State Minister for National Security Keith Bell is “frightening” Bahamians into voting ‘yes’ in next week’s gambling referendum by suggesting that police won’t have the resources to fight violent crime because they would have to divert their attention to shutting down web cafés if Bahamians vote ‘no.’
Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash on Wednesday took the state minister to task over an interview he did on ZNS Tuesday, calling him and his Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Government “desperate.”
On January 28, Bahamians will take part in a national referendum to decide whether they want gambling regulated.
“The minister of state for national security suggested that if Bahamians did not vote ‘yes’ in the upcoming gambling referendum, their ‘no’ vote could have a negative impact on the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s ability to fight violent crime,” Mr. Cash said in a statement.
“His direct suggestion was that if Bahamians vote ‘no,’ then as minister of national security he could not assure our citizens that he could protect them from violent crimes because of the need to divert police resources to the new enforcement of gambling laws. When he finished his remarks, the only thing left for him to say was ‘vote yes.’
He continued, “This must have been the most ridiculous pro-gambling claptrap from the government’s pro-gambling lobby wing. It has surpassed his prime minister’s suggestion that his jobs programme was built on a decision to turn a blind eye to illegal operations that employ a large number of Bahamians.”
Mr. Cash said Minister Bell and his government were not concerned about diverting resources when they tripled the number of prime ministerial outriders and added new levels of police protection to ministers who never needed them before.
“They were not concerned about diverting resources when they diverted police attention from crime fighting and made them deliver groceries as part of this government’s newly dressed up Urban Renewal programme,” the outspoken chairman said.
He said Mr. Bell’s “ridiculous” comments are yet another sign of a desperate government that will say anything to pressure people into voting yes.
Mr. Cash said it is “grossly inappropriate” for the minister to attempt to frighten people into voting yes.
“That is not governing; that approach is rule by fear and intimidation. The Bahamian people deserve better,” he said.
