Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Chairman Mark Humes said the December 3 gambling referendum is nothing more than a payback for those “numbers men” who have been behind the scene rendering services to Prime Minister Perry Christie.
In a press release sent Tuesday, Mr. Humes said the proposed referendum is the clearest indication and saddest reminder to the Bahamian public that this administration is in the hands and pockets of the illegal numbers’ men.
“To reasonably thinking Bahamians who are taking note of the vamped up public relations campaign now underway by Mr. Christie and the numbers’ businesses whose cause he seems to be championing, it is obvious that they are betting on the ignorance and desperation of poor, downtrodden black Bahamians to get their “snake oil” remedy for our pressing social ills made legal,” he said. “It is the DNA’s hope that Bahamians will not buy what they are selling.
“This administration gave the Bahamian people a “snake oil” sales job during the election campaign, and for what they have gotten thus far, Bahamians are now having buyer’s remorse. It would be a shame if they fall for the same old fool talk coming from this administration on this issue as well.”
Mr. Humes said if the choice is ours and Bahamians are supposed to be considering the legalisation of “gambling” in the country, a national lottery should also be put on the table next to these illegal numbers operations for consideration as well.
“It is ridiculous to think that the numbers racket can rake up money enough to be a financially successful operation here in the Bahamas but a national lottery cannot,” the DNA chairman added. “If Bahamians were to fall for this, the DNA wonders what other kinds of crazy Houdini act and schemes they would be willing to have this prime minister and his administration run on them again.
“If the government says it stands to make upwards of $20 million in taxes annually, then that would mean that the take home profits for these numbers businesses can potentially run somewhere in the vicinity of $200 to $350 million a year. How is $20 million more beneficial to social development than $200 million? And if these numbers’ businesses can generate those kinds of revenue, then why can’t the government with its own national lottery for education, sports, and social programs? Why should the government have it hands out waiting for proceeds when it can make its own proceeds?”
Mr. Humes said it makes no sense that the government should only be concerned with getting proceeds from taxes to take care of social programming when it could control all the proceeds by simply enacting a national lottery – if it is going to make chance gaming legal.
He also urged Bahamians to not have their choices limited based on what the British based consultants the prime hired to advise on this referendum, reported and called on the prime minister to make those findings public.
“This administration can expect that, until such time as it puts to the Bahamian people a referendum that is reflective of real choice, it will continue to hear the DNA speak out and challenge them on this matter – right up to December 3,” he added.
