Casino gambling a developmental tool – Health Minister
Kaieteur News
January 11, 2007
Government's plan to permit casino gambling is embedded in its attempts to boost employment and development, and not to foster money laundering as some may believe.
Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy made this disclosure at a press conference yesterday in response to ongoing debates on the issue.
According to Dr Ramsammy, while Government acknowledges the many concerns raised by the religious community on casino gambling, he is of the belief that some opposing views are not promoted with genuine concern.
Specifically responding to Chartered Accountant, Mr Christopher Ram's opposing view that casino gambling could foster money laundering, Ramsammy said, “This is a hysterical response with no basis.”
According to Ramsammy, while Government is not unaware that casino gambling has been used in many countries for money laundering it does not mean that the same results will be had here.
“We must be cognizant for abuse and will put mechanisms in place to reduce or even eliminate the possibility of money laundering,” Dr Ramsammy said.
And since Government has heeded the many genuine concerns raised on the issue, Dr Ramsammy said that Government will only permit casino gambling in a limited way. He pointed out that only people visiting Guyana will be permitted to access the gaming activity.
Additionally, he noted that only those hotels with a minimum of four-star status and which have at least 150 rooms designated for accommodation will be eligible for casino gambling licence.
Noting that there will be no preference to hotels, Dr Ramsammy notes that any hotel reaching the specifications will be licensed.
He explained that the permission for casino gambling will be an incentive to the investors who would have so elaborately invested in the tourism sector. “The vehicle being used as the incentive to investors is casino gambling which will develop the tourism sector,” said Dr Ramsammy.
According to the Health Minister, more than 100 countries including the United States , Bahamas , Suriname and the United Kingdom have been able to benefit substantially from casino gambling.
“Figures from Trinidad show that casino gambling has been responsible for at least 10,000 jobs,” Dr Ramsammy revealed.
“Why do people believe Guyana will not be capable of dealing with this issue? Government must make a decision to move forward despite the many concerns,” Dr Ramsammy said.
The Minister further noted that casino gambling was not foisted unto Guyana without notice. He asserts that since March 2006 President Bharrat Jagdeo hosted the Christian leaders when the issue of casino gambling was up for discussion. It affirms too that it was even highlighted during elections campaigns as a measure to be introduced as part of developmental plans.
“We are not arrogantly disregarding the leaders' concerns but we are taking them very seriously.” According to Dr. Ramsammy, casino gambling is among many activities to which money laundering can be associated.
He cited banking, construction works, forestry and other legitimate ventures with which money laundering can be linked.
“All of these legitimate activities can flirt with money laundering but we don't ban them; then why should we ban casino gambling?”
“We as Government have to be cognizant of the abuse and put mechanisms in place to prevent it.”
Dr Ramsammy disclosed that the government has been working closely with the United States Government to combat the menace of money laundering, which has the potential of hurting a country even without casino gambling.
He noted that the United States has been able to successfully implement measures to monitor casino gambling.
“Every venture has a potential downside…I would like to ban the sale of tobacco but instead we take action to reduce it,” Ramsammy asserts.
As such it is the hope of the Minister that people with hysterical views will join the government's effort to aid efforts to use casino gambling as a tool to foster employment and development.