The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

IN an effort to demonstrate the number of Bahamians who could be out of a job with a majority “no” vote in the January 28 gambling referendum, more than a thousand web-shop employees will be marching onto Parliament, today.

Organised by the Vote “Yes” Bahamas campaign, demonstrators will march from Market Street to Bay Street beginning at 9am.

The campaign’s lead spokeswoman, Teresa Moxey-Ingraham said the gathering “is not meant to be adversary in any way”, but just a means to bring to the attention of the general public, the number of persons who are employed by web-shops.

She said the gathering is “just to put a public face on who actually works in the industry.”

Campaign co-coordinator, Philip Galanis said he hopes the march will allow the public to see just how many persons rely on web-shop employment to make ends meet.

“The Vote ‘Yes’ Bahamas is organizing a march to Parliament, not in protest of anything – because we are happy that the referendum is being held, but because we want to demonstrate to the Bahamas just how many people will be affected by a ‘no’ vote,” he said.

“This comes particularly in light of some of the claims made by persons that only 300 to 600 persons work for the webshops when in fact it’s at least 3,000 and so tomorrow, Bahamians will be able to see for themselves exactly the people who will be adversely affected by a no vote.”

The former MP and Senator said he hopes that undecided voters will see the web-shop employees as persons with families who are dependent on their salaries “for their livelihood.”

He added that he expects at least 1,500 people to partake in the march which should reach Parliament by 10am.

The gambling referendum will take place on January 28 and voters will be asked to respond to the questions: “Do you support the regulation and taxation of Web-Shop gaming?” And: “Do you support the establishment of a National Lottery?”