Branville McCartney
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
DNA Leader Branville McCartney said yesterday while he agrees the government should legalise and regulate gaming, web shop owners should be fined for their years of operating illegally before they are granted licences.
Speaking to the press, Mr McCartney said instead of wasting millions on a failed opinion poll, Prime Minister Perry Christie should have legalised gaming and showed the country that he is able to lead.
Once the industry is regularised, Mr McCartney said, web shop owners who have been breaking the law should not be given a free pass and should be fined before they are able to operate legally.
“The Minister, Obie Wilchcombe, commented and I read where he said they have to regulate the industry.
“Well the bottom line is this, if the party or the country had true leadership they would have legalised it first, regulated it, then taxed it.”
Mr McCartney said. “That is what needs to happen. Now there will be a question as to, if that happens, would these same persons be allowed to operate the web shops, because they had been operating illegally all this time.”
“I think that a fine should be levied against each and every one of them, because it was illegal and then once those fines are paid, which will go into our kitty, then they would be allowed to apply to run the web shops.”
Mr McCartney said the government should not stop at legalising web shops but should also introduce a national lottery and remove stipulations preventing Bahamians from gambling and owning casinos.
“They must consider the lottery as well, a national lottery,” he said.
“That is something that can generate funds and the money will stay in the country and if they go that far then they need to consider if they have foreigners who are able to come over here and own casinos and take that money out of the country, there should be no reason why Bahamians cannot do the same thing and have that money stay right here.
“There should be nothing, nothing, nothing that a foreigner can do in this country that a Bahamian cannot do. A Bahamian should be able to do things in this country foreigners cannot do, but we got it the other way around.”
On Tuesday, Gaming Minister Obie Wilchcombe said said he is ready to move toward legalising gambling and to allow the Christian Council to react to the decision afterward.
He said: “I think that’s the way you must. The Christian Council has made its position known. We respect the church.
“Unfortunately, when you take positions of governance, you have to make decisions you’re not always going to be loved for but you’ll be respected for your decisions given the circumstances.
“The church knows that we hold it dearly and that we respect it.
“It knows that we understand the growth of our country, the development of our country, and that’s why the job that they do must always ensure that people must move away from gaming, but we must understand the circumstances we’re in and if we don’t deal with the circumstances how much more they will hurt all of us. So how can we make the situation good? The best way is to regulate it.”
Comments
Thinker 10 years, 9 months ago
For once I agree with this guy. Just keep away from that curfew talk and government control through government policing and we'll try to agree.
JohnDoes 10 years, 9 months ago
It is so out of hand now that regulation and taxing should have happened a long time ago. The question is what would be the fine amount? PGC should have never wasted that 1+ million on a referendum but instead he should have made the decision as a leader to make it happen. Now VAT is still coming to take advantage of the already slaved and underpaid workers, businesses are going to lose money, and all this because of bad decisions made by politicians. There is still no freedom of information, which in my interpretation leaves a big breeding ground for crookedness, lies, and whatever the government wants to cover up. I think people also forget that one of the MAIN reasons Christie is stalling on making the decision is because he is Scared of the Christian Council. The reason being is because it does state in the Constitution that this country is built on 'Christian Values' so that in itself gives the Council some power in this whole ordeal. This is some real muddy water, but I agree with Bran that if it does become regularized, they MUST be fined for damages to operate legally, a reall hefty fine especially with all the money catching dust that these bosses are so desperately wanting to get rid of.
Thinker 10 years, 9 months ago
I just don't understand how a few people can decide how much money is best to take out of my family's and the rest of the population's pockets. And heck no to income tax...why yes sir, please take a portion of my hard work for roads and police that don't protect me and eff up business.
CommonSense 10 years, 9 months ago
The church needs to sit down because religion has nothing to do with this. I'm sure they're not using their tithes and offering to put towards the running of this country. For once I agree with this clown too. Still wouldn't vote for him though.
JohnDoes 10 years, 9 months ago
Religion does have something to do with this, the Constitution clearly identifies their position. This is not like America, this is constitutionally a christian country based on christian values. So even though you feel that they should have nothing to do with it, they are bounded to it.
Thinker 10 years, 9 months ago
Religion knows nothing of politics, nothing of economics. Religion is supposed to teach people about God. The people are supposed to decide for themselves what they would like as a result of their OPTIONS. The part of the constitution where the church is allowed to intervene should be removed.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 9 months ago
Religion down here is simply a money machine and a tax dodge. They are almost worse than the government taking the poorest of individuals last dollar for the church, because god and the church shall provide...bull crap.
JohnDoes 10 years, 9 months ago
That has to be the most ignorant thing you said. If Religion is a money machine and tax dodge, then so is every business here in this country. You cannot blame the misguided actions of a few pastors and churches and say that it is a money machine. In order to have facilities you have to pay to function whether it is electricity to speakers, lights, stages, upkeep, routine maintenance etc. This is the world we live in now, where we are dependent on technology, and technology costs. You have to be grateful that you are able to tithe and offer, the church doesnt take anything from anyone, so you have to blame the person or what the pastor does with the money. The pastor has to account and answer for their own trials and dishonesty.
GrassRoot 10 years, 9 months ago
not the church just the clergymen are good takers.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
@johndoes ,,just goes to show paper will stay still and let you write anything on it
JohnDoes 10 years, 9 months ago
It only proves that we have politicians who are scared to do their actual jobs. Remember its about getting the vote not doing whats best.
GrassRoot 10 years, 9 months ago
don't see much of the Christian values lately. rather the pirates DNA is taking over.
GrassRoot 10 years, 9 months ago
High time we tax the churches and the religious leaders. plus add a luxury tax on planes, Mercedes, expensive houses of the religious leaders. They have invented their Ponzi scheme a long time ago and are no defending it. Obviously does not count for all, but dropping a few dollars in church ending up in pastors pocket vs. gambling at webshop - not much difference.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Is it just me who is noticing how Comrade leader advocate for "public flogg'in as tourist photo opportunity" Bran has now taken to talk'in about himself in third person, like PM Christie in a most peculiar way has now began referring about himself in his recent speeches. Tis true even Papa Hubert may have had some crazy thoughts up inside he own head about how run Bahamaland's government affairs and things but I don't ever remember Papa Hubert saying crazy stuff like this one, that the law just forgive all the numbers "bosses," by levying some kind of monetary penalty? Like some cash out pocket will matter to a group, were it has been estimated they collectively rake in some $400 million, every 365 days. I guess under a Bran as prime minister he has no intention to call for the flogging of the illegal selling numbers "bosses?" Exactly who will you be flogg'in in Eawson Square you wanna be PM?
ohdrap4 10 years, 9 months ago
"Bran has now taken to talk'in about himself in third person, like PM Christie in a most peculiar way has now began referring about himself in his recent speeches"
The Tribune editor has been doing it for years!
henny 10 years, 9 months ago
Since it's a Christian country why is there so much corruption in government?
JohnDoes 10 years, 9 months ago
Corruption is the product of selfish personal desire, not everyone is the same or thinks the same.
GrassRoot 10 years, 9 months ago
disagree, the Bahamas engulfs itself in a web of entitlement, corruption and easy money. the gold rush mentality is still here. people prefer to make a quick buck today rather than invest in the future and earn 100x a dollar down the road. brown bags is what keeps the country going. honesty has not fair market value.
GrassRoot 10 years, 9 months ago
why did catholic priests abuse young boys?
KORM 10 years, 9 months ago
This should have never went to an opinion poll in the first place, wasted the tax payers money and time. All it did was make the bahamian people think they have a say in what goes on in this country.I agree with Bran, should have went and legalised it long time. The Christian although we respect them, just need to take a back seat right now, worry about other things
UserOne 10 years, 9 months ago
On the contrary, I think the opinion poll has shown the Bahamian people that they don't have a say in what goes on in the country. I won't be voting in any future referendums or opinion polls of this government; they do what they want, not what the people want.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Based on the thoughtfulness of what Comrade Leader Bran has been taken to saying lately, I'm going go out on a limb and say there is no way in hell his advisers could possibly be working for no consultancy fees. Gotta be free advice from he barber or whatever.
EasternGate 10 years, 9 months ago
I am confused. Why in the hell should need an outsider's opinion on how I spend my disposable income. it's nobody business. Quite frankly, the numbers game is the poor mans' stock market.
pro_test 10 years, 9 months ago
Bran really need to think before he talk. If the money was gain through illegal practice how can you expect any government to gain from that. it's like you don't understand why we legalizing this, it's to tax them, if we are going to tax them for the time it was illegal then what the hell all the debate for and your stupid statement in this article. You can't call the tree forbidden and then say it is ok to eat from it. Lets get the tree clean first and remember the fruits that came from it while it was forbidden those fruits are still forbidden.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Bran's argument for legalizing the numbers rackets will require he start wearing a super sized diaper to begin collecting the crap he is dumping on Bahamalander's.The weakest argument being offered by the Bran's of this world is that, if the government can collect taxes from legalized numbers that it is a sure fire win new revenue generator for the government. What a load of crap. Even the preachermn's are telling us. it's a new revenue winner for the public treasury. The truth is in a close examination of the math. i challenge Bran to produce where he got's no math. Comrade Bran reveal the math evidence, like you got's any to be revealing. I sure as hell would encourage whoever is going run against Bran come 2017, to start keeping a scrap book on this man's comedy.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 9 months ago
Mark my words..................... we will have legalized numbers houses in da Bahamas this year..................... nuttin to do with Bran.
When Perry realize that all da banks ga move out............ he ga have no choice
Case closed
baclarke 10 years, 9 months ago
I always find it interesting when people say that legalizing the numbers houses will not affect me as a citizen in any way. Yet, my hard earned tax payers dollars have to pay for those who get addicted and end up feeding off of social services to feed their habit and their families. I hope the number's places are forced (and i know they wont be) to pay for the rehabilitation and support of these people as I am sure that myself nor anyone else who is sensible is willing to do so.
spoitier 10 years, 9 months ago
Who is paying for those who are addicted now?
baclarke 10 years, 9 months ago
you and I buddy
spoitier 10 years, 9 months ago
Not advocating for gambling, but at least some of the money collected from gambling could help to pay for them if legalized. The truth of the matter is no government is going to shut them down, so they might as well get some money from them.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 9 months ago
If it wasn't enforced before then they can't be penalized when they're legalized WTH?? not making any sense.
ChrisRolle 10 years, 9 months ago
“There should be nothing, nothing, nothing that a foreigner can do in this country that a Bahamian cannot do. A Bahamian should be able to do things in this country foreigners cannot do, but we got it the other way around.”
I totally agree with the above quote by Mr. McCartney as I also feel that all Bahamians should have the same rights as all foreigners presently have in every industry in the Bahamas.
What's more amazing is that there are actually persons who claim to be Bahamian who promote a message that Bahamians are inferior to foreigners with an ideology that Bahamians should continue to accept being treated as second class citizens while foreigners are treated as royalty.
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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