By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A leading web shop operator yesterday said his business experience in Haiti had been “nothing short of amazing”, as the Bahamas’ southern neighbour offered a “mind boggling” 14 million players and has proven “very lucrative” for online gaming.

FML Group of Companies chief executive, Craig Flowers, who briefly addressed a Bahamas Chamber of Commerce & Employers Confederation (BCCEC) luncheon that hosted Haitian president Michel Martelly, said his experience has been “nothing short of amazing”.

Speaking with Tribune Business, Mr Flowers described the experience as “life changing”, adding that while his initial intention may have been to explore a new market, he has used the opportunity to uplift the Haitian people.

Mr Flowers said FML is also consulting with the Haitian government over a lottery and its gaming industry. “We have online gaming. We are consulting with the government for lottery games and the gaming industry down there,” he said.

“There are an enormous number of people, some 14 million, and those numbers are mind boggling when you talk about volume for online gaming. It’s very lucrative and there is great potential.”

 Mr Flowers added: “Going to Haiti was an amazing experience. It was a life-changing experience for me. I fell in love with the people, the city and looked at the problems I saw there.

“Personally, I would like to hear the president speak to more about uplifting the people, what can Bahamians do in this country to uplift. There are people working in my store who are cashiers who came from banks who are working for $30 per month. That is almost insane for me to believe that I can go in and do that. As much as I try to change that, the policies there remain the same. That is the standard.

“People see this as an opportunity to make a lot of money when labour is so cheap. I saw an opportunity to uplift the people. I went there for the purpose of investment and making money, but when I arrived I saw something  else that took precedent over that; the opportunity for us to extend a level of compassion to the local people and offer whatever assistance we can to uplift the country,” said the FML chief.

“I hear people talking about how they can become wealthier, protecting their money, and I don’t know if that’s the right thing for me to be following.

“Maybe I’m a bit old-fashioned and look at moral issues. Haiti has gotten to a better part of me as to what my obligations to mankind are all about, as opposed to what my obligations to be wealthy are all about.”