Bahamas Christian Council President Rev. Dr. Ranford Patterson said yesterday he will not support another referendum.

Patterson said the government would set a dangerous precedent if it chooses to ignore the results of last year's gambling poll.

He was responding to the announcement by Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe that he intends to present a proposal to Cabinet in the next two weeks for the regularization of web shops.

Wilchcombe said if his colleagues accept the proposal, web shops would be regularized by July 1. Patterson said he will also stay away from the promised constitutional referendum.

"I'm not supporting it because it's a waste of my time," he said at a press conference at Cousin McPhee Church on Carmichael Road.

The majority of people who voted in the referendum last year voted against the regularization and taxation of web shops.

By going against those results, Patterson said the government would effectively be calling the thousands of people who voted against the regularization of gambling "stupid".

"As a matter of fact, why come to me for my advice then you come to me and say my advice isn't worth anything," Patterson said. "I prefer you not to come to me. Just do what you want to do."

When Wilchcombe made his announcement in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, he predicted that the church would not be happy about the decision. However, he said a decision had to be made.

"We had the referendum and we accepted the referendum and the opinion being given by the Bahamian people," Wilchcombe said.

"But truth be told, Mr. Speaker, that we have an issue that we have to deal with. We have an issue that has been out there a bit too long. The time for that is now over.

"...The church will have difficulties. The church will take a strong position. The church will preach and the church will teach, but we must govern.

That's our responsibility." Patterson said he took offense to that statement, adding that religious leaders have been doing much more than simply preaching and teaching. "We've been actively involved in helping the work of our government over the years," he said.

"As far as I am concerned, the church plays a role in government and in every facet of our society. "...If you take the church out of what we are doing in this community, this country would fold up.

"So when you throw us on the side and say we don't play a significant role, you are mistaken. The government had no plans for a no vote, none, because they didn't expect for the church to rise up."

Since the vote, the pastors heading the Vote No campaign have urged the government to abide by the results of the referendum and shut down web shops' gaming operations.

Patterson said the legacy of this government is riding on what happens as a result of the legalization of numbers. He said if the government does regularize gambling the church would continue to do what it has always done.

"The church has always stood diametrically opposed to any form of gambling in this country -- period," he said.

"We will continue to be the church on July 2 as we are today. The church has always been good at picking up the pieces and the church will continue to be there to pick up the pieces of those who fall through the cracks."

Patterson said he is gratified because history will reflect that the chuch took a stand against gambling "The government has to do what the government has to do," he said. "We did our part and let the chips fall where they may."

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