Prime Minister Perry Christie
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
CABINET ministers will discuss Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe’s proposal to legalise web shop gaming today, Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed yesterday.
Mr Christie said Mr Wilchcombe’s proposal did not include any consideration to remove discrimination from the Gaming Bill to allow Bahamians to gamble in casinos; however, he hinted that “everything is up for consideration”.
“Mr Wilchcombe has made some announcement, and I have supported that,” Mr Christie said. “Now it has to be brought to Cabinet for debate, there are some very strong views in my Cabinet on this issue.”
Cabinet is also expected to review draft regulations for stem cell research and therapy in the Bahamas; and recommendations on which entities, if any, will be chosen to restructure the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC).
Mr Christie said BEC consultants wrapped up final presentations yesterday.
KPMG was contracted to manage the BEC restructuring process on the Government’s behalf, and DNV Kema and Hogan Lovells, the technical and legal advisers, to determine who is best suited to take over the ailing utility monopoly.
Health Minister Perry Gomez confirmed that stem cell regulations were ready for Cabinet at an Albany press conference yesterday.
Mr Gomez’s confirmation came as Albany developers announced plans to provide stem cell therapy services at its proposed high-end medical facility – part of the $140 million expansion of the western New Providence project.
Comments
Honestman 10 years, 8 months ago
Either gambling is legal in The Bahamas or it is not. If it is to be considered legal then there should be no discrimination as to who can or cannot gamble. It is that simple. Anything else is pure hypocrisy.
bismark 10 years, 8 months ago
I want to gamble in the casino,why should I have to go to florida or on a cruise and gambling facilities are right here in my own country?i am not interested in no webshop I want to go in the casino,lift that ban.
SP 10 years, 8 months ago
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.....
What the hell is there to discuss?
Gambling is part of the Bahamas, always has been and always will be..Legalize it, tax it and move on to critical issues like Haitian passport fraud and land reform.
Stop wasting time on a dead horse.
Honestman 10 years, 8 months ago
I still believe that the casinos will have to come up with some system that allows only respectable Bahamians onto their floors. Can you imagine what would happen in they made it a free for all? I would go for membership cards.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 8 months ago
All ducks in a row...anyone left to be thanked? Nygard, webshops, Poitier...
SP 10 years, 8 months ago
@Honestman - Exactly what does respectable Bahamians look like?
Would the two white Americans charged with murder today in Bimini qualify as respectable Americans? Would YOU have allowed them into Atlantis?
Looks are deceiving!
If allowed to flow, water finds it's own level. They need to just legalize gambling across the board and allow natural forces to create vendors to cater to both "respectable Bahamians'" and "others".
No different than Las Vegas strip clubs....Some cater to and attract the high end while others attract lower levels of clientele......And they naturally do not mix.
Yet both come in ALL colors and shapes!
JohnDoes 10 years, 8 months ago
What is the actual problem with Bahamians gambling in casino's? We are banded but we were never given a real explanation as to why? All we know is it is against the law..
sheeprunner12 10 years, 8 months ago
Without boundaries we will destroy ourselves................ no self-discipline. Thats why we have web-shops now. We believe that we should be given equal rights as the tourists. When we would have gambled ourselves into poverty, is the government going to put us on welfare like Americans????????????? Half of Americans are on welfare and their national debt is $18 billion. Is that the road we want to walk?????????????
Liberty 10 years, 8 months ago
Logical explanation of why Bahamians are not allowed to gamble in foreign owned casinos, is primarily because the Government and the Central Bank of The Bahamas fear that the casinos will do the same things that the banks do; which is send money out of the country which is a threat to our currency being valued 1:1 with the USD. I am under the assumption that this is true because Bahamian gambles their life savings away and instead of the money gambled away staying in the country, it leaves the country not helping us.
Nonetheless, neither government thinks logically, it probably because our nationality isn't good enough and for some of us our shade is a little too dark!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 8 months ago
Liberty, here you go with this "inferiority complex" BS again. It has nothing to do with race, colour etc, but with the social maturity to deal with gambling. The USA has an $18 Trillion debt (my mistake), we export over 80% of our gross earnings now - so where are we heading with this webshop/casino issue that will benefit our country???????? We must learn from others' mistakes and avoid the "welfare state" syndrome.
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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