By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins has dismissed lawyer Wayne Munroe’s recent statements about him as ignorant and arrogant while remaining critical of the government’s failure to involve Gaming Board members in the drafting process of the recently tabled Gaming Bill.
On Thursday Mr Munroe said “a peanut man” or a “cashier at BEC” could be chairman of the Gaming Board, adding that Dr Rollins and other board members are not gaming professionals, therefore they were not involved in the drafting of the gaming Bill.
“Dr Rollins is an orthodontist,” he said. “For the drafting of a bill this important, the government sought out gaming consultants who are professionals in the field … we elevate politicians too much in this country.”
Dr Rollins, however, hit back yesterday, saying the role of board members as professionals leading efforts to police the gaming industry should not be devalued.
“As a lawyer who is held in high regard for his legal acumen, I found (Mr Munroe’s) statements so full of incongruent reasoning that the only way for me to explain its illogic was to be reminded of what I was once told: a crafty lawyer will say anything to advance his client’s cause.
“Mr Munroe’s dismissal of the importance of the chairman and appointed board demonstrates a significant degree of ignorance, arrogance, hubris and a contempt for the law and the gaming industry itself.”
Dr Rollins argued that “by Mr Munroe’s distorted logic,” Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe with responsibility for gaming, is out of his depth because he lacks gaming experience despite his ministerial role.
He also said Mr Munroe’s statements, if true, reflect poorly on the government which appoints members of the board.
“Only a reckless and clueless government would appoint an incompetent person to chair a regulatory authority of this magnitude,” he said. “To be fair, perhaps Mr Munroe believes that this government is both reckless and clueless, but I shall give him the benefit of the doubt until he says so publicly.”
Dr Rollins said all parliamentarians are unqualified to vote on the Bill given Mr Munroe’s reasoning. “If as Chairman I lacked the degree of gaming expertise to warrant participation in the drafting of the legislation, it also stands to reason that none of the parliamentarians, none of whom qualify as gaming experts, have any business voting on whether the proposed ‘modernised’ gaming legislation is worthy of being passed into law,” he said.
“To use his ridiculous reasoning, only the casino owners and web shop operators, his clients of course, are qualified or necessary to determine what is best to be included in the proposed gaming bills to ensure conformity with global best practices. They alone should be left to draft the revised laws and regulations and to determine their own rate of taxation.
“This strikes me as both dangerous and unpatriotic, but then again Mr Munroe is being paid to secure a sweetheart deal for his clients and as far as he seems to be concerned, let the country be damned. In Mr Munroe’s twisted world of logic, politicians are elected to serve special interests instead of the public interest.”
Dr Rollins emphasised that he is an elected official tasked with representing the Bahamian people, adding Mr Munroe merely represents the interests of his clients.
“I must remind Mr Munroe, who ironically offered himself as a candidate in the last election under the banner of the Democratic National Alliance, that in private life he is paid handsomely to represent the interests of the web shop owners, while I as an elected Member of Parliament have an obligation to represent the interests of the Bahamian public,” he said.
“Unless or until Mr Munroe addresses the merits of the very valid concerns that I raised, whether I am a cashier at BEC or an orthodontist, I will excuse his commentary as that of a crafty lawyer motivated by what must be a very handsome retainer fee and remain focused on my job of protecting the interests of those who elected me.”
Comments
John 9 years, 7 months ago
I don't gamble but i cannot understand several things: 1. Why does there have to be seperation in gambling facilities? Ok so if you say You (who ever you are) don't want Bahamians in the hotel casinos (just like you don't want them on the beaches and elsewhere) Then why make it illegal for tourists to gamble in local web shops? Secondly why is there discrimination in fees web shops will be paying as opposed to the casinos?
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
I must challenge both Comrades "Lawyer" Wayne and MP Dr. Andre. Now, I just need reflect to get get it right in fairness to the two respected gentleman's - considering there are some right and some wrong in what both men's have to say. I is thinking cause I want my post hit all intended targets.
Later it shall be!
NoNoNo 9 years, 7 months ago
I don't get it.
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John 9 years, 7 months ago
Why will web shops pay more. The argument I have heard that far (that the Bahamian web shop owners, who are Bahamians, have a vested interest to protect what is theirs) defies logic. Since the foreign owners of casinos have no vested interest, then their fees should be higher, if only based on the opportunity costs of allowing them to operate gaming facilities in the Bahamas. Seems like Wayne Munroe (or maybe his clients) is getting hood winked on this lap
The_Oracle 9 years, 7 months ago
First off, Casinos in the Bahamas are notorious for not paying their fees and taxes! Bahamian tradition after all. however to topic, Lawyers must sell their souls to the devil in exchange for passing the bar. The more outlandish his statements, the higher his fees. "Mr Munroe said “a peanut man” or a “cashier at BEC” could be chairman of the Gaming Board," Yes, these political appointments ride more on patronage and the buddy system that capability, which shows in spades in Government results attained, no matter their direction.
empathy 9 years, 7 months ago
Checkmate!
BSObserver 9 years, 7 months ago
I would say that Dr. Rollins just bitch- slapped Mr. Munroe, and frankly he needed it.
Sickened 9 years, 7 months ago
Does anyone know if the Bahamian constitution, as currently written, allows me, a Bahamian, to gamble at Atlantis? Apparently there is a law stating that I cannot, but constitutionally am I allowed? I will look to read the constitution, but I would have to think that it does not allow Bahamians to be discriminated against in their own country.
Bahamas676 9 years, 7 months ago
youll bahamians so stupid dred if u dont give casino leeway and tax breaks they just would put the tax on us, all they will do is if they have to pay 20% tax for example; they will hire 50 bahamians if the gov try to tax them 30% they simply will hire 25 people. you cant just put high tax on a business when that business trying to stabilize our economy. Then everyone crying about why bahamar aint call me for job and atlantis dis n dat keep tryna tax them high..
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