The Tribune

EARLIER THIS year there was much speculation that the "numbers racket" was going to be legalised and regulated. From comments made by Prime Minister Ingraham in the House of Assembly yesterday it is now clear that in deference to the Christian Council he plans to wait until after the election, and if returned to government, leave it to the Bahamian people to decide through referendum on a question that has troubled this community for many years. Mr Ingraham told the House that after "consultation" with some key figures in The Bahamas Christian Council, he would not move to legalise the "number's business." Indeed, this unregulated gambling is so entrenched that it is in fact a business -- and a lucrative one at that. It is so much a part of Bahamian life that -- despite sporadic raids by the police, which are becoming fewer -- it is nothing to be asked by one's maid for a birth or anniversary date, so that she can go and "play the numbers." There is no attempt to hide what has become a poor man's "flutter." The Christian Council -- a Baptist stronghold -- are against gambling as a tenet of their religion, but instead of insisting on the law being enforced and the little gaming houses shut down, they sit silently by only making their opinions known when anyone talks of regulation and legalisation. Behind their curtain of silence, the numbers man has worked hard to entrench his business in this society. It is true what FNM chairman Carl Bethel says that when he drives on East Street south, wherever he looks -- to left or right -- there is a numbers house. This is not just confined to East Street south, these outlets are located near The Tribune, near the bridge, over in Palmdale and wherever one looks the signs advertising the gaming business are getting larger, bolder, and very much in the citizen's face as though defying them to do something about it. Earlier this year the police raided one of Craig Flowers' establishments, confiscating certain gaming equipment and paraphernalia, claiming they were illegal under the Gaming Act. Mr Flowers denied that he was doing anything wrong. Almost the next day he was back in business, and, it would seem that his businesses are still flourishing. In the PLP days, although they doffed their hats respectfully to the Christian Council, they gave the wink to the late Percy Munnings, openly referred to in those days as "the numbers guy." He was also known as "Mr Money bags," the PLP's treasurer, who was a generous financial supporter of his party. No one could touch Mr Munnings. If Percy Munnings could get away with it, reasoned the little numbers man, then why couldn't he? It was a reasonable proposition. Despite the police raids, the back room numbers trade became bolder and more entrenched. But today, with Craig Flowers setting the pace, there are no holds barred. Signs are mushrooming on almost every street corner in certain areas of this island, business is flourishing and through sheer bravado the numbers game is here to stay. The Christian Council, through its silence, has almost given its blessing to the backroom dens. The Council does not push for their closure, but every time government moves towards regulation, the Council extends a restraining hand, and the drawing of numbers continues, while customers -- including police officers -- pocket their winnings. "This gambling is like a cancer in this society," a senior police officer commented earlier this year shortly after the Flowers' raid. "It is because there has been a lack of law enforcement over the years, which has not helped the situation. It is now so entrenched they don't see anything wrong with it -- that's the problem." It is now time for this practice to be regulated, and taxed like all businesses in this country, because in fact it has now become a business. There was a time when we were against a national lottery mainly because we believed it was opening up another avenue for graft by those delegated to operate it. However, we agree with the Prime Minister that the time has come to make a decision. This country has to face the question of a lottery. Rather than taxing Bahamians to provide for much needed funds to expand health care, build schools and sporting facilities, it is time to tap this untaxed source of income. The only question now is whether there should be one national lottery with all these little businesses being closed, or whether they should be allowed to co-exist with the national lottery as long as they too pay a business licence tax. As the Christian Council has not been able over all these years to exert enough pressure to have them closed, it will now be left to Bahamians to make the final decision. Number houses are now so much a part of this society that -- depending upon the results of the referendum -- regulation and taxation should be quickly implemented after the election.