By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
POLICE will be “mounting an operation” against the country’s web-shops with Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade stating yesterday that police “will turn up” and “could turn up, anywhere.”
Amid public uncertainty over the future of the country’s web-shops, Mr Greenslade declared: “If you are gambling, you should stop.”
Although refusing to give a time-line on when police will take action against illegal gambling, Mr Greenslade assured the public that action will happen.
“If I’m going to be successful in mounting an operation, I cannot tell people when,” he said.
“I have to do what I perceive to be the right things at the right times and I don’t want you to take that lightly because we will turn up and we could turn up anywhere. In fact, that’s a statement of fact – don’t take it lightly.”
The commissioner said his position “is and always has been” that where it is appropriate for police to take a course of action, they will.
“We’re not going to say what date and time, when and where, and who – because that would defeat what were trying to do,” he said.
“But I can assure you, if there’s illegal activity taking place, I would suggest that those persons who are a part of it – should pay attention, we could show up at any time.”
When asked if he considers gambling to be an “illegal activity” Mr Greenslade said whatever Bahamian laws say about gambling, is what he believes.
“This is a very difficult issue – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, and we are confusing some things,” he said.
“The issue of illegality is spoken to, by law. There are some other issues that the commissioner cannot get into and will not get into. What I will suggest though, is that persons that are very, very concerned – if they are gambling, they should be very careful because the ones that ask me questions may get arrested.
“I’ve had a lot of people in the community that have asked me questions about what I will do and you might be surprised, when we do take action, what you might uncover.
“I am encouraging people to obey the laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and if you are gambling, you should stop, yes. And the issue to say that ‘well, this is basically what I do’ has no validity in the face of the law.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 11 years ago
Man I just cannot help but feel this man is full of it. The court has pulled the trigger. He knows where every single shop is, he knows exactly what they're doing in those shops. What time does he need. Commish jump in your car and grab a few extra handcuffs and go to work. Stop with all the nonsense about when and planning. You have everything you need.
vinceP 11 years ago
This whole thing should have been dealt with by the Government and made legal from the start. Lets be realistic here, this issue goes beyond the employees of the web-shops, and the owners. There are countless thousands of Bahamians that play numbers, many of which that voted "NO" to regulating the industry simply because they felt that the payouts would decrease, and that the Government would tax their winnings. Going beyond that, one of the top 10 reasons for Crime, and this is perhaps world wide, is "POVERTY". Many Bahamians play numbers not with the intent of someday hitting it big and becoming millionaires, but simply to make ends meet. I respect our Commissioner of Police, and appreciate the tight position that he now finds himself in. I would certainly not want his job. Should he follow through on his promise to shut down the web shops, we will most certainly see a larger spike in CRIME, one in my opinion that we have never seen before, and this saddens me because we really cannot afford anymore negative publicity, as it relates to crime. I really don't think that the powers that be have given this particular outcome much thought, and this is scary. We really need to break the trend of putting wealthy men/women in Government because lets face it, they can no longer relate to the trials, especially financial ones, that the average Bahamian has to go through on a daily basis. our Government is going to extreme lengths to stomp out the numbers industry, and here it is we have countless ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS living here, and yet we don't hear or see them conducting raids? The only thing they do is send back the illegal immigrants that are caught when trying to come here. My people, this is very serious, and i will end in saying "GOD help us". " For every action, there is an EQUAL and OPPOSITE reaction". The number houses may one day be shut down, but my beloved people, we will now be faced with an increase in crime. Finally, I think we need to stop expecting the police to stop crime. They cannot control the evil that an individual or individuals conjure up in their minds.
Ironvelvet 11 years ago
Why is the commish annoncing his plans to raid them. Thanks for giving them a heads up! Dummies!
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
Man I feel sorry for the poor innocent police man on duty and in uniform that pokes his head in the shop to buy his numbers...people gonna scatter like he's got the plague thinking it is a raid!!
242 11 years ago
but theyll box his badge number first tho
TalRussell 11 years ago
Comrades we have been critical over the Commish's handling of the numbers web shops and he has obliviously been listening to the outcry from the people and has come before the people to look all citizens in the eyes to tell us that; "he is serious."
We have to support the Commish and his policeman's and policewoman's when says he will act as "mandated by the law" to bring law and order to the doorsteps of any and and all numbers "bosses. That he is also prepared to apprehend their employees and customers, if found on raided premises.
I believe the Commish and the High Court Justices, but not so damn sure I believe anything this PLP cabinet has to say about supporting the Commish? He may very well be putting his job at risk but he will not lie to Bahamians?
by TalRussell
vinceP 11 years ago
Again i say, this is a very serious matter. JOBs are not out there in abundance as some would have you believe, and with an already high unemployment rate, and a few thousand kids coming out of school this June, we will be in an even poorer state. I pray to GOD that all this pushing by the "Have's" does not lead to the "Have nots" revolting. I dread the day that we become a people like those we see violently protesting in Haiti and Jamaica. We are a country of almost 400 thousand and a police force of perhaps just over 3,500. I fear that we will end up like those countries if we are not careful. Times are extremely hard for many, and the opportunities are just not out there. We need to leave the politics out of this because real people are being hurt.
John 11 years ago
Maybe its time to block the bridge again (ok now there's two) and demand that casinos be shut down too. What is good for thetourism) goose should be good for the (bahamian) gambler.
Stapedius 11 years ago
The police is still operating in the 90's. The web shop owners are light years ahead. Many of us use the web to gamble these days. I don't know who sets foot in a web shop nowadays. If he is serious about going after them he should consider hitting them where it hurts. Find a way to block their websites and get the courts to freeze their bank accounts. The banks in this country know exactly who their clients are so fine them if they harbour illegal money. Lets stop wasting the time and limited manpower that we have with these silly raids. Its truly an old school and outdated way of thinking to send in an army of officers to one web shop arresting people. With today's tech I can sit in a car on my phone or at my home computer access the web play my numbers have have my winnings sent to my acct. In the same way, the Comish and crew should be able to sit in central command and via technology with the few clicks of a button, some sort of digital court order and search warrant be able to shut down these web shops at their heart. It looks like the Comish has gone into the PR business because all he can do is talk to the press these days. Anyway, I giving yall too many ideas because I'm in favour of gambling. If these casinos can come here and make millions then why can't Bahamians take part in the ownership of this thing? We need to get real in this country.
lazybor 11 years ago
indeed...and they cannot stop this
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leeza 11 years ago
The Commissioner will not act unless he gets the approval of this PLP Administration if he does act otherwise, he may not be sitting there too long, its as simple as that. Perry already advised The number Bosses before the referundum and after the note came back as no so they will always be steps ahead of the police afterall he has no horse in the race just Jockeys
bismark 11 years ago
Whether it provides jobs or not it is still deemed illegal,The Commissioner is charged with upholding the law,i think he will do whatever is right,he did warn whoever is doing it to stop,so if anybody gets caught in a raid they were warned,as for the number guys,i dont feel sorry for them at all,they made lots of money off the backs of poor people,they say they donate to charities?Carifta was just held a few weeks ago ask if any of them donated a bottle of water!they are all for their greedy selves,some people squander every dollar they get in these ''houses''chasing a dream,because thats all it is,i heard some people state that numbers help them make ends meet?thats bullsh....t!if thats the case then we wouldnt had so many people complaining about losing all of their money,some put every dollar and lose it,week after week and this has been going on for couple of years well,the only person wins,the number man.
Mayaguana34 11 years ago
I hate that my Commissioner sounds just like my MP - Sound, fury and indignation but NO ACTION!
PKMShack 11 years ago
No raid is needed you big dummy, block the website domain.
banker 11 years ago
What a lot of people are missing here, is that the web shops provide a banking service for the un-banked -- with no fees! Many people deposit money in Nassau and the relatives in the Family Islands have a card. It is the easiest way to send money home and no banking hassles, and no losses on the mail boat.
bismark 11 years ago
Commissioner the ball is in your court.
BahamasGamingAssociation 9 years, 10 months ago
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahama...">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahama...
WHICH ON OF THE BELOW REIGNS SUPREME IN THE BAHAMAS?
The Bahamas Lottery and Gaming Act Chapter 387 Section 50 Persons prohibited from Gaming
Or
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Chapter III – Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual. Section 26 Protection from Discrimination on grounds of Race, Place of Origin etc.
The Bahamas Gaming Association stands by the Ideology that all human beings who are 18 years or older should be treated equally in all sectors of the Bahamian Economy which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
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