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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Letters to The Editor
1) Economic Benefits
The island of Malta is very similar to the Commonwealth of
The Bahamas. We both share beautiful natural resources. We both share our
landmass’ being an archipelago located in exotic waters. We both also enjoy
having such small populations with Malta’s national population being a little
over 450,000 or 100,000 more people than those that dwell in our country. However,
even though both of our countries have been blessed with such economic and geographical similarities, there’s one
clear and distinct difference between the two countries – Malta has a booming
gaming industry in which its citizens are free to participate in and the
Bahamas has discriminatory anti-Bahamian gaming policies which discriminates
against its own citizens and promotes regressive, dogmatic policies. The
opponents of legalized gambling for Bahamians have sought to use the struggles
of Las Vegas as a reason to support a “no” vote, however Las Vegas in terms of
its size, geography and legal framework cannot be compared to The Bahamas. Malta,
which is similar in both size and legal structure, is a much more appropriate
example. Tonio Fenech, Minister of Finance for Malta recently announced just a
small taste of Malta’s gaming industry benefits.
2) It will Prevent Crime
Many opponents of legal gambling for Bahamains and use the
recent botched robbery of a web whop in Nassau to advocate for a “no” vote on
January 28th, but as George Santayana once said “If we do not learn from our
history, we are doomed to repeat it.” Prohibition has never worked. The United States tried this in 1920 and
failed miserably. According to “Charles Hanson Towne’s ‘The Rise and Fall of
Prohibition: The Human Side of What the Eighteenth Amendment Has Done to the
United States,’ “Rather than reducing crime, Prohibition had transformed the
cities into battlegrounds between opposing bootlegging gangs. In a study of
over 30 major U.S cities during the prohibition years of 1920 and 1921, the
number of crimes increased by 24%." Additionally, theft and burglaries increased
by 9%, homicide by 12.7%, assaults and battery rose by 13%, drug addiction by
44.6% and police department costs rose by 11.4%. This was largely the result of
“black-market violence” as well as the diverting of law enforcement resources
elsewhere. Despite the hope of the prohibitionist movement that the outlawing
of alcohol would reduce crime, the reality was that the Volstead Act led to
higher crime rates than were experienced prior to prohibition and the
establishment of a black market dominated by criminal organizations.”
3) Jesus will NOT get mad if you do I will not be a bigot or arrogant like certain church leaders in our country and tell you what the “will” of God is, or who you should pray to. Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist or whatever your personal beliefs of faith may be you are a Bahamian and you are entitled to equal rights and protections under our laws. I do not know all the answers and refuse to tell you how you should live your life. Everyone has had their own experiences with gambling be it negative or positive. That's why January 28th is not a vote to gamble, the vote is for choice. Legalized gambling doesn't mean you have to do it just like legalized smoking doesn't mean you have to smoke or legalized drinking doesn’t mean you have to drink. If you don't support gambling, don't do it! But what you do not have the right to do is to tell someone else how they ought to live their life.
3) Freedom This referendum is about freedom. This referendum is about the empowerment of Bahamians. This referendum is about turning the page, starting a new chapter, moving forward and laying the bricks for the foundation of a strong Bahamas where equality is the order of the day, where a poor black boy from the streets of Lewis Yard can start his own technology business and becoming a success. Or where young woman growing up in the home a struggling single grandmother can rise up to become a gaming mogul and benefit in the land of her forefathers and for mothers. This referendum is about creating a better future for our children and grandchildren and a land of hope and opportunity where the least among us can grow up to achieve their very best and to be successful in all their economic pursuits.
4) Employment As the facts have been stated and I quote “Over 3,000 jobs are supplied directly by the Bahamian-owned Gaming Industry, with over 2,000 indirectly brought about by related activities. Nearly three percent of our available workforce is employed by our local Gaming Industry, providing much needed income and benefits to Bahamian families. In each gaming-related business throughout this country are our mothers, fathers, sons and daughters all making an honest living and taking care of their personal and familial responsibilities with the sweat of their brow." Imagine the endless entrepreneurial opportunities that can come about as a result of legalized gaming in The Bahamas. We work in the industry; don't you think it's time we owned it?
5) Charitable Donations/Philanthropy According to the Nassau Guardian, in Summer of 2010 Island Luck web shop awarded $250,000 in scholarships to 20 students to attend Success Training College with CEO Sebas Bastian was quoted y the Guardian saying "Island Luck decided that it has to do its part and be its brother's keeper and encourage other business people and other establishments to do the same. We just wanted to try and help Bahamians that really can't afford to pay for college, but have the ambition and want to make things better for their life. Over 300 applicants sought scholarships, but only 20 were chosen, Bastian said. Students were asked to write an essay detailing which career they would choose and how it would impact economic growth in The Bahamas. We chose Success because they have a good curriculum and they have smaller classrooms that are really hands on where they can really learn what it is they have to do." Countless of other charitable donates and philanthropic works by Web Shops and the “We Care Bahamas” organization can be seen throughout the Bahamas. A Yes vote will be one to continue their good work and progress throughout our Islands. A Yes vote will also allow for the creation of national lottery to further provide scholarships to deserving academically qualified Bahamian students.
6) Recreation According to online sources, “After a hard day's work, some business people find comfort on the entertainment and fun brought about by these casino games. These people invest some of their time and money to enjoy the games and amenities provided by the gambling facilities and casinos. Gambling has also provided lots of help to the hotel industry. Several tourists and guests book at hotels that are near or adjacent to casinos. Gambling has undoubtedly brought benefits to society. One of the most important is probably the employment it has provided to the multitudes of people worldwide. It is very hard to imagine how many people would be unemployed if this industry is to be removed. Gambling is something that is not to be taken for granted. There may have been many negative social issues connected to it, but it has definitely brought many good things to the society at large. This industry can be maintained and protected through the implementation of the right guidelines and regulations.” In addition to its many benefits to our Tourism Industry a surprising study from Yale University showed that gambling also benefits seniors. According to Yale epidemiologist Rani Desai , “The survey showed that recreational gamblers 65 and older reported being in better health than their peers who don’t gamble. The older gamblers also reported less alcoholism, depression, bankruptcy and imprisonment than younger recreational gamblers.” The survey of 2,400 people relied on the participants to report their gambling habits, health and other personal information. A survey firm called all the participants, and Yale researchers crunched the numbers. The findings were published in the September 2004 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
7) It will begin a new chapter of a Better Bahamas I have a dream land that I will one day live in a nation that allows all Bahamians to pursue without discrimination the same economic opportunities affording to those who come from abroad. I have a dream that I will one day live in a nation where a little civil disobedience can lead to my future sons and daughters being able to work hard and a society which rewards their hard work, determination and content of their character. I have a dream that I will one day live in a nation that’s progressive, forward thinking and allows for the creation of technology to be used and owned by Bahamians in manner that legally allows them to disrupt, innovate and by their own ingenuity, create a stronger and more vibrant and robust economy. I have a dream that: I will one day live in a nation that will end the practice of dogma and discrimination that will allow for all Bahamians to use their fundamental freedoms with responsibility to build a better 21st century Bahamas. On January 28th, 2013 I will vote YES! For me, this vote has very little to nothing to do with gambling but more so everything to do with our philosophical future as a society. Will we be governed by religious extremist or reason, dogma or diplomacy, concocted paranoia or common sense? The fight we face may be great, but our tenacity is that much greater. With hope in our hearts, our with determination on our minds, with gratitude as our guide and with purpose as our passion the state of our Islands will always be strong, we can move forward into an economically sound future, as a socially conscious and spiritually aware people and we can build a better society bound by love and united by service.
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Let’s remember one
important thing – Regardless of a Yes or no Vote on January 28th,
Gambling will still be legal in The Bahamas, just not for Bahamians. Think on
that.