Dear Editor,
I read with great interest the dialogue in the media between Alfred Sears and Pastor Myles Munroe. Munroe replied to Sears' rebuttal but I thought he was too easy on him.
First of all, web shops are illegal but hotel casinos are legal. To compare the two is like comparing orange and grape fruit.
The reason why the new Casino Bill has not been passed is because legislators have also confused the two. This now has both Atlantis and Baha Mar executives angry and frustrated.
Furthermore, from an economic and social perspective, casinos contribute positively to the growth and development of The Bahamas, whereas web shops prey on the poor and ignorant and leave them worse off than when they first started. We must remember that all gamblers are "losers" in every sense of the word.
People who gamble in our casinos do so for entertainment and can afford to do so, whereas there are many horror stories of persons not being able to control themselves gambling in web shops.
I must make it clear that I think all forms of gambling are morally wrong because for there to be one winner there must be many losers. Real and lasting wealth is made through hard work, creativity and initiative.
There is no hypocrisy in not opposing casino gambling and opposing web shops because Bahamians do not gamble in casinos. Also, back in the day when casinos were coming on stream the Christian community protested against it. We all know the story of Carlton Francis.
The management of Atlantis has always been headed by foreigners and they are not supposed to get involved in local issues. However that has not stopped them. Here are two examples of when they flexed their muscles in their own interest:
o Changes to the road system (Bay Street).
o Not allowing casino workers to unionize even though they had met all legal requirements.
We have seen in recent times that the web shop operators have formed an association among themselves. I will now refer to them as the "Web shop cartel".
As citizens, the local web shop cartel will be able to influence every major decision that is made by the government even to the detriment of the masses.
This bold and arrogant group of individuals is also telling the government how much to tax them. They are also dictating that there not be a national lottery to compete against them.
This government cannot explain with any sense why they are not pursing a national lottery where they can keep all the profits for the development of the country. Many countries smaller than us have successful state lotteries.
Also, our tourists increase the market potential to millions of customers.
It costs the PLP and FNM about $8-$10 million each to launch a general election campaign. With a $400 million revenue base, collectively, the web shop cartel bosses can fund the entire campaign of the party they want in government.
Sears also pointed to the past when the white Bay Street boys controlled economics and politics in the country. Two wrongs do not make a right. It was wrong then, it is wrong now and it will be wrong in the future for any small group of people to control the government.
We urgently need campaign finance reform.
As it relates to the vote that was taken last year in relation to gambling, it does not matter whether it was an opinion poll or referendum. The prime minister gave his word that his government would abide by whatever the results happen to be.
Over a million dollars of the taxpayers' money was spent on that process so the prime minister cannot simply dismiss it without going back to the Bahamian people and apologizing. History will judge him harshly for this and he knows it.
Sears cannot spin this issue no matter how hard he tries. It is insulting to suggest that Pastor Myles Munroe is jealous of the wealth of the web shop cartel. For over 30 years he has been traveling the world writing and teaching about economic empowerment for all of God's people. In his follow-up letter he stated his position on this and is willing to meet with Sears and his clients.
It is the role of government to put systems in place that promote democracy, equality and fairness for all. I have no doubt that web shops will be legalized mainly due to external pressure.
If so, then it should be done in partnership with the government and the people. The government should own the license the way they do with casinos, always have inspectors on hand and obtain the maximum taxes.
The people should also be allowed to own a substantial amount of shares to spread the wealth around.
Don't forget we have a country to build and a people to develop. The decisions we make today will impact our country forever
- John Brown

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian