By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FNM chairman Darron Cash yesterday called for the government to make the “tough decision” to move forward with bi-partisan discussions on web shops, adding that shutting down the unregulated businesses should no longer be an option.
The FNM chairman expressed his personal views on web shops in an interview with the Tribune.
Mr Cash advised Prime Minister Perry Christie to “lead by example” and follow in the footsteps of previous Finance Ministers to resume talks with all stakeholders given the haphazard process surrounding the January 2013 gaming referendum.
He acknowledged that persons who campaigned with the Vote No effort in the 2013 referendum will have a “difficulty coming to terms with that decision”.
However, Mr Cash said that under similar circumstances the Progressive Liberal Party is now faced with the same reality of proposing a constitutional reform on gender equality that they themselves campaigned against in 2002.
“Clearly the ‘2002 No Vote’ was not the end of the issue,” Mr Cash said.
“Given the broken process that preceded it, we cannot pretend that January 2013 was the end of the (web shop) issue. If it were, the shops would now be closed.”
He said: “It is a fact that the manner in which the January 2013 referendum was conducted left a lot of unanswered questions. The process gave rise to a lot of distrust and suspicion. In the end, a lot of people – myself included – who did not know the answers to all their questions voted no in order to keep their options open.”
Mr Cash said: “As the country faces a growing debate about tax and spending reform, our national leaders cannot bury their heads in the sand and pretend that all options – including legalisation, regulation and taxation of web shops – should not be on the table. Every element needs to be on the table for consideration.”
He charged that although Mr Christie has trapped himself, and by extension the country, into a complicated position on the issue – Mr Christie did not have to bear the burden of a solution alone.
“I hope that the Prime Minister will recognise that in the face of all the country’s financial challenges it is important for him to reach over to the other side of the aisle to engage his political adversaries in meaningful dialogue and even cooperation on some of these issues.”
“The discussions,” he added, “should be aimed at delivering solutions and action. The action should not be about shutting them down. A year after the referendum it is clear that the discussion has evolved beyond that point. This issue, like reform of the Gaming Laws for the hotel sector, is another pink elephant in the room that cannot be ignored much longer. The leaders of the country should and must come together to solve the country’s problems. Time is not on our side.”
On January 28, 2013, almost 52,000 people voted against legalising web shops with more than 31,000 others voting in favour.
The numbers were equivalent to less than half of the country’s registered voters.
The following day, Mr Christie ordered that all web shops cease their gaming operations.
Earlier this year, pastor Lyall Bethel, of the Grace Community Church, warned that any decision to act against the thousands of Bahamians who voted “no” to legalising numbers in the Bahamas is “political suicide”.
Yesterday, Mr Cash said: “I think it is fair to say that the Prime Minister has boxed himself into a difficult position that even the great escape artist Houdini would find it difficult to get out of. And while ordinarily it would be amusing to watch the PM wiggle his way out of a tough situation, the reality is that the rest of the country is right in the middle of this trap with him. If he suffocates we all suffer with him.”
Mr Cash added: “The country’s current financial predicament demands that we do some things differently. All of us. We did not get into this situation overnight and we will not get out of it overnight. No one group is responsible for our position and no one group needs to bear or should bear the burden of getting us out of it. We are all in this together.”
Comments
jujutreeclub 10 years, 8 months ago
Is this the view of his party or is he acting on his own. He must remember that the people voted NO and that till stands. Just can't jump up and change that cause the PM back is against the wall. He need to also remember that another referendum is planned, so if you don't honor this one, then what will happen to the other one.If the people vote NO to gay rights, then this can also be reversed because the government back is against the wall on this issue too.
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
Question if they claim not be allowing gambling, how can you legalize something they say they ain't doing?
Kalikgold 10 years, 8 months ago
Perry is the worse Prime Minister ever
Honestman 10 years, 8 months ago
The PM made a sow's ear of the gambling referendum and no wonder he now regrets going to the people. If he only possessed an ounce of leadership quality we would not be wrestling with this dilemma. Clearly government has no intention of closing down web shops and PGC will have to suffer the consequences at the polls on that one. So given that is the case it is unacceptable that web shop operators are allowed to continue operating without contributing to the public purse. I go with Cash on this one, have them all pay a hefty fine for past flouting of the laws and regulate and tax them now. The country's finances are in too perilous a position for the status quo to continue. Playing numbers is ingrained into the fabric of Bahamian society. Anyone who thinks they can make money in the long term by playing numbers is uneducated and not very intelligent. Spend on numbers what you can afford to lose for a bit of fun but don't put your family's budget at risk. Same with alcohol, enjoy but don't abuse. We live in a free world. Enjoy life and live responsibly.
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
Paging Cooper's Town for a clarification? It's sounding like Comrade Darron has turned to eat'in from the PLP's propaganda diet of excuses to overturn the peoples "NO Vote" against the legalization of the numbers rackets. Does Hubert and Minnis knows about this or have these to red leaders once again done yet another one there "flip-flops?" How in the hell do you do a 360 degree flip-flop to suddenly take a leap from, the Commish ain't locking them up, to OK you reds, let us move forward, onward over to the numbers bosses camps?
242in404 10 years, 8 months ago
That wasn't a referendum, it was an OPINION POLL. It was not legally binding. The PM has been doing many things that don't go along with public opinion, so he may as well add regulating the web shops to the list. Perhaps, collecting all of the unpaid taxes and taxing the webshops would make VAT unnecessary?
The_Oracle 10 years, 8 months ago
Sometimes what you have destroyed is not repairable or replaceable. We have made such a hash of our country once it was turned over to us, and so many things have gone far beyond the realm of righting. If one is a year, maybe two in arrears on RPT, N.I.B, Business Licence Tax, it may be paid if pursued, even if in a few installments but 10, 20,30 years in arrears? we would be liquidating a serious number of people, if it were demanded, half of them Public servants, elected and appointed! All those who can stand and show current good standing on all taxes due should petition for tax freedom until enforcement is enacted! A small petition to be sure but......
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
My Dear Red Comrades however it is you been feeling about PM Christie riding he horse for the legalization of the numbers rackets, I waiting see how in hell red supporters, Minnis and of course Papa go'in saddle-up ya horses on ya party's Chairman's big announcement of he he is now rid'in a new horse in gambling race, with no shame to be sporting the racing colours of the numbers bosses? Ya just can't make this stuff up cause nobody would believe a single word of it.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 8 months ago
Darron Cash should articulate clearly the FNMs position on all of the red button issues at hand and leave the PLP shortcomings alone............. dont try get brownie points.
Purcell 10 years, 8 months ago
I don't understand why have referendums costing millions if we are going to just ignore the results and holding other ones. I guess it makes as much sense as having laws of property tax and ignore them introducing new taxes instead. The Bahamas are ruled by cleptocrats and we deserve the government we have. Otherwise we would be outraged up our act.
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
Hear Hear! I repeat it two times cause it represents how much I agree with Comrade Purcell.
nationbuilder 10 years, 8 months ago
Just as I've always said - EVERY side is in the pockets of the numbers men.
Bahamianpride 10 years, 8 months ago
Legalize it already..Wasting time, losing money. Nobody is going to enforce the law, they've been bought. At least collect taxes from it and along with collecting other delinquent accounts we can do away with VAT. I think many would rather this than have a strangle hold put on the economy with massive inflation VAT will bring.. Its already to expensive to live in the Bahamas, I'm constantly sending extra money to cover my mom's expenses, don't want an increase..
Maynergy 10 years, 8 months ago
Looking to Track Crime in New providence Ever likely?
Looking to track "quality of life crimes, namely in Nassau ever likely? micalvoice@gmail.com Police Commissioner, has yet to pledge to get tough with quality of life offenders. Now, how could he hope for trust alongside the history of rising crimes of terror in part to the invasive drug incursions of the recent years in a number of localities namely New Providence and other urban cells in the northern Bahamas. In what maybe a first crime initiative since Sept 11, 2001, Police Commissioner could began in the climate of political intrique and electioneering, crack down on so called nuisance crimes as does the department with more serious local ordinance violations and infractions. micalvoice@gmail.com believes a map of quality of life hot spots around the islands could began to track trends of shootings, robberies, burglaries, car theft, crimes associated with gambling, vehicular homicides and domestic violence. Further to garner reasonable results, publicizing a crime hotline, available nationawide as a totally free telephone number, 24/7, could very well loan to community participation in tactling the menace. Crime has reached a level unacceptable to rational civil order in New Providence as District police Commanders has yet to be held accountable for how they deal with crime in the area(s). Community tolerance of crime in Blue Hill, Fox Hill, Yellow Elder, Bamboo town, Carmicheal could be lowered and a dramatic upsurge in residents' awareness levels increase while acceptance of sober social norms returning. Basically how members of the community began to deal with one another should be a strategy of great concern to the Commanders. No doubt aggressive street hookers, peddlers, panhandlers may be notorious throughout town, loud and excessive rowdiness,wilding-out and music, irate citizens have become less likely to seek police assistance, due in part to residents overall confidence in the police machinery has faded over the years. Police Commissioner has yet to pledge a tough and reasonably community based police approach to crime stoppage and prevention with legitamacy and resolution to bring down the high blitz-levels of quality of life crime and fear in the metro Nassau area. Murder, manslaughter, vehicular homicides, cargo theft, domestic violence and widen drug incursions throughout central Nassau is a known fact, statistics has been alarmingly high for 12 years, compared to cities with population of less than 500,000 people. Police Commissioner and the Prime Minister have yet to repeatedly stress whether strict enforcement would be forthcoming. micalvoice@gmail.com believes quality of life crimes should become more a targetted plan for crime reduction and public concern in 2010 - 2013 To be continued.
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