By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FNM chairman Darron Cash yesterday accused Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell of attempting to “frighten” people into voting yes in the gaming referendum.

In a statement, Mr Cash said Mr Bell suggested that if Bahamians did not vote yes in the upcoming referendum, their no vote could have a negative impact on the police’s ability to fight violent crime.

“His direct suggestion was that if Bahamians vote NO, then as Minister of National Security he could not assure our citizens that he could protect them from violent crimes because of the need to divert police resources to the new enforcement of gambling laws.

“This must have been the most ridiculous pro-gambling claptrap from the government’s pro-gambling lobby wing.

“It has surpassed his Prime Minister’s suggestion that his jobs programme was built on a decision to turn a blind eye to illegal operations that employ a large number of Bahamians,” he said.

“Minister Bell must be Non compos mentis! He and his government were not concerned about diverting resources when they tripled the number of prime ministerial outriders and added new levels of police protection to ministers who never needed them before but now wanted to increase their sense of importance with more police around them.

“They were not concerned about diverting resources when they diverted police attention from crime fighting and made them deliver groceries as part of this government’s newly dressed up Urban Renewal Programme.”

Mr Cash said Mr Bell and the PLP are so desperate they will say anything to pressure the people into voting yes.

He said: “Even Mr Bell must know that it is grossly inappropriate for the minister to attempt to frighten people into voting yes. That is not governing; that approach is rule by fear and intimidation. The Bahamian people deserve better.”