The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

VOTE yes campaigners yesterday turned out in droves at the advanced polling stations ahead of the January 28 gambling referendum.

It was as a result of such overwhelming support that campaign officials have determined that the majority of Bahamians agree to web shop gaming and its legalisation.

Organisers, through a press statement said, even after referendum day, promises made during the campaign will be kept.

“As expected the voting went very smoothly,” the statement said, “based on our exit poll results, we are confident that the Vote Yes Bahamas Campaign has won the day.

“Vote Yes Bahamas would like to commend the Bahamian people for their conduct in today’s advance poll. We are encouraged and believe that Bahamians will overwhelmingly vote to regulate and tax web shop operations and to establish a national lottery next Monday on Referendum Day.”

A number of voters – mainly from the civil service and the country’s law enforcement agencies – remained tight-lipped on how they voted.

However, those in support of a yes vote vastly outnumbered the no team who were scarcely scattered between the Sir Kendal Isaacs Gym and COB’s Hotel Catering grounds.

Organisers of the vote yes campaign at both sites said they were confident that in less than one week, the majority of those eligible to cast votes would unanimously agree that web shop gaming should be made legal.

Shelton Burrows, vote yes Yamacraw campaign captain said officials were mainly concerned with keeping the jobs of the more than 3,000 Bahamians employed with various web shops.

Mr Burrows said: “If this becomes legal the government can be able to make money from off of this. The government could get tax from off of this and it could help us with our deficit from off of this. Also help inside charities and sports and other areas where we need more proper development.

“But our efforts are to save the jobs of those 3000 persons employed.”

Despite the support of around 300 vote yes campaigners, one vote no official insisted that a true show of support could only be calculated on referendum day.

“We took a decision that we would not bring out a whole slate,” he said, “we will save that for Monday.

“But I think the no’s are going to win and, of course, we have to be optimistic. We have a constituency that we are going to prime up come Monday and they’ll come out and vote. Those other folks don’t have that to rely on.”

Polls opened at 8 am yesterday and closed at 6 pm.