The Nassau Guardian
Wilchcombe says national lottery may be considered
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe has suggested the government will explore introducing a national lottery for the development of sports and education in The Bahamas sometime after it has regulated the web shop industry.
Wilchcombe also suggested that foreigners would be allowed to participate in the national lottery if it is introduced.
“I believe a lottery can work,” he said in a recent interview.
“I do think the lottery can work because when you think about a lottery, you are not thinking about the size of The Bahamas; you are thinking about the size of those who come to The Bahamas.
“When you go to Florida, for instance, you buy a lottery ticket. If they come [to play] we have five to six million tourists.”
Wilchcombe, who previously said the issue of a national lottery was not on the government’s radar, was asked whether the government will move to introduce a national lottery once it has regulated the web shop industry.
The government plans to tax web shops effective July 1.
“Don’t forget the national lottery offers even greater opportunity in helping us supplement our sports, culture and education,” Wilchcombe said.
“We are not taking that off the table, and the truth is it’s there. My colleagues, Dr. Danny Johnson, for instance, the minister of sports, is a strong advocate, so we have colleagues who want it to happen.
“But we are just trying to steadily move in the right direction. Whatever we do, we don’t [want to] do too much and create error, so we want to move at a steady pace and once it is done correctly we think it can work.”
Johnson said recently that a national lottery is “on the table” and if introduced it could inject significant amounts of money into the sports industry.
Response
Several other Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) members and one prominent pastor have publically expressed support for a national lottery.
In an interview with The Nassau Guardian, Bahamas Faith Ministries International President Dr. Myles Munroe said although he is opposed to gambling, he would prefer the government introduce a national lottery instead of regulating the web shop industry.
Munroe said the move could lead to a “corrupt system” and expressed concern that a small group of owners, in an industry that is estimated to generate $400 million per year, in a small country, has the ability to “buy a government”.
In response, Wilchcombe said there are always opportunities for people to take advantage, but the government hopes its legislation to regulate the web shops will “ensure that we move away from corruption”.
Wilchcombe said Munroe has provided him with very good advice on many issues that has “helped me in some of my decisions”, and he values the religious leader’s opinions.
But Wilchcombe said the government will continue to listen to “all the voices”.
“And so, we take into account what he says, but we believe that we are going to put in place the processes to ensure that we move away from corruption,” the minister said.
“But no matter how big or how small, there are always opportunities for people to take advantage of situations.
“Our job at all times is to ensure that we don’t, because [what’s] important in our gaming industry in The Bahamas is integrity. That is why we have been able to survive.
“We have always had integrity and we are not going to compromise that whatsoever.”
Wilchcombe declined to say whether there is any consensus among Cabinet ministers on the issue “because that would be revealing some secrets”.
He also described himself as a strong advocate on the matter.
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