By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
YESTERDAY’S march up Bay Street by webshop employees and their vote “yes” supporters was a “wonderful expression of the democracy” in the country, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday morning.
Speaking outside the House of Assembly – before its sitting – he remarked on the large number of demonstrators and noted his motorcade was forced to drive around the large parade.
“I saw some as I passed, we had to take another path to get here to the House of Assembly. So clearly, this is a wonderful expression of the democracy we have,” Mr Christie said.
“These people are taking the opportunity to come out here and allow the Bahamian people to see for themselves that they are human beings, that they are young, that they are old, that they are making an expression in support of what they do – whether they constitute the majority or not we will know when the results of the referendum are made public.”
He explained Ministry of Finance documents left in place by the previous administration have advised that massive numbers of Bahamians are employed by the gaming industry and that is one certainty the government will have to deal when the referendum is concluded.
“People are employed in this industry. I am told thousands of them are employed in this industry,” he said.
“Now what does the government do with that reality? One thing I do know, on the 29 of January, on the 30th, the government of the Bahamas will have to be rolling up its sleeves, either working to implement and regularise what exists or then designing strategies to be able to see how we are able to eliminate it or minimize it with this one reality.”
Mr Christie also commented on reports that webshop operators funded PLP election campaigns.
“One of the amusing things about people who say that webshop people paid the PLP is that if we were being sponsored by them, I wouldn’t come to Parliament,” he said. “I would come here as a sovereign government in a sovereign country and passed the laws without having to go through all of what we’re doing.
“You can’t buy my government. You can’t buy me. It’s a silly kind of thing to say in a country where political donations are lawful.”
The prime minister also noted the entire debate over a national lottery and the regularisation of webshops is “breaking ground” in the country.
Comments
selahlee 11 years, 3 months ago
The Prime Minister of our country praised the demonstration of citizens engaged in illegal activities as a "wonderful demonstration of Democracy." Actually, what it really demonstrated was the AWFUL abandonment of the Rule of Law as the basis for an orderly society. Our current Government has surrendered the Rule of Law, entrenched in our constitution, to the Rule of Greed, entrenched in the gambling industry. What a sad day for Bahamians! Hear the Word of the Lord!
"When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. A just king [or Prime Minister] gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it."
"The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all. If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked."
"When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall. When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord." (Proverbs 29:2, 4, 7, 12, 16, 18, 25, 26 NLT)
selahlee 11 years, 3 months ago
What God Says re. Oppressive Leaders, Greedy Citizens and Hypocritical Prophets:
LEADERS:When there is rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear. A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life.
PEOPLE: A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty. Greed causes fighting; trusting the L ord leads to prosperity. (Proverbs 28:2, 15, 16, 19, 22, 25 NLT)
PROPHETS: “I saw that the prophets of Samaria were terribly evil, for they prophesied in the name of Baal and led my people of Israel into sin. But now I see that the prophets of Jerusalem are even worse! They commit adultery and love dishonesty. They encourage those who are doing evil so that no one turns away from their sins. These prophets are as wicked as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah once were.” (Jeremiah 23:9-14 NLT).
jackbnimble 11 years, 3 months ago
What an amazing disgrace!
242 11 years, 3 months ago
The only reason PC ain openly supporting yes or just legalizing it in the first place is because he think he can keep support of the church after its done. And fa sure a lot of the church leaders after the vote will say it was the people not Christie who made the decision( if a yes vote wins) and be righr back in line for their plp handours they accustomed to. And if NO wins he ll tell Flowers it was the people not him. Christie trying to keep a win win situation for himself with the numbers folks and the church. Rt. Hon "Neutral Christie".
TalRussell 11 years, 3 months ago
Comrades in recent days leading up to Monday's January 28 vote, PM Christie has "come forward" becoming the leading advocate for the 'Vote Yes' campaign and this is not just political gossip.
Unfortunately, Bahamians who are still undecided are the main targets of this more aggressive effort by Bahamaland's PLP government, who fabricate whatever they think will encourage their horse to cross the finish line in first place.
Who would have thought that at the time when thousands of Bahamians were "reluctantly" casting their votes for PLP candidates on Decision Day 2012, that they would so quickly witness such a verbal shakedown by the very PLP's, that they were warned not to trust with the powerful instruments of Bahamaland's government?
by TalRussell
dacy 11 years, 3 months ago
oh lord have mercy....people what have yall done to this country by putting dis wutless man in power. Everytime he open is mouth he prove me right...idiot!
by dacy
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