is to be debated in Parliament, to become law! This is like me giving my neighbours children my children's food, while my children go with-out and starve, while the neighbours children has enough to eat 12 meals a day for life! What is wrong with these people, is it that we now must leave The Bahamas a go else where, to save our lives????

akbar 11 years, 6 months ago

The PLP won the government through lies now it is apparent the Bahamian people were deceived. The web shop operators have been dealt a bad hand and now obvious they were not playing on a level field.THIS PLP GOVERNMENT IS A FAILURE. Mortgage relief-failure, crime reduction -failure (now they blaming the US for our crime rate). Road works correction-failure, Gambling issue-failure. The only things which are up and running are the policies and strategies that the FNM had put in place. The lacklustre leadership of Hon PGC is once again evident. His deputy and ministers and chairmen running the country. The inmates have taken over the asylum. His deputy must realize yeah your popularity in the PLP may be rising ( of course it would because that is one benefit of croniyism) but it is a reason why you are deputy. People don't forget and you are simple not as charismatic as our former leaders.Our country going to hell in a hand basket under this government,unless the people take a stand.

All Praise Due.

SP 11 years, 6 months ago

Perry Ingraham and Hubert Christie....Which of these two would any of us dare trust to negotiate an oil agreement on the behalf of the Bahamian people?

I say again......I wouldn't trust the PLP or FNM with two pinches of puppy poop! Six of one, half dozen of the other.........Perry Ingraham and Hubert Christie....

It took Hubert "one man band" Ingraham 12 to 18 Months to piss everyone off....Perry "the sneak" Christie managed to piss everyone off in less than 12 Months!

Which of these two would any of us dare trust to negotiate an oil agreement on the behalf of the Bahamian people?

I say again......I wouldn't trust the PLP or FNM with two pinches of puppy poop!

Bermuda got fed up with decades of corruption and stupidity with their own PLP and UBP and formed a new party… The One Bermuda Alliance (“OBA”) …who won the government December 2012 and IMMEDIATELY made sweeping changes to benefit Bermudians.

http://www.oba.bm./index.php/values

Perhaps we could persuade Mr. Wayne Monroe to form "The One Bahamas Alliance" party and we can do the same!!!....I’M READY!

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MADD_FACE 11 years, 6 months ago

Fellow Bahamians. When are we all going to wake up. Does someone need to throw water on you or do you need to be shaken to snap out of this dream. As long as we DEPEND on our Government to do the right thing we will always be disappointed. These are NOT honest men. They are mere mortals who are weakened by money and status. You speak of change but don't really want any real change. Who did you vote for...... The same liars and cheats that have run our country for almost 40 years. We are all to blame, NOT the Government. Why are we pretending to be surprised? All we do is change hands. Does some one have to Bitch Slap you in the face to wake you up. Well here it is. The Slap in the Face............ Your Government cares about it;s "Circle of Friends," NOT you. Who will you vote for next election, another Slap in the face?

TalRussell 11 years, 6 months ago

Comrades am I alone in shaking me head or have you just become immune to the lack of rationality that only Bran a recent former red shirts cabinet minister can evoke when he pretends to hold all the answers to the many issues PM Christie must confront on a daily basis?

No wonder it's all somewhat confusing being Bran is looking for that right opportunity to throw in the DNA leadership towel, quitting his mistake to return to his true political party's home to endure even more torture as he goes about unseating a weak Minnis, who he feels is an easy target? But not so fast. Fending off the return of the one man who can put a damper on his own red shirts leadership aspirations may complicate matters?

Amen!

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