PNCR/AFC fault Casino gambling B ill
… surfacing ‘modus operandi' dangerous for the survival of Democracy in Guyana --Ramjattan

Kaieteur News
January 24, 2007

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Robert Corbin, Leader of the Peoples National Congress Reform, said that he was disappointed with the government for failing to recognise and feel the sentiment of the people regarding the Gambling Prevention (Amendment) Act.

He said that his opposition will be maintained despite the passage of the legislation. “I am not daunted because this provides an opportunity for the people of Guyana to scrutinize, fully, the nature of this administration, and how it responds to the will of the people.”

He further said that the PNCR has no knowledge of how the Bill will be regulated stating that the Bill, with the absence of details, has insulted the House. The government has brought nothing to say what the gaming authority is all about, he added.

He pointed out that the government has not given the relevant personnel an ‘iota' of the criteria

Mr. Corbin added that his party will not in any way cooperate with the government regarding the regulation authority for casino gambling. He posited that the government has shown a total disrespect for all the various views presented.

They have put all the power in the hands of a Minister to do as he pleases, he said. He further posited that the actions in Parliament substantiate that whatever actions are taken now to address the situation will be a waste of time.

Mr. Corbin said that the people of Guyana will have to be properly organised to understand the nature of this organisation and to agree on what has to be done to hold them in check.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) is also condemning the actions of the government saying that the surfacing ‘modus operandi' is extremely dangerous for the survival of democracy in Guyana .

AFC co-leader Khemraj Ramjattan stated that the move by Parliament to pass the Bill in its present form is unconstitutional.

He said that President Bharrat Jagdeo indicated to the religious groups that Guyanese would be excluded and only casino workers, paid guests and overseas visitors would be allowed to gamble but there is nothing that says Guyanese cannot be a paid guest at the hotels and hence gamble.

He pointed out that under the non-discrimination article in the Constitution it says that one cannot discriminate on the grounds of place of origin (nationality).

Mr. Ramjattan pointed out that if there was a clause that excluded a certain race it would be considered discriminatory in the same way, exclusion by virtue of place of origin would be a form of discrimination.

The AFC would love to work along with the proposed gaming authority but with a framework that will allow the AFC to have enough clout, something that he does not envisage, he added.

He added that with the authority that the Minister now has, he can possibly put his own people to regulate the gambling scenario.

He continued that it is promised that professional people with adequate knowledge of the “ins and outs” of casino gambling will regulate the casinos but he questioned if there are any such qualified persons in this country.

On Monday the National Assembly passed the Gambling Prevention (Amendment) Bill, to allow for casinos to be established for the first time in Guyana .

Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, piloted the Bill through the House and is currently empowered to set up a Gaming Regulation Authority. The Gaming Authority is proposed to ensure that mechanisms are in place to prevent any lack of control.