The Sir Lynden Pindling Foundation yesterday defended a decision to accept a luxury car from Island Luck web shop to raffle as part of its Legacy Ball, which will honor the memory of the late former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling.
The Legacy Ball is a featured event listed on the 41st independence anniversary celebrations calender.
On Monday, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, who has responsibility for gaming, referred to web shops as illegal operations.
The government intends to soon regulate the sector.
Island Luck has donated a 2014 BMW 316i to the Sir Lynden Pindling Foundation.
In an advertisement, Island Luck is named as having donated the grand prize for the Legacy Ball's raffle.
having donated the grand prize for the Legacy Ball's raffle.
When contacted for comment, Obi Pindling, the son of Sir Lynden and Deputy to the Governor General Dame Marguerite, referred questions to the foundation's planning committee.
In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the committee, chaired by Monique Pindling-Johnson, said the "precedent" was set by the Pandora's Box event hosted by the Paradise Children's Foundation at the Atlantis Resort and Casino in February.
"The Sir Lynden Pindling Foundation is also a non-profit organization, which raises funds for the benefit of the foundation's purposes," read the statement.
"Following the earlier precedent, the Legacy Ball Committee accepted the generous donation of the vehicle from Island Luck."
The Paradise Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by some residents of Ocean Club Estates.
Island Luck donated a $135,000 Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 as an auction prize for the children's foundation event.
Web shop owners have long spoken about their significant contributions to culture, sports and education in The Bahamas.
Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said on Monday that the government intends to impose a penalty on web shops for revenue generated prior to regularization.
Wilchcombe said Monday, "There will be a penalty for illegal operation, when it was illegal so we have to penalize them for about six years.
"And all of that is a part of what we are doing."
The government intends to soon introduce an amended Gaming Bill to Parliament.
Prime Minister Perry Christie has announced that web shop regulation will be retroactive to July 1.
The Sir Lynden Pindling Foundation raises funds to provide students with scholarships to attend The College of The Bahamas and schools abroad.

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