Consultation on casino gambling must not be mere window dressing - CIOG
Stabroek News
December 13, 2006

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The Central Islamic Organi-zaption of Guyana (CIOG) says it hopes government's consultation on casino gambling legislation will not be "merely after the fact window dressing".

In a statement on the much talked about issue, the organization said it expected its concerns to be taken seriously and it also anticipated that the government would do the socially and morally correct thing and not pass any legislation to encourage gaming houses in Guyana.

In an earlier comment to this newspaper published in the last Sunday Stabroek, CIOG President Fazeel Ferouz shared his organization's feelings on the issue and urged that government not go ahead with something that many people would not be in agreement with. He said that even if many people decided on gambling legislation Muslims would be against it. "Gambling on the whole is something that Muslims consider illegal and immoral. God has clearly indicated in the Quran that gambling is a despicable vice and he has completely prohibited Muslims for engaging in it," the statement said.

CIOG said the activities associated with gaming houses obviously fall under the rubric of gambling and they therefore are completely opposed to any legislation which seeks to further legitimize gaming in Guyana.

The organization in the statement yesterday also acknowledged that it had been invited by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to consultations on this matter who indicated that the new gaming legislation was being introduced in pursuit of growth and development.

"We don't deny that there is a potential for some profit or gain in gambling.

However we hasten to point out that the disadvantages far outweigh the potential benefits," the statement said.

The organisation supported its position with a quote from the Quran which states: "They ask you concerning intoxicants and gambling, say 'In both there is great sin, and some profit for people, but the sin is greater than the profit." (Quran 2:219)

The statement also made reference to a study conducted by US based economist Earl Grinols, which it said, estimated social costs of gambling including pathological gambling and other associated compulsive disorders to be as high as US$54 billion annually in the United states at 2004. Quoting Grinols, "Because a casino promoter, an Indian tribe or even local government places itself in the role of the house, thereby reaping benefits, does not mean that casinos are socially beneficially," the CIOG reiterated that social benefits must take into account all stakeholders.

Government has started its consultation with stakeholders and so far the entire religious community has voiced it opposition to casino gambling being legalized here in Guyana.

CIOG, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, the Guyana Arya Samaj, the Guyana Council of Churches, the Guyana Evangelical Council and the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana are among the organizations that have been vocal in this regard.

Views range from casino gambling being a bad habit to a consensus that there were other areas of economic activity in which revenue could be earned and a call to the government to encourage investment in areas where people could earn 'clean money'.

Following the dedication ceremony of the stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, President Bharrat Jagdeo had said in response to a question from the media that the government was considering introducing casino legislation in time for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 matches which begins in March next year.

Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad has since confirmed that there was "a draft that is being worked on. We are looking at it but we haven't made any decisions." He hesitated to comment on what form it would take since, he said, this would depend on consultations.