By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
WEB SHOP workers fear for their jobs if the numbers racket is made legal.
They believe web shop chiefs may consider laying off some of the industry’s estimated 3,000 employees to replace them with automatic lottery machines which would cut down on operating costs.
There are 144 web shops. Bosses may consider layoffs based on how heavily they could be taxed if playing numbers is made legal, workers claim.
Island Luck CEO Sebas Bastian, who has already said he wants to keep workers, refuted the claims.
The workers’ claims come just days before the gaming referendum on Monday, when Bahamians will be asked to say yes or no to regulating and taxing web shop gaming and yes or no to establishing a national lottery.
Mr Bastian said he was certain more job opportunities would be made available to remedy the country’s unemployment rate.
“No layoffs whatsoever are planned,” Mr Bastian told the Big T.
“As it relates to the economic side of this industry, more employment opportunities will be available as the market expands and more benefits are offered to employees.
“Employees will have first option at the share offering in the planned IPO.”
He encouraged the electorate to ‘understand’ the impact of a regularised gaming industry for the Bahamas’ economy.
He said the government would, in the future, find it increasingly difficult to depend on tourism and banking to keep the country afloat.
Mr Bastian said web shop owners had made no plans to reduce winnings in the event of a majority yes vote despite wide reports they had planned to do so.
“The industry’s operators will remain committed to providing its patrons with the best possible odds,” he said.
Democratic National Alliance party leader and attorney Branville McCartney believes the referendum process is ‘illegal’.
He said yesterday he would vote against the legalisation of playing numbers.
“I have stated, and I would again emphasise, that the process that the Bahamian people are being asked to participate in on January 28 is not legal, is flawed and consequently the result will not be binding.
“On January 29, web shop gaming will still be illegal and there will still be no laws in the Bahamas governing a national lottery.”
He claimed the government’s handling of the procedure had been ‘lacking, irresponsible and deceptive to the Bahamian people.’ According to Mr McCartney, the country is now perceived internationally as ‘inept.’
Comments
Edu 11 years, 2 months ago
If the tourism can't keep the country afloat.. Why do you think numbers will.? It gambling people . it is not design for the majority of people to win..
John 11 years, 2 months ago
YOU heard it here first...with or without web shops, next year is going to be a bumper year for the Bahamian economy. In fact there could easily be over employment in this country by the end of 2014. First of all when Bah Mar opens it will automatically create 5,000 jobs and this alone will spin additional economic activity and more jobs. Secondly since Obama will not be running for president again, the Republicans will unleash the muzzle they held on the US economy for the last 5 years. Once the US eceonomy starts to rebound and turn around, then we will feel the positive effects here. Also segments of the Bahamian economy have already started to rebound...the hotels for example are also reporting increases in bookings and occupancy levels; almost all the major food stores that were closed in Nassau and Freeport have re-opened or will soon re-open and other retail stores, electronics, luxury goods are reporting increases in sales. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO is ensure that additional large scale ventures come on stream around the same time that Bah Mar opens. Government should also pump stimulus money into fishing, farming and cottage industries so that not everything the tourist buys or consumes here is imported. Ninety cents of every Tourist dollar leaving the country is almost criminal. GOVERNMENT must also move to reconfigure BEC so that the cost of electricity can be reduced. The corporation must be less dependent on fossil fuels and the union must be harnessed so it does not continue to saddle the corporation with a run-away labor bill. A reduction in energy costs will stimulate additional investment in the country, and those energy dependent companies already operating will be able to make a profit. Finally goverment must address the large section of our labour force, males especially, that have little education and no skills. Unless this matter is addressed the crime rate will continue to escalate. When a person can hang out on the street corner and make $500-$800 per day selling drugs, how can you convince him to take a job that pays $180.00 a week?
dudu 11 years, 2 months ago
I think this a very interesting post.I love shopping on the internet and now I am looking for some http://www.theretiredsailor.com/2013/...">decorating and gardening articles for my wife's birthday.
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