The Gaming House Association yesterday donated over $250,000 to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to help hundreds of Bahamian families following the devastation caused by Hurricane Joaquin. The association, which includes FML Web Shop, A Sure Win, Island Luck, Percy's at the Island Game, Asue Draw + Spin, Bahama Dreams, Bet Vegas and Paradise Games donated a combined $257,552.05 to NEMA during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on West Bay Street.
Prime Minister Perry Christie said he was informed several days ago that while the web shop owners have continued to donate to the social stability of The Bahamas "they in their own right have made and will continue to make contributions to [the] islands and people impacted by Hurricane Joaquin".
In that regard, Christie said, for example, he has discussed with Island Luck CEO Sebas Bastian his plan to purchase portable homes to assist residents who lost their homes or could not live in their homes following Hurricane Joaquin. Bastian previously said that he was working to lease the portable homes for residents in the southern Bahamas hardest hit by the storm. Hundreds of residents on Crooked Island, Long Island, Acklins, Rum Cay and San Salvador lost their homes to Joaquin. Many reported that flood waters rose to their ceilings. Others had their roofs blown off, or windows blown out.
"The government has determined that there is an acute need for such homes," Christie said.
"We are currently in Cabinet discussing this matter of the impact of Hurricane Joaquin and we are being informed of people who have been so adversely and negatively affected by the hurricane through loss of homes, loss of accommodations, loss of habitable homes, that we now know that we must move posthaste to address that issue, so that people no longer have to depend on community centers and churches for accommodations."
He said providing relief to those devastated by the storm is a "matter of extreme urgency".
Status of gaming industry
Providing an update on the regulation of the web shop industry, Christie said, "Let me say that we expect in a short period of time, specific action to be undertaken by the Gaming Board of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, in what would be licensing hearings aimed at ending the transition process that has lawfully existed and has been put in place towards the formal licensing of those entities that will qualify, and that are members of this association (Gaming House Association)."
In August, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said web shop licenses will be issued in October. The web shop industry was initially expected to be fully regulated by May. However, Wilchcombe said the regularization process required more work than was anticipated.
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