The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

“OUR lives begin to end the day we remain silent on things that matter.” Martin Luther King Jr.

For this reason, I must respond to Mr Sebas Bastian's statements as reported in The Tribune on March 28.

First off, I must ask The Tribune for an honest and balanced follow up, perhaps interviews of the employers, families and churches of the many, many Bahamians whose lives have been destroyed by this epidemic of gambling that ravages our country. The language used to describe this addiction must never be called “gaming”. Only for a mere handful of people in this country, the handful who have too much money for their own good, could this ever be considered gaming. This is precisely the point made by Dr Myles Munroe in his sermons.

But to the matter of Sebas Bastian's pompous and misleading statements, I must say that the day is upon us that we must do the important work of telling the truth, of reporting honestly on the descent of our nation into the hands of unscrupulous money changers.

There can be no intellectually legitimate, socially palatable, or marginally Christian acceptance of the web shops in our nation. Ever.

For any decent, rational and caring person to discount the wholesale destructive effects of the web shops upon our people is to be as traitorous as is possible to the citizens of this beautiful country, and to the truth.

“...but I can say that the industry is working to mitigate any vices that gaming may cause, and we have the data.” To allow such drivel by Mr Bastian to remain unchallenged is to allow the country to descend further into the depths of hell, and “to remain silent on things that matter.”.

The data that Mr Bastian has at his disposal is the data required to enslave our population, to keep us in chains. This data is used to further enrich those who produce nothing but misery, materialism and the celebration of unbridled greed. In my opinion, Mr Bastian mocks all considerations of decency, honesty and concern for the welfare of the Bahamian people.

Mr Bastian is surrounded by those who I would label as “ prostitutes. From my perspective those who accept his tainted money deserve as much criticism and discredit as he himself. Those on the gaming board, those politicians who kiss his _, those in the media who are cowed by his millions. I am sick of the destruction of the Bahamas by those who call themselves Bahamian. Hubert Minnis should hang his head in shame that he has allowed this scourge to continue, without so much as a peep. Shame on all of you!

This data Mr Bastian touts is the data that is used to manipulate the behaviours of those who have abandoned all hope. It is the data that Mr Bastian uses, just as a drug dealer does, to make the addicted believe they are doing the right thing. That they have a chance in hell of ever prospering. It is the data, along with the allure of the money, always the money, that he uses to manipulate the politicians, the pastors, the unthinking masses to accept that the way he makes his living is not the absolute expression of evil.

I find no comfort in speaking these words. I find no joy in speaking the truth about a matter such as this which has such far reaching and important considerations for this country. I find no solace in saying what must be said. I write these words because I was raised to believe that we MUST speak out on things which are oppressing the poor and downtrodden. I write these words because listening to the likes of Mr Bastian makinge excuses for this evil rubs me the worst way possible.

I want nothing more than to see this mentality that allows Mr Bastian to maintain prominence, and to gain a listening ear from this country to be banished for all time. For Mr Bastian, Craig Flowers, and the likes of them I can only say, for the sake of The Bahamas, “Go, go, go, go, go”. I care not where you were born or what citizenship you claim. The best thing for this country would be for you to leave these shores and never to return. Mr Bastian, it is my opinion, that there is no room for the likes of you and your thinking anywhere in the world where a sliver of decency still exists.

These are strong words. I speak them freely with the knowledge that they are what must be said in the interest of The Bahamas and the Bahamian people.

PORCUPINE

Nassau,

March 30, 2018.