In The Bahamas, few issues trigger more fiery debate than gambling. The issue dominated headlines, talk shows and general public debate for months. With a referendum on gambling set for January 28, the debate is expected to continue. The Free National Movement (FNM), the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) all promised to hold a referendum on gambling if elected.
In early November, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced in the House of Assembly that the referendum would be held on December 3 and there would only be one question: Do you support the legalization and regulation of web shops? At the time, Christie said his government no longer intended to include the question of a national lottery based on advice from London-based consultants who did not consider the scheme to be "commercially viable
Several observers questioned the reasoning behind the government's decision to ask only one question. About a week after the announcement, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis claimed that the referendum is illegal. Former Attorney General Alfred Sears explained that Parliament must pass an amendment to the Constitutional Referendum Act or create a new law before the government goes ahead with the referendum.
Sears said otherwise the Christie administration could leave the December 3 vote open to a legal challenge. His statement came days after the Free National Movement (FNM) charged that the referendum was illegal. On November 13, Christie postponed the referendum to January 28 and announced that the option of a national lottery will now be back on the ballot. While the debate continued, the Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) launched its anti-gambling campaign, "Save Our Bahamas".
The campaign offered seven reasons why Bahamians should vote no, claiming that legalized gambling would lead to an increase in social ills. Another campaign was launched by a citizens group encouraging Bahamians to vote yes. Prime Minister Christie told The Nassau Guardian that based on information he received more than 100,000 people play numbers in The Bahamas. In November, Christie told Parliament the government could get $15 million to $20 million in annual taxes from web shops if the sector is properly regulated.
He added that numbers houses inject more than $30 million in the local economy and employ more than 3,000 people. In November, MPs debated the gambling issue after the government brought a bill to amend the Constitutional Referendum Act. All opposition members voted against the bill except for South Abaco MP Edison Key. Several PLP MPs were absent during the vote. The bill provides the legal framework for non-constitutional referenda.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
