The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I commend Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar for having the courage to speak the truth about what the numbers house operators are and what they are doing to our nation’s economy and citizens who gamble. Minister D’Aguilar called them a cartel and said they are “sucking money out of the economy in enormous quantities and thereby affecting the financial well-being of many, many of the citizens.” Minister D’Aguilar said what I and many others have said time and time again in opposition to legalising numbers gambling by the former PLP government. Again, I commend him for his courage.

However, at the same time, as others have done, I caution and warn Minister D’Aguilar and the FNM government against the introduction of a national lottery. Legalising numbers gambling was a reckless decision by the former government. The right decision was to enforce the law against the illegal numbers gambling then taking place. And a national lottery is no solution to the economic and moral scourge that the numbers cartel is doing to our economy and the financial well-being of those who gamble, especially the poor. In truth, a national lottery will only add to the problem.

While legally allowed, it is morally wrong for the numbers cartel to be plundering the poor, as they are in fact doing. And it would be doubly wrong for the government to do the same through a national lottery, because governments have a duty to protect its citizens, not exploit them.

If the Prime Minister Dr the Hon Hubert Minnis and his government are truly concerned about the financial havoc the numbers cartel is wreaking on this country’s economy and citizens, they will shut down the numbers houses, not join them. Because joining the numbers cartel by introducing a national lottery would demonstrate no real concern. In fact, it would be tantamount to joining the numbers cartel and engaging in the financial gang rape of those who gamble.

In the gambling referendum initiated by the former Prime Minister Christie and his government, a majority of voters voted no to numbers gambling and a national lottery. Mr Christie and his government ignored the wishes of voters and introduced numbers gambling. Will the Minnis-led government join them in their betrayal of democracy and ignore the wishes of voters and introduce a national lottery?

I pray that they don’t. Instead, I pray that they will have the courage to shut down the numbers houses and call our nation to renew our national commitment to self-discipline, industry, loyalty, unity, and an abiding respect for Christian values and the rule of law.

To do otherwise and join the former government in betraying democracy and exploiting the poor by introducing a national lottery will make for a worse Bahamas, not a better one.

May the Lord grant Prime Minister Minnis and his government the courage to do what is right regarding the scourge of gambling that afflicts our economy and many of our citizens. Towards that end I will continue to pray.

PASTOR CEDRIC MOSS

Nassau,

October 17, 2017.