Prime Minister Perry Christie has announced that all web shops must close with immediate effect.
In a statement released early Tuesday evening, Mr Christie said: ”In keeping with my Government’s commitment to abide by the will of the electorate as expressed on Monday’s referendum, it has now become necessary to effect the closure of all web-shop gaming operations in The Bahamas.
“Accordingly, all offending web-shop owners and operators are placed on notice that all their gaming operations, including all online gaming and the numbers games, must cease with immediate effect. Failure to do so will leave all such web shop owners, operators and web shop gaming patrons exposed to arrest and criminal prosecution without further notice or warning.
“While web shop owners and operators must cease and desist from gaming operations immediately, they are not required to close the door on their employees and those persons with whom they have lawful commercial relationships. This includes relationships with landlords throughout the country, as well as relationships with utility and service companies, supplies of goods, and other third-party creditors.
“The Government expects that all web shop owners and operators will cooperate in giving effect to what I have just outlined so as to thereby eliminate the need for the relevant law enforcement authorities to take coercive action to compel the necessary result.”
Comments
John 3 months, 3 weeks ago
ANd now the" tihs" has hit the fan ..now the battle begins in earnest. Restoration of law and order in the Bahamas? or a missed opportunity for regulation because of a flawed process?
Baha10 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Sounds like another job for our country's only proven enforcer, Woodes Rogers. You know, the guy outside the British Colonial Hotel. Anyone got his cell number?
242 3 months, 3 weeks ago
The Rt. Hon Perry Gladstone Christie "say" a lot of things.
242 3 months, 3 weeks ago
He also said he had no horse in the race.
Apostle 3 months, 3 weeks ago
My gut feelings tell me that Prime Minister Christie didn't really want nor did he really believed the yes vote would pass. But if it is so that the gaming dealers donated to his party's campaign in the general election and he see how the church reacted as they supported him overwhelming, what better way to appease both than to say "let's take this to a referendum". If the people vote yes he can say to the church the people chose. I will enact laws. If the no succeed as it did, he can say to his financial supporters "fellas you'll see the people say they don't want this so you have to close". This way nobody can blame him. "For true, when you play, everybody wins".
If Perry Christie was serious he believed a yes vote would have succeeded, he should have at least have a draft Bill for discussion. Maybe he has, but I have yet to hear about it. What is scary though is the fact that if my assertions are right, I can't see why the prime minister took objection to anybody speaking out against web shops, while the yes vote party on and held rallies and marches.
Further, Perry Christie is a trained lawyer so I am sure he must have thought that he would face a legal challenge from the web dealers. He and Bradley Roberts every opportunity they got sought to remind us that it was Hubert Ingraham and his government to license all of these dealers. That said, all licenses expire on December 31, 2012. I suspect Christie wanted the referendum on 28 December so that he could tell them don't apply if no wins. The church obviously was not focused on this, but licensees have until March 31 to have their licenses renewed. So there was no rush and the prime minister had at least another two months to educate the Bahamian people. He needed time on his side so that he wouldn't have to be the one to grant the licenses. He could have just enacted laws and regulations without this costly referendum and I wonder who paid for.
Now Mr. Prime Minister, you have the pen. You can't blame Papa no more. I will sit and see whether any licenses will be renewed or shops spring up after the PLP government came in and you'll continue to say it was Hubert Ingraham's government to grant the licenses. The people have spoken and loudly so. Whatever was Perry Christie's intended or expected results of the referendum, I hope he got it because we got ours. He now need to be Prime Minister and stop blaming Hubert Ingraham for everything that went or even now goes wrong in this country.
TalRussell 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Comrades PM has spoken and we have to trust he will close down any and all web shops, who the police are satisfied are conducting any form of an criminal gambling operation at their establishments.
Let's give PM credit for now attempting to do what Hubert never attempted in his twelve years in power. He can say whatever and all he wants with his new regain the red shirts leadership voice, he never issued a prime ministerial order to close the numbers "bosses" down on a large scale. Effectively shutting their big bold- face marchers on Bay Street mouths up, for good.
Will it be an easy job for Commsh Greenslade? Of course not and none of us should expect it be a simple task. Some have put the combined yearly cash rake for the numbers "bosses" to be as high as $400 million.
The vote has been decided. Support the PM to do the tough job of shutting the gambling joints down.
Comrades dont you be so easily fooled. Both Minnis and Hubert's real positions on gambling is as unclear as yesterday's gambling referendum's two questions. For darn sure they ain't on the same 'No' to gambling page as the Bahamas Christian Council pastors and members.
by TalRussell
nationbuilder 3 months, 3 weeks ago
THIS HEADLINE IS INCORRECT. THE PRIME MINISTER DID NOT SAY THE WEBSHOPS SHOULD CLOSE. HE SAID THEY CAN STAY OPEN, THEY JUST NEED TO STOP SELLING NUMBERS AND WEB GAMES
hellorg 3 months, 3 weeks ago
The s***tith has hittith the fanith!!!
jackbnimble 3 months, 3 weeks ago
If the PM is successful in doing this, my faith in him will be restored but he has to get it together. I am just saddened that this Government just missed a wonderful opportunity to establish a National Lottery because it seemed that all the focus was on getting the web shops regularised and it was obvious (in my opinion) that the lottery was just a second thought with no concrete plan in place to establish it. What a pity. I for one, however, will not count this Government out. We need to give them a chance to rectify this and not be so harsh. All leaders make mistakes and I believe Mr. Christie meant well. Personally, I am still rooting for him and his team. This whole exercise must be very sobering.
Emac 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Well done… The people of the Bahamas have spoken. They have declared by way of a referendum that they do not support legalizing gambling in the Bahamas- At least not for Bahamians. The church was certainly the biggest and loudest opponent. So, now what the government needs to do is remove all of the concessions given to these lofty buildings that they call churches and tax them like other businesses in order to get some form of taxation and fill in the gap where the number houses could have provided the same. I am sure the church leaders won’t mind. The leaders of some of these churches can be compared to number house bosses anyway. At the end of the day see who is driving the fancy cars and flying in private jets etc. Where did these so call men of God get the money to afford these types of luxuries? The monies come from the proceeds of the lucrative church business. We must remember that the Bahamas is for all Bahamians, the religious ones and the ones who don’t give a hoot about religion. I look forward to the day when we can elect a leader who has enough balls to do what is in the best interest of the people of the Bahamas and not pander to a certain group of holier than thou, Sunday Christians. I feel that the referendum was a waste of money. Both the PLP and FNM should have made the decision to either close the web shops or legalize them long time and just get it out the way.
Apostle 3 months, 3 weeks ago
For you to compare the church with web shops, I respectfully contend that you may not be fully aware of what is at stake here. The prime minister needs to find ways to stimulate this economy and get Bahamians to work. That is why he was elected. Taxing web shops or churches is utter nonsense and misses the big picture. Churches are non profit organizations and web shops are using a legal entity to provide web services internet to perpetuate an illegal enterprise. They are not licensed to conduct online gambling so the government can't tax them no more that the government can tax prostitutes or drug runners, which are all illegal. Web shops only enrich a few and does very little if anything at all to add to the Gross Domestic Product of this country.
Emac 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Well that's my point. The church should be non profit but they don't operate as such. So therefore, the churches in the Bahamas only enrich a few ( the leaders themselves) and do very little if anything to add to the Gross Domestic Product of this country.By the way, the whole purpose of regularizing the web shops would be to allow the government to collect taxes from them.
bookiedread 3 months, 3 weeks ago
My fellow Bahamians, let us all be clear as to what just happened. The PM failed to address the country after it was clear that "HIS" referendum was voted "NO". He took his own sweet time in addressing the "People Whom He Serves". It was obvious that he expected it to pass but had no backup plan. I will always remember a teacher once said to me that, "Wrong is wrong no matter who says it or does it." There is a God above and we as a country has always shown our trust in him. Our fore-fathers did it and why shouldn't we. After the vote my mom said to me that there is a God who sits on the throne he would never give us more than we could bear. I believe this and so should the leaders that WE put in place. People have bad mouth the church for their stance but we now see the power of prayer. Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. We can't make right what is wrong. So I say to my fellow Bahamians that indulge in the cesspit of gambling, lets all get over it and move on. Our help doesn't come from man but rather from the God that made heaven and earth. Lift up your heads to the rising sun Bahama land. Don't mind what the other countries our doing. Let us be the mark that they look up to. God bless the Bahamas and the many Bahamians that voted NO.
shawn242 3 months, 3 weeks ago
OH stfu about God. there is no God! F**K him. God doesnt pay bills and he wont hire does 3000 people that lost their jobs. Whats so GODLY about me as a Bahamian not be able to gamble in my own country when other people, can do it.
JohnDoe 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Very enlightened opinion my friend, you have definitely contributed to this debate.
shawn242 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I know your being sarcastic. But Thank You very much!!! A**hole
JohnDoe 3 months, 3 weeks ago
God loves you!
shawn242 3 months, 3 weeks ago
God isnt real Sir, Stop believing in fairytale. Christians, sound just as stupid as Jewish, Muslim and any other religious group of people. WAKE UP! idiot. Have you ever heard GOD's voie or seen his face? Cause lord knows i have'nt. does god pay your rent? Cause Lord knows he does'nt pay mine! I and only I have to work to survive. NOT GOD
John 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Picture this: They say Bahamians spend $40,000,000 (forty million dollars a year on gambling. There are 8 web shops operators (according to the PM). IF they decide to move their operations offshore..(all you will need is a smart phone or lap top to gamble) then we lose the jobs these people provided, the rent they paid to their landlords the utilty bills they paid (light, water. internet.cabale phone) and plus 70% of the $40 million will leave the country every year just because your beloved PM funmbled big time not to mention the spinoffs
hj 3 months, 3 weeks ago
We have to wait and see. Let's not forget in 2002 one of his first orders of business was to move a tractor to the Straw Market site and proclaim that work was to start soon. Soon was proved to be 5 years later. Only time will tell if he is serious this time,or everybody is waiting for things to calm down and then get back to "normal". Maybe not as open as before but back to normal nevertheless. In any case the "numbers people" have enough cash to weather the storm for a few days,weeks or even months.
grittygirls 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Well return of the old fashioned numbers falling should return pretty soon. Despite the no vote this is obviously not the end of grass roots gambling And for all the high minded clergymen out there. Please channel your energy and fervour towards the abuse of women and children by yyour rank and file and I will have more respect for you. Also please don't let me see another church raffle ticket, tombola bingo or punch board stalls at your fairs and fundraisers
NumberMan 3 months, 3 weeks ago
The Web Shops are now officially closed now the big question is what happens to the three thousand plus people and their families that were employed there , the Bahamas Christian Council has said that they will offer counseling but it is the governments job to provide for them. I don't think that as Bahamians we thought things thru before we voted , it is my opinion that the BCC saw the Web Shops as their biggest competitor because instead of church their members sat in the Web Shops on Sundays , so when given the opportunity they jumped on the chance to get rid of them. Realistically speaking we all know what happened to a young lady that went for quote unquote counseling at one of the top churches in the Bahamas are we prepared to send thousands more vulnerable young people to these so called Holy men ,my opinion is it would be like sending a lamb to be slaughtered. The Government can not afford to take care of all these people financially and the only thing the BCC is prepared to do is counsel them , I say it is time for Prime Minister Christie to step up and save the jobs of the three thousand plus quit simply because there is no one else who cares enough to save them.
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