The Tribune

THE Tribune took to the streets to find out the opinions of the Bahamian people about the Government’s recent plans on regulating the gaming industry. The predominant response given was that the government should have just regulated gaming instead of going to the extent of a referendum. To this, Chantelle Johnson of Southern shores exclaimed: “Perry is weak!”

Michelle Williams, 46, registrar clerk of Fox Hill, said: “Gaming should be regulated because the economy needs it. Let them tax the big boys. Regulate gaming instead of bringing in VAT.” She added: “We call ourselves a Christian nation but people still going into the number houses because thy need money.”

Carolyn McKinney-Brown said: “Of course gambling should be regulated, people didn’t understand the questions of the referendum. The two questions were: do you think we should have a national lottery, and should we regulate and tax the number houses. This does not mean close down the number houses. Some people voted no because they thought their winnings would be dropped.”

Garyn King, 19, a vendor from Tall Pines said: “In a way, web shops help people. VAT is coming so how could they have money to gamble and pay taxes. They are saying regulation is what’s best, but it’s not what’s best.”

Driver Howard Pinder 54, of Elizabeth Estates, said: “They should bring in gambling and tax it because it was here from way back then, it won’t stop now or ever. The government didn’t go against the people because most people didn’t understand the question.”

Helena Sherman, 50, an administrative assistant of South Beach, said: “The government shouldn’t regulate gambling, they made the people believe they would close the web shops down, but they didn’t. Regulating the gaming houses is completely going against the people”

Sean Lewis, 45, a public service driver from Blue Hills, said: “They should’ve just done their jobs the first time because that’s what we elected them to do instead of coming back to ask the people.”

Sharon Rahming, 60, a teacher at CV Bethel and a Yamacraw resident, said: “They shouldn’t tell people what to do with their money because it’s theirs; the government should’ve never gotten involved in the first place.”

Harry Strachan, 73, a taxi driver said: “They should’ve regulated it a long time ago because it creates jobs and it brings in money to the country.”

Anthony Thompson, 64, Yellow Elder resident and a security manager, said: “The government was just testing the waters with the referendum, They should regulate gaming it will help the country in many ways.”

Vivian Deveaux, 33, security supervisor from Carmichael, said: “The same people in the number houses are the same people that voted no. The government wasted time and money on the referendum because they still will end up regulating it. It makes more sense to tax gambling than goods and services.”