The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday touted the “integrity” of the government’s gaming legislation saying countries around the world have requested the documents with a view to modelling their systems after it.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mr Christie added that he was considering entering into consultation with the World Bank which would review the Bahamas’ economy in microscopic detail. This, he said, was to ensure that all government agencies operate on the grounds of integrity.

He was responding to Opposition criticism that the Gaming Bill and accompanying regulations had not done enough to safeguard the Bahamas from money laundering and other financial crimes.

“Whether we like it or not,” Mr Christie said, “everything that happens in the Bahamas now insofar as our economy is concerned is under global scrutiny.

“Therefore we could be sitting here and debating these regulations, but you can be assured that not only are countries using this as a model by requesting the regulations and the legislation that we put forward, which now they themselves want to review it (and) implement themselves.

“Regulatory bodies will be looking at this with a view to ensuring that they are able to give full approval to it.”

However, Mr Christie reminded parliamentarians that the Bill and its efficacy would be worked out in the coming months when everyone has the opportunity to see how “vigorous the enforcement” of the legislation is. He said the government is committed to ensuring that the legislation is not wanting in any regard.

“The minister responsible for gaming, even in a meeting in Las Vegas that we had is taking the most exact approach to ensuring that we have the capacity to manage this effectively and that we will not be found wanting in the enforcement of this with respect to the integrity of it. We certify that we believe that we have done everything to ensure that the operations will be regulating along the lines of integrity.”

The Free National Movement has maintained that the new gaming regulations would reward law breakers.

On Sunday, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis criticised the bill, branding it a “charter for law breakers and the select few”.

Dr Minnis claimed that the bill rewarded alleged campaign financial backers of the governing party, while guarding their privilege, by restricting license applications to an invitation-only basis for new entrants.

He said the new bill violated “every principle of trust, accountability, transparency and fairness owed by a government to the people”.

Several PLP backbenchers have also criticised the legislation.