THE Government spent $5 million on the 2013 gaming referendum, National Security Minister Bernard Nottage confirmed yesterday.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Perry Christie estimated that the vote cost the government more than $1 million. He was criticized for spending that figure on what opponents pointed out was a non-binding opinion poll.
In January, Bahamians overwhelmingly voted “no” to gaming in the Bahamas, specifically to the taxation and regularization of the gaming industry.
Less than 50 per cent of registered voters participated, Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall said.
Some poll workers claimed the turnout was as low as 30 per cent.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 1 month ago
Wow, they should be ashamed. All that money on a political stunt when we have no money and Mother Pratt sitting on the side of the road talking about assessing people's needs in poor communities. I wonder if it was value for the dollar or was mother 1mil dollar audit included...
Reality_Check 11 years, 1 month ago
What Nottage now needs to tell us (but don't hold your breath for it) is how much the Numbers People like Flowers paid into the pockets of the PLP party and/or their bag men.
hj 11 years, 1 month ago
5 mllion for a "non binding" referendum. Hundreds of thousands spent on reports and "consultants". Hundrends of thousands if not mllions on foreign trips. Therefore,prepare to pay 15% extra on everything. Enjoy it.
jackflash 11 years, 1 month ago
Foreign Flying Fred must be pissed.
Just think of the travel that he could have done with that kind of money!!!
The sad thing about is that nobody seems to be checking on all the wasted non accounted funds in tis administration.
That 5 million could have finished the airport and Gov admin building here in Abaco
Now NIB has announced they are behind on collecting contributions so they will have to cut staff.
I guess you get what you voted for....
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
I wish i knew if the PM is even aware of what a lost opportunity he is appearing to be wasting, after being rehired following his government's rejection by the voters back in 2002? One pretty damn costly " “opinion poll' as it was promoted by PM Christie? What in the hell would a real referendum have cost the people's public treasury? Keep these continuous nonsenses up and the 2017 General Elections are as good as lost? PM even as a loyal supporter of you personally, it can be argued that change at the very top may be essential? I hope the PM is open to listening to what is being talked even more loudly at the street corners across our tiny Bahamaland!
john33xyz 11 years, 1 month ago
I guess this shows that "shadow ministers" of anything - don't have any power - otherwise the "shadow minister of finance" in the FNM would have had access to this information a long time ago.
That's good for the FNM for not having access, because while they were in power they could have strengthened the power and access of shadow ministers - but the chose not to.
Good they are getting a taste of their own medicine. It will be soon this group's chance to do the same all over again.
Of course it doesn't really matter to any of them, because they are all (both parties) eating filet mignon while we are eating corned-beef.
John 11 years, 1 month ago
FIVE MILLION DOLLARS is peanuts to what the web shops (AKA NUMBERS HOUSES) are sucking out of the economy every day. Sebas Bastian claims the numbers houses rake in FOUR HUNDRED MILLION A YEAR. That is like $1,MILLION a day, Sundays included. But if he admits to $400 million, the figure must be more like $700 or $800 million or $1.75 million a day. And the web shop activity has visibly doubled since the referendum! And the government collects not one single red penny, not even a dirty penny of the ground in the parking lot in front of the web shop. And web shops are popping up, (ok springing up) overnight, like gremlins all over this island and even in the family islands. Since most of this money is bagged and carted off to some foreign bank, like the profits from major hotels and foreign banks, we wonder why the economy is drying up so rapidly. Wonder if the web shops will pay VAT on their pots of Gold..(GOLD RUSH gold?, o NO!). And wonder who is really benefitting from the new law that cost cigarettes to go from $4.00 a pack to as much as $12.00 a pack.....imagine someone smuggling 10,000 packs of cigarettes a month for which they pay $2.00 a pack and selling them for $10.00 a pack. GOVERNMENT has more than doubled the profits of cigarette smugglers overnight and doubled the cost o cigarettes to people who were already paying their tax on them. YOU do the math, while innocent, hard working suffering Bahamians struggle to find $10.00... the smugglers get rich.. GOLD RUSH !!! on everything!
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Actually the numbers bosses wanted it legalized b/c with all the anti money laundering laws they have trouble banking there money , we were the idiots that didn,t vote yes for the government to tax it . The Hotels two biggest expenses by far are payroll and energy cost and that stays here ,what they do w/ their profits is there business they put up the money and took the risk.
abacogrouper 11 years, 1 month ago
Just Freaking Amazing!
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
The tough question for PM Christie and his Cabinet and MP colleagues may not want to hear is what are they presently doing about the thousands of Bahamalander's who have no steady jobs to report to, to collect their much needed paychecks? It is clear that a large number of families simply can't survive. Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts have all but exhausted possible options for even the daily basics of survival. PM it makes no sense at all when the very people who voted you MP's into the House have all but run out of financial options, that their MP's, both government and opposition, are takin money from the "people's public treasury" to buy pork chops, steaks fancy deserts to feast on whenever the House of Assembly is in session? PM how can you tolerate it when Bahamalander's can hardly go to the food stores, much less fill their grocery shopping buggies with steaks and pork chops? PM when will the people start to get fair value for for electing their MP's to the House? PM how can you justify such luxuries for House MP's, when many of their own people are being forced from their homes to live in they cars for defaulting on mortgage and rental payments? PM I am not bringing to your attention the terrible economic conditions of lazy Bahamalander's, but thousands of families who have found themselves at their wits end due to factors not of their own mak'in but out of their control. ALL MP's should be spending their time and energy not on discussing the pros and cons of referendums on this and that things of which the people are not the least interested, in, but things to create a business environment to get thousands of Bahammalander's back up on their on their feets. PM please listen to to the cries of the little children who must go to school much too damn hungry, while their MP's, government and opposition, feast off off their public treasury? My your God have mercy upon the well-being your own families financial well-being, if ANY MP ever eats another one them FREE port chops or steaks! The House of Assembly is where you go DO the people's serous business, not to stuff your bellies like ya some Kings and Queens.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Tals what shopping cart , since the recession i buy what i can pick up in my hands , about 3 meals worth and thats still about 35 dollars .I haven,t seen 200 bucks just to spend in the food store since i don,t know when ..Now 200 dollars doesn,t fill a shopping cart on this family island ..i got to go pay my NIB next week and i just read our administrative cost our 21% of contributions while others in our region cost are 2% to 5% of contributions .My Lord i don,t mind paying a little more to provide some jobs but this is crazy ,when 1 in 4 work for Gov ,you got to tax the other 3 like hell , i ,ll bet by the time you figure duty etc were taxed at over 50 % of our income ..
banker 11 years, 1 month ago
What you are so eloquently describing are the systemic issues in the Bahamian economy and the sad makeup of the socio-economic fabric. As a matter of fact all of the posts here contribute to the picture. We have the power group (the politicians, the web shop owners, the cigarette and other smugglers and the bankers) are all doing okay. The rest of the people - not so good. But because of the makeup of the monolithic economy with most of the population working in lower-level service jobs in a declining industry, you have a major problem. Nobody can get rich, except the people who profit off the present, unhealthy sick situation. And as long that continues, nothing will change. People play the web shop numbers for economic salvation and false hope.
The Bahamas is headed on a road to anarchy. Eventually Bahamians will not stand for it any longer and take to the streets. The thugs and armed criminals will seize this as an opportunity to further their nefarious deeds. We are on the road to unrest and anarchy as witnessed in Jamaica.
There is a fix -- fix the economy. Diversify it such that most people can live in dignity with the money they make. It really is that simple. But our politicians short sell our human capital (we are only good as porters, bellmen, waiters and maids) and continue to milk a dying cow. The future is black, the leaders are visionless, and truth and goodness are the victims.
Bahamians and Bahamian society is a mess. We are liars, cheaters, sweethearters and hypocrites. This is because we are children of a lesser God in terms of being able to compete with first world countries. All of this could change, and the first steps are not religious or moral, but with the economy, making sure that everyone has the means for a dignified life where they can buy the necessities and live without daily privation.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Banker alot of that is true ,but we have to quit looking for governemt to solve our problems .Even in boom times we graduate more children then our economy can absorb ,and none of our under educated youth are going to work on farms .Since the recession in the US the birth rate has been stable ,people are putting off having babies or having less. Even here if you look at the middle class they have maybe 2 to 3 kids while if you look at the more "urban " areas 5 to 6 kids for 3 to 4 different daddies is the norm then they cry for jobs for their anti social unemployable offspring,,
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 1 month ago
No money left for condoms?:)
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
Comrade we might not agree on much, still I feel your pain. I will not relent in putting a stop to MP's buffets in, We the Bahamalander's House!
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
The cruel comments presented as facts on our youth and single mothers as presented in this blog page are disturbing eye-openers, to say the least. Truth is despite their hardships the vast majority are leading productive lives. Bahamaland's long history has shown that many of our nation's leading citizens and successful business people were raised by their single mothers to be law-abiding and productive citizens. What we need to be addressing is the inequality gap widening between the well-to-do and the poor. There can be no denying that over the past five years we have witnessed thousands of Bahamalanders, slipping down from from the middle classes to join the ranks of the poor. Yes, PM Pindling might have gone sour at the end of his mandate, but he did enrich an all new middle class along the way. The child of a poor single mother is no less loved than the rich mother's child. The truth is if you were to ask most "men' who inspired them more than anyone, they'd say their mother's. Dads are OK but often will try to live the lives they could not attain through their children. All mom wants is for them to do better. To become the best they can. With our mom's, it's never about them.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Many of the kids say their mothers b/c their fathers are absent .Sure some productive people come from single mother homes but study after study show multiple children of single mothers by different men add to poverty and crime .Jamaica had a deversified economy and made babies faster then their GDP can absorb ,Haiti has very little economy and yet there is 9 million people . I ,M fifty one so i,ll be gone but time will prove me right ,we will have larger and larger ghettos and crime b/c of our irresponsible sexual habits and crying for the government to produce more jobs is useless .We built a big middle class largly through over staffed public corporations that we have to keep borrowing and taxing to pay ,now we our at the tipping point where our products ,both banking and tourism are getting too costly to compete .
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
Comrade you can't just make up your own supportive facts as you knock single mothers. Since you say "study after study" show multiple (whatever negative you're inferring upon single mothers by that one) add to poverty and crime, would you mind pointing readers of this blog to just one "non-politically aligned" study conducted in our own Bahamaland which supports your outlandish grouping together of single mothers and their children? Comrade we are not Jamaica. We still is Bahamaland. You seem be more hell bent on placing negative labels on single mothers and their children over offering real truths? I wager my Holy Bible that there were more single mothers and their children sitting in Church pews across our tiny Bahamaland this Sunday morning, than there were the children from the Eastern and Western Roads waterfront homes? Maybe some youths of their maids were in Church.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Maybe not studies in the Bahamas but many internationally ,but quite a enlighten book by T Mccartney ..i,m not getting into eastern road ,western road and of course 2 parent households can have bad kids ,but the odds are a lot greater for single moms w / 4 , 5, or 6 kids w/ different dads ,it is so researched to argue it is pure folly .Time will prove me right that unless we a have a cultural shift about sex and responsibility we will make more babies than our economy can provide a reasonable standard of living for.Trying to support our birthrate now through public service jobs has made our tourist product much too expensive .We are only getting 8%of the stopover in our region or 1,35 million,DR got 28% or 4.1 ... Countries w/ an average birth rate of 2 to 3 children where the father is involved have homicide rates btw, 2 to 4 per 100,000 ,us w/ a 75% single mother rate and many daddies not very involved are running a homicide rate of 26 per 100,000 and Jamaica 40 per 100,000/ I ,M talking about what Bill Cosby talks about all the time ,being sexually responsible as much as humanly possible .
banker 11 years, 1 month ago
There are recent studies showing that there is also an increase in child abuse in single parent (mother only) families.
One sad result of young teens breeding like rabbits is the consanguinity issue. Bahamian women are 45% more likely to contract breast cancer because of the inbreeding among Bahamians and lack of knowledge about exact parentage. As a result, the recessive breast cancer gene is expressed twice as often to the detriment of Bahamian women. The numbers are staggering. In the Bahamas, even newly married couple has a 50-50 chance of sharing a common ancestor within the past three generations.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Tals type in ,Illegitimacy in the Bahamas. Theres articles there from the guardian ,feb 20 th 2012 and a very thorough piece by Gina P Morley . In G Morley,s piece read about the effects of illegitimacy .Sure there are always exemptions but by and large children of a single mother w/ 4,5,6 children for different daddies start at a disadvantage ,,
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
Comrade still you have ducked addressing the issues either in the articles you generously pointed out, or in my posts. I do realize how much you enjoy using my posts as the perfect vehicle to jump start your own opinions. .
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
I think btw Banker and i we pointed out enough articles/studies to support my comments. The article by G Morley also talks about consanguinity and higher % of sexual abuse in single mother homes . Tals as i said single mother homes versus two parent homes and child development has been so well researched and documented that to call my comments merely opinions w/ no basis in fact borders on ridiculous ,,
banker 11 years, 1 month ago
Don't pat yourself on the back yet. Many responses to various posts are to counterbalance a post of ignorance or mistaken opinion. In terms of the single mother issue, one of the most common arguments that I hear about illegitimate children, is that they are all a gift from God and who knows, one could grow up to be Prime Minister or cure cancer or whatever.
Empirical knowledge shows that kids who grow up in a single parent household full of half-siblings are way behind the eight ball. They will be the illiterate, under-performing, marginalised members of society. Some will be denizens of Her Majesty luxury suites at Fox Hill. Some will die with 9 grams of lead piercing their vital organs. Some will sell front or steal to survive. And yes, some will overcome all odds and become productive citizens.
In today's economy, with the range of employment available to Bahamians, a child growing up in a single parent household with half-siblings is severely handicapped. In days gone by, a community helped raise a child. These days, that community spirit has dissipated and the child's biggest influences are those of the street, and the ghetto criminal culture that one finds there.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Tals the blame is not only w/ the single mothers , a great part of the blame falls w/ the absentee fathers,,,
BahamasGamingAssociation 10 years, 4 months ago
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahamas-…
WHICH ON OF THE BELOW REIGNS SUPREME IN THE BAHAMAS?
The Bahamas Lottery and Gaming Act Chapter 387 Section 50 Persons prohibited from Gaming
Or
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Chapter III – Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual. Section 26 Protection from Discrimination on grounds of Race, Place of Origin etc.
The Bahamas Gaming Association stands by the Ideology that all human beings who are 18 years or older should be treated equally in all sectors of the Bahamian Economy which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
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