By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS of the “Vote No” campaign are questioning whether the government is renting office space from a commercial complex allegedly owned by numbers bosses.

Lyall Bethel, pastor of the Grace Community Church and spokesperson of the campaign, yesterday called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to set the record straight on claims he called “troubling.”

He was responding to speculation that has surfaced over the past few weeks that several government agencies are to be relocated to the building on John F Kennedy Drive later this year.

“Word is,” Pastor Bethel said, “that the building is owned by one of the number house guys and is going to be rented by the government. When we spoke to the Prime Minister he was all about transparency. If this is the case, they need to disavow all involvement with them.

“We were troubled to get these reports... he has said that he has no horse in the race.”

If the reports prove to be true, Pastor Bethel said the government would have to publicly restate its stance of neutrality in the lead up to referendum day on January 28. 

“We have constantly felt that if this process is to be seen as above board, the government cannot be seen in bed with these fellas. If indeed these claims are true, then the government would need to do an about face.”

Pastor Bethel repeated calls for the government to seek other means of revenue generation apart from the legalisation of gambling.

“We believe and have said this over and repeatedly that this is no way for a country to make ends meet. We have warned successive governments to back away from this. If it means that government raises taxes then the government should consider that avenue,” Pastor Bethel said.