Casino gambling bill tabled By Mark Ramotar
Guyana Chronicle
January 12, 2007

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THE government late last night rejected and voted down a motion calling for a deferral of the controversial casino gambling legislation it introduced in the National Assembly earlier yesterday, amid heated opposition.

The motion, presented by Alliance For Change (AFC) member, Ms. Sheila Holder, called for a deferral of the legislation to allow for an in-depth academic and scientific study on the advantages and disadvantages of introducing casino gambling in Guyana

The Bill was presented to the House by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who, in his arguments against the motion by Holder, defended the government’s intention to introduce limited casino gambling in Guyana.

“This Bill must be seen as an attempt by the government to give impulse and impetus to the tourism industry in this country,” Minister Rohee posited.

Noting that while evidence may abound worldwide as to the negative effects of casino gambling, he said the same literature being studied will also show numerous positive benefits of casino gambling. “It all depends on what literature you are reading and what you want to see and which arguments you want to put forward – for or against,” he argued.

Holder’s motion called on the government to retain expertise within the University of Guyana to conduct a study, within three months, to advise if casino gambling would add to Guyana’s tourism product given the profile of visitors coming to Guyana, or whether it would exaggerate the current crime situation.

The motion also called on the government to enlist UG to provide advice on the practicality of the government’s proposed intention to exclude Guyanese from engaging in casino gambling in the context of administrative, budgetary and policing measures that would be required.

It further called on the government to retain the services of UG academics to advise under what conditions, if any, revenues from the gaming industry would positively impact economic development in Guyana and mitigate the negatives associated with the gaming industry.

But following more than three hours of lively and heated debate on the motion, the government - with its Parliamentary majority, voted down the motion around 23:00 h.

The rejection of the motion paves the way for debate on the Gambling Prevention (Amendment) Bill 2006 at the next sitting of the National Assembly.

Rohee also dismissed rumours and speculations that the government is trying to railroad the casino bill in Parliament in time for Cricket World Cup (CWC) tournament to be hosted here and in eight other Caribbean countries in a few months.

“There is absolutely no foundation for the view being raised linking casino gambling to facilitate Cricket World Cup…so if you want to manufacture an argument to strengthen your case, then you are free to do so,” the minister told opposition members of the House.

“Guyana is a democracy and people are free to express their opinions…but religious groups who based their arguments on certain doctrines should have no place in state decisions,” Rohee declared, adding that nobody is compelled to participate in casino gambling.

He also lashed out at the seeming ‘hate campaign’ that is emerging where those who are supporting the introduction of casino gambling here are seen as “the devils” and vice versa.

Opposition Leader Mr. Robert Corbin, accused the government of “arrogance” in its dealing with this piece of legislation, and contended that the debate, while lengthy and vigorous, is nothing more than an exercise in futility, since the government is seemingly bent on using its majority to pass the Bill in the National Assembly.

Corbin also took offence at the police barricades at corners around Public Buildings which served to prevent two groups of mostly religious personnel protesting the casino bill.

“What is most amazing is the intolerance which is evident to private opinions on matters of public interest (and) the barricading of this building as if it is a fortress when this is the people’s court and the public should have access to hear this debate,” he told reporters on arrival at the Public Buildings.

Earlier in the sitting, a petition from the Christian community in Guyana was presented to the House by Opposition Member Ms. Volda Lawrence.