By FARRAH JOHNSON
A VETERAN businessman yesterday said the Bahamian people and economy will suffer if the gambling issue is not addressed.
Peter Roker, one of the first entrepreneurs to develop commerce in the Carmichael Road area, held a press conference on Friday to express his views on the direction in which he thinks the country is heading.
Mr Roker told The Tribune he has a number of concerns as a citizen conducting business in the country, referring to the impact gambling poses on the collection of taxes and utilities, and how it affects the disposable income of Bahamians.
“I’m concerned [on] what type of heritage it’s creating for my children and my grandchildren, what type of heritage it’s creating for the other Bahamians… and what type of impact on a gradual basis it’s going to have in our economy,” he said.
“...When the question of the referendum came up, I had the right to vote for it or against it. In having that right…I voted against gambling, [so] I was very surprised that the government decided – after the people overwhelming voted against gambling – to make gambling legal,” he continued.
Insisting gambling has “never been legal” Mr Roker noted a number of Bahamians on the family islands have started to neglect farming to “spin”, alleging more specifically, that the practice has been an “absolute disaster” for Long Island.
The businessman called for a “detailed audit” of gambling, and also encouraged people to be “mindful” and recognize the ways in which it has altered the mentality of many Bahamians.
“In my opinion a simple government lottery [should be introduced], which the monies could have gone to the hospital which we desperately need, or the education which we desperately need, or the sports what we desperately need, or other areas [where it] would suffice,” he said.
He added the current form of gambling practised presently is unacceptable, even with the proposed increase on taxes from gaming houses, as outlined in the newly revealed 2018/19 budget plan.
Referring to the “trickle-down affect” gambling can impose, Mr Roker said the practice has contributed to crime, calling the present situation a “travesty of justice” that has to be looked into.
“What are we doing? Are we creating difficulties for ourselves and then trying to find a cure? Who do you think are going to pay for that [gambling] rehabilitation and the loss of mentalities and the loss of direction of others?” he asked.
Mr Roker also acknowledged that a significant portion of the country is “financially deprived.” Addressing the 12% VAT hike he said:
“I think the core situation here is to find out why we are having the taxes, and I feel there are a number of areas, but gambling is definitely one of those areas. And how the Bahamian public will deal with these new taxes, will be that they will go another notch down… and when people come here another five years from now, they’ll say what happened to these people?” he said.
Ironically, Mr Roker admitted that one of the shops in the Bargain City Plaza has had a web-shop, but said people can have opinions that can be changed by experiences.
He encouraged any current supporters of gambling to “look in the mirror and set an example” for future generations.
“Bahamians as a whole have to aspire to being the best in the country. We as Bahamians have no excuses. As a population of maybe under 400,000 people we have gold medals, so we have Bahamians that have proven to us and the world that Bahamians are the best in the world, and can be the best in the world,” he said.
Comments
realitycheck242 6 years, 5 months ago
"Business Man Says People Will Suffer If Gambling Issue Not Addressed"*
Headline should have read "People will continue to suffer if gambling issue is not addressed" get it right Tribune People have been suffering since the days of Percy,and Stokes, from all the way back in the 50s and 60s .....i could vividly remember as a little boy my aunt sending me around the corner with a little piece of paper to buy number from the hatian man.
ohdrap4 6 years, 5 months ago
yep, but she had to send you there. now she sit at home with a computer and smart phone and do it all day. she might even do it from work before she gets her paycheck.
Porcupine 6 years, 5 months ago
Mr. Roker,
Thanks for your observations. Why aren't other "businessmen" more honest about what is going on? The web shops are creating many, many more problems for this country than they are willing to acknowledge. Are the web shop owners and their well-paid "professional" consultants, lawyers, accountants, gaming officials too blinded by the money, for themselves, to see the economic devastation happening around them, to their own people, to their own country? This whole issue has been one of shame for this country. From the criminal duplicity of both governments, to the lies coming out of the numbers house bosses, to the disgusting threats of job losses if democracy is allowed to take its course. All of the arguments coming from these low lives, and yes I include all those who have education, yet no common sense or decency, are easily refuted, from the social harm, to the economic devastation, to the elevated sense that these guys are actually "businessmen. They are not. They simply suck money out of the Bahamian economy, mostly the poor, to enrich themselves and the morally deficient consultants which they pay off, just like the mafia does. There is no greater example of prostitution than this whole affair. And everyone who lives in The Bahamas suffers from the effects of lowering the moral bar even further, and having to listen to the thug who have now taken over our government, and gained a stronghold in our media, professional services and our family islands by tossing a few crumbs back to those whom they have helped devastate in the first place. I am truly disappointed that so very many of us who can see the damage done so clearly have had to spend so much of our precious time on this issue. We spoke out in numerous ways. In the referendum, in editorials, letters to the editor, all to be abjectly ignored by those elected to represent us. This issue alone should be cause for the current PM and administration to be thrown to the lions. They have the fricking nerve to say we must bite the bullet on taxes, yet kiss the asses of the web shop owners who are bleeding this country dry. Rank hypocrisy and national treachery at it absolute finest.
DDK 6 years, 5 months ago
Porcupine, you and Mr. Roker could not possibly be more politely correct!! Sometimes I think our political leaders are obtuse.
Porcupine 6 years, 5 months ago
DDK, This is an issue which has immense national importance. Economically, politically, socially, morally and spiritually. Our job is to help people understand the real damage being done and to change this. I mentioned to my wife this morning that this issue may help spark some of the changes needed. She asked how? I said read the history of the taxi strike in 1958. Neither Minnis, nor any other "leader" will get the point until the people say they have had enough. I am urging people to take to the streets. I am urging people to say they have had enough. I don't mean to be polite, because within me I am absolutely furious that these injustices are occurring to the Bahamian people and to this great country. If we spoke one on one about this you would hear words come out of my mouth that children shouldn't hear. I don't use them here too often because they would delete my posts. If I had my way, I would personally see to it that the web shop owners were in jail. There is more than enough evidence to convict them in a reasonable court of law. I merely want justice for the people. If you read your history, justice rarely comes about through legal and politically correct methods. This can be backed up by an honest history of any fight for justice undertaken in the world.
DDK 6 years, 5 months ago
I hear you and I agree. The elected officials are not listening. I keep asking, where is We March Bahamas, other than sitting in the Senate rolling out more bills to keep The People down?
rawbahamian 6 years, 5 months ago
The principle reason the numbers and spinning web shops are so popular is because Bahamians are a lazy nation who feel they deserve the best out of life with little to no effort on their respective parts. This insane, baseless sense of entitlement is what is destroying our economy and is being actively taught to the youth. The mantra nowadays seems to be " Hard work does not pay as much as HARDLY working " !!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 5 months ago
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TalRussell 6 years, 5 months ago
Comrade I get all nauseous when the PMO keeps secret with no announcement who are the names Imperial Red Shirts Cabinet sendoff Buckingham Palace - instructs the Queen’s to put on Her Majesty's Birthday Honours list.
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 5 months ago
Sebas Bastian and Craig Flowers will soon be instructing the dimwitted Doc and Lady Poodling to put their names on Her Majesty's Birthday Honours List, with the recommendation that they receive Knighthoods. Low-life Flowers is enthralled by the idea of being called Sir Craig, but punk Bastian is holding out because he believes he should be coronated as King Sebas!
BahamaPundit 6 years, 5 months ago
I agree. SCREW THE WEB SHOPS!!! web shops are a disease to this country, and, what is more, the Bahamian people voted against them. I approve 100% of the Government taxing them into the ground. If not adressed, the web boys will own this country and its politicians like Jamaican Dons.
Porcupine 6 years, 5 months ago
My fear is that they already do.
BahamaPundit 6 years, 5 months ago
Only a matter of time until they turn full gangster and control armies of hitmen, so everyone fears them. First they'll try to pay. If they can't pay, then they will slay.
TalRussell 6 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Veteran Businessman's Peter, ask if any his red shirts business colleagues can name just one many "Silly Things" which PM Minnis and KP, have announced they would put stop to spending the PeoplePublic's monies on... Have you businessman's ever thought about exactly what defines government's "Silly Spending?"
sheeprunner12 6 years, 5 months ago
What has the rich fatcat invested in Long Island?????? ........ NOTHING!!!!!!!!!
Does he have any reason to be talking about an island that he has abandoned, but likes to brag about??????
Maybe MP Gibson can get him to invest some of his millions in North End ......... SMH.
truetruebahamian 6 years, 5 months ago
This is absolutely correct. Close the web shops and gambling houses and have a national lottery. Everyone will win. Maybe even Sebas and Flowers will buy tickets!
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