BARBADOS: Calls for referendum on casino gambling
BRIDGETOWN, Nov 11 (IPS) - Both parliamentary opposition parties and members of the public are calling on the Barbadian government to hold a referendum on the issue of casino gambling.
The issue has surfaced over an application by British businessmen for a casino licence to complement their golf course development in the eastern section of the island.
They say the 150-million-dollar development is contingent upon the granting of the casino license. The issue was further fuelled by tourism minister, Dr. Richard Cheltenham, who told reporters in New York recently that he suspected that opposition to casino gambling in the island was coming from a "moral minority."
Against widespread debate on radio talk shows and letters to the press, Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, intervened saying that he would set up a commission to look into the proposed introduction of casino gaming, as was recommended by another commission earlier this year.
"The Solomon Study," commissioned by the previous government in February of this year, recommends the introduction of three or four tightly regulated casinos.
Consultant, Nat Solomon, who conducted the study explained that he was commissioned to report on "the desirability of establishing legalised Casino gaming in Barbados and if the government decided to proceed, the broad considerations which should govern the activity."
After consulting with a broad cross section of agencies and individuals, including government, tourism authorities and the Church, Solomon concluded that "properly controlled and regulated casino gaming would be advantageous to the Barbadian economy through its beneficial effect on tourism and that it could be established in a way that is perfectly compatible with Barbadian traditions and prevailing social values."
But Arthur's decision has been slammed by both the opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the National Democratic Party (NDP). Leader of the NDP Dr. Richard Haynes, says he will not be fooled by the establishment of a commission.
"Whenever the Barbados Labour Party seeks to foist unpopular and shady developments on the people of Barbados, it resorts to setting up self-serving commissions to reflect responsibility for its actions. It did so in the past and is doing so again," says Haynes.
He says the BLP is either for or against the introduction of casino gambling and Barbadians expected to hear the position of their elected government.
© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service