By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

ORGANISERS of the Vote No campaign for the upcoming referendum have lashed out at numbers chiefs for attempts to ‘take advantage’ of Bahamians.

Grace Community Church pastor Lyall Bethel said campaigners were still committed to a unanimous no vote despite their efforts being based on a ‘shoe string budget.’

He said they had come up against the campaign by the likes of the numbers chiefs who have said their initiatives could cost around $3 million.

On January 28, 2013, Bahamians will be asked to vote for or against legalising web shops and whether there should be a national lottery.

Over the past few weeks, there have been several sweepstakes and giveaways of houses and cars by numbers house bosses in the run-up to the vote.

Mr Bethel said vote yes organisers had become desperate to secure the support of Bahamians when they turn out to the polls.

He said: “Things have reached a disgrace because these bosses feel that they have free rein. I was very saddened by the whole affair.

“Bahamians should not allow these men to take advantage of their needs for basic necessities like clothes and food.”

Pastor Bethel said the referendum had come down to whom Bahamians want as their God.

“Either they will say they will continue to trust God who has always been our sustainer and provider, or they will say they are putting all their trust in these bosses.”

Pastor Bethel said both the PLP and FNM had been ‘lazy’ in finding new initiatives to funnel money into the economy.

“They should have all been strategising and seeing how best they could have honed the brain power of Bahamians. There are so many different industries that we could have been ahead of the game in.”

In the upcoming weeks, the vote no campaign is expected to carry out more educational initiatives including a television show to be broadcast on ZNS.