Friday, December 21, 2012
By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
A GROUP of pastors is throwing its support behind the legalisation of gambling and a national lottery, “hoping” Bahamians will vote “yes” on the upcoming referendum.
They believe as the numbers business has become “inextricably a part” of Bahamian life to the point where it is “impossible” to police or extricate it from society, it should be regulated and taxed with proceeds benefiting social programmes.
The pastors, led by Dr Philip McPhee, were invited to meet with the prime minister yesterday morning to explain their stance.
He said that his position, and some 30 pastors from eight different denominations, is to ensure that a “yes” vote will benefit the entire Bahamas.
“We think it’s the best way of doing it and we think the Bahamian people will benefit and we hope that the Bahamian people will give their full support to the ‘yes’ vote,” he said.
“We believe that a few should not have while the majority are left out. That’s not right. That’s un-Christian. It’s unfair. Certainly we stand by our position that God has opened up a door, so not ten people can benefit from $300 million, 300,000 people should benefit from the $300 million.”
When asked if he believes their stance will alienate Christians who are against the “yes” vote, Dr McPhee said: “If you are a Christian then you ought to be concerned about your brothers or sisters. How can you be comfortable in your zone and your brother or sister are hungry at home or unemployed.”
Bishop Simeon Hall, who was also a part of a delegation, said yesterday the group believes that community based projects or projects headed by the church should be one of the beneficiaries of tax monies.
“Those churches who do social outreach should be financed,” he said. “Urban renewal, sports, and things like that. That’s the kind of things we said, to the prime minister, should be included.
“We stand in support of the prime minister’s project and his effort to get Bahamians to say ‘yes’.”
Bahamians have a right to vote yes or no, Bishop Hall continued, and his personal values “should not eclipse” that right.
“So the government is being commended for holding the referendum and giving the Bahamian people a chance to say yes or no,” he said.
“Our statement is that we wish that this whole thing was not a part of the Bahamian culture but we refuse to deny that it’s been around for 60 years. I’m a little suspicious of those who come alive in the last two months talking about being against or for gambling because it has been going on.
“All we’re saying is, since it is not eliminated, let’s regulate it. Instead of just a few benefiting from it, let’s get more people who are the recipients of this thing.”
The statement presented to Prime Minister Perry Christie said: “We believe that to embrace a ‘no’ response in this instance will allow this nefarious activity to continue with tremendous benefit to only a chosen few... On the other hand, to say ‘yes’ to the proposed questions will bring some resolution and taxations to this business which could benefit far more.
“The reality is that a ‘yes’ vote on January 28 will not introduce web-shop gambling but, indeed, will regulate it... While we would have wished this activity was not a part of our culture, we will not bury our heads in the sand and pretend otherwise.”
Comments
TalRussell says...
Pure unadulterated malarkey. I'm guessing them ain't break no heavenly bread while praying for the "Yes" vote.
If the reverends truly believe that each Comrade is accountable to God for what we do with the money He has blessed us with, how is it they could have rose from they knees in prayer to this same God, to encourage a "Yes" Vote to legalize the criminal numbers rackets?
Reverends first of all I need see some kind of video evidence that you all were actually on your knees praying for divine guidance, cause each time I been praying for some kind of divine sign for the numbers to play I ain't win nothing?
Shouldn't you holy men's in keeping with the Christmas spirit have been on ya knees praying for some urgent divine guidance to solve all we social, crime and out of paychecks problems, not for some even more "generous" offerings from those running the illegal numbers rackets. Reverends with all due respect "generous offerings' is your own words, not mine?
Seems by the time the reverends rose from off their knees they had decided more collection plates are needed to accommodate all the love offerings they are a least open to coming they way?
What is this thing with "love offerings'" disease we seem have been experiencing in we Bahamaland recently, when even a red shirts by-election candidate's income was claimed to have been dependent on them mystery "love offerings?"
Reverends all I is got's say to you "Yes" bunch is that in the eyes of many you have today become even smaller men, if that is even still possible?
You bring shame to the true meaning of this Christmas spirit and all the God fearing Reverends who stand against you and the numbers bosses.
Amen!
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Posted 21 December 2012, 12:03 p.m. Suggest removal
JohnDoe says...
Nothing surprises me these days. Clearly these pastors have a right to their private personal opinions, but if they are going to make those opinions public then at least they should try to ensure that those opinions are credible. In that vein, I am deeply disapponted in these pastors. Based on their logic noted above, we may as well include prostitution, narcotics and thiefing in this opinion poll to be regulated as well because like gambling these vices have also been apart of the Bahamian culture for a long time. In that way, the entire Bahamian community can benefit from the taxation of these activities not just a selected few. You fellas can't be serious.
Posted 21 December 2012, 1:27 p.m. Suggest removal
MartGM says...
my sentiments exactly!!
Posted 21 December 2012, 1:37 p.m. Suggest removal
sansoucireader says...
JohnDoe, I agree with you 1000%! Like you say based on their logic we might has well legalize prostitution, drug running, gun running, human trafficing etc. Every time someone says legalize this gambling because people do it 'anyway' I think, people do all all these other things too, should we legalize them 'anyway'? 'Anyway' is not a good enough reason for me.
Posted 23 December 2012, 6:47 a.m. Suggest removal
WillyBounce69 says...
Its just continue to amaze me. I mean everyone has a right to their choices, but man just how mislead are you people of The Bahamas. I mean where gambling is all you people talk and worry about. Just how many people have been killed in the past couple of days, weeks, just this year. No one is worried about crime only about if Joe Blow is gambling again. I mean the churches have raffles for cars, is it ok for the church and not the average business man. If you win you win, if you lose you lose. If a someone decides to blow $$$$ on gambling who problem is that? Yet when another person is killed I guess we really dont care about those things.
Again you people really need to get ya head up out ya arses! Focus on what really matters. A Vote yes means more jobs, help pay down this damn all these government loans. Even a few thousand or so people will benefit from it. I can go and turn 10 cent into groceries, yet I can't even put 10 cent in the offering and get a meal from my so-called Christian Council!!!!! Vote how you want.....
Posted 23 December 2012, 5:14 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
Comrades the Sunday morning sermon for some clergy could very well have been titled; “Brothers and Sisters Heads up for a "Yes" vote and I win generous love offerings, tails you my Church members lose ya damn payhecks?"
Posted 23 December 2012, 5:42 p.m. Suggest removal
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