The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

CRAIG Flowers, who heads the FML Group, should have shut down his business “a long time ago”, according to the Save Our Bahamas Vote “No” campaign.

Mr Flowers was quoted as telling a reporter that he would close all of his shops should the majority of Bahamians vote “no” for the first question on the January 28th gambling referendum, which would force a shut down of the gambling industry.

In response, Kevin Harris - media and public relations coordinator for the vote “no” campaign - said yesterday that Mr Flowers’ comments suggest an admission that he has not been in compliance with current laws.

Mr Harris noted there is “no need” to close down a legal operation and wondered why Mr Flowers should wait until the results of the referendum to close down his business, if it were presently operating outside of the law.

“It is interesting that Mr Flowers has chosen this particular time to address this issue of his alleged involvement in an illegal activity for this number of years,” Mr Harris said.

“I believe though that it is something that every citizen of the country has been asked to do – which is to comply with the laws of the country.”

Mr Flowers’ indication that he is prepared to acknowledge the sentiments of voters come January 28, Mr Harris said, means he should “at this time, move with haste to comply” with the law as it stands.

“Right now, his operations and activity, by his own admission, suggests that they are engaged in illegal activity because there would be no need to close down something that is legal,” Mr Harris said.

“If you are suggesting that the vote somehow compels you to become compliant with the law, you are also suggesting by the same admission, that you are and have not been in compliance with the law.

“This sends a very strong message to the Bahamian people that, not only the vote ‘yes’ campaign, but others throughout the years have been correct in identifying these operations as illegal and therefore the operators as persons who are breaking the law.

“I believe it is high time that Mr Flowers and others get in line with the expectations that the law has of all of us.”

Mr Flowers’ comment should not sway voters away from a “no” vote, Mr Harris said, because in voting “no”, voters will be asking persons to “conform” to the laws of the country.

“I believe that he should have been compliant a long time ago,” Mr Harris declared.

“We can’t have selective justice in this country... Why should these operators, who are in breach of the law, why should we give them a pass.”

The vote “yes” team will continue their campaign with a mass rally at RM Bailey Park this Friday night at 7:30.