The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Christian Council wants all business licenses for new web shops to be suspended until the court has determined whether gaming operations will be permitted to continue.

Council president Ranford Patterson told reporters he was disappointed that web shop chiefs were given the go-ahead to open new establishments when Bahamians rejected numbers with the January 28 referendum.

“I am calling on the government to do its job,” Mr Patterson said. “The Bahamian people spoke loud and clear as it relates to the gambling issue. I am concerned because we have spoken our position on the issue and it seems as if no one is listening to the voice of the people anymore.

“(The government needs to) move with haste and ensure that the legal ramifications are dealt. We are not going to sit by and allow the work of the Bahamian people (and) their voice to be silenced in this country.

“And it is concerning that the police has promised that they will do their work. The Prime Minister said that if we voted against it, they would close them down. We need to see some action. Its been too long; nothing is being done about it.”

Nearly seven months after Bahamians voted ‘no’ to web shop gaming, webshops have still been allowed to operate.

Yesterday, Wayne Munroe, an attorney representing a group of web shop owners, told The Tribune his clients were still waiting on the Attorney General’s Office to state its position and make an application on the matter.

However at this stage, he said, he has no doubt that the AG’s office is contemplating several different options.

Mr Munroe represents Island Luck, FML Group of Companies, Whatfall, Percy Web Caf�, Asue Draw and Chances.

Mr Munroe and Paradise Games’ attorney, Alfred Sears, were awarded a conservatory order on January 30.

However, it was lifted on April 9, giving authorities the ability to go into any establishment at any time to close it down if evidence of gaming is found.

Both attorneys appealed and made requests to stay the order, but they discontinued that effort in May.