by Jerome Pinder
In a recent Guardian article entitled "PM to make gambling statement," it is stated that our Prime Minister is distressed and discomforted by our inability to police our laws in the Bahamas with respect to the numbers business. But why can't we?
As of today's Tribune article (May 25th), we now know that the Government will not be proceeding at this time with legalizing the numbers business. Instead, the PM feels that it is an issue that should be settled by a referendum. So, as of now we are back to business as usual. The illegal numbers business rolls on.
I am not going to take on the debate of whether we should legalize the numbers business, as this issue has been debated in public over the past several weeks. I am amazed though that we allow legalized gambling in our casinos, but Bahamians cannot gamble.
Despite this debate, if the numbers business is against the law, why can we not Police it? Why can we not each and every day have our Police Force and Defense Force swoop around town, shut down the number stores, confiscate the equipment, confiscate the funds, and impose a large fine. Tomorrow do the same thing again, and again, and again. Since we are not going to earn taxes on the numbers business, we can earn money in fines on a daily or weekly basis. Given the speculated earnings, when was the last time you heard of a significant fine being paid by a numbers house?
Our problem, is that we do not have and we do not want the political will to stop the numbers business. It is not a matter of not being able to.
Are we going to legalize armed robberies, because we cannot police and properly penalize the armed robber? Are we going to legalize drugs, because we cannot police the drug dealers?
More importantly, what affect has our unwillingness to police the numbers business had on the attitude of society at large? The fact that so many can openly break the law without fear of the law, leads to a disrespect for the law in general.
Have we waited until it is too late to now police the numbers business? Are we going down the same road with violent crime? We are not properly tackling this problem. Government has neglected the Bahamian people in not tightening up the laws and carrying out capital punishment. Are we going to wait until it is too late to handle this problem as well?
Since the numbers business will not increase our tax revenue and the Government must now find other avenues to increase taxes, the PM may wish to first start with reducing the number of Cabinet Ministers, Government Cars, and Chauffeurs.
We slipped on the numbers business Mr Prime Minister, stop slipping on violent crime!!
In my opinion, to many police & politicians are making to much money out of the system, or “set up” just the way it is, that is why it will never change Jerome, never. This country cannot even deal with a murder trial, properly, why would they deal with anything else properly ? They have showed us all what they are about.It is obvious that they do not want to make the system any better, plain and simple as that,if they did, they would.
“Political Will” I have been hearing this alot lately. What is Political Will anyways. The FNM nor PLP have never recieved 100% of the votes and never will, so not matter what decision is made some one will be pissed off. So make the decision that is best for the country not one group of people. If the CEOs and others are benefiting from the number business than the public treasury should benefit also. If banks pays fees to operate than flowers, Asue and the rest should also. The PM said it himself, there are those who do not support him or his government and probably never will…so we need a solution because increasing taxes on the businesses is actually increasing the cost of living on the people and in the main time…flowers ’em rolling in the cash!
I agree somewhat. The police could definitely shutdown all of the web-shops, if they wanted to, and ensure they don’t reopen, but would that really stop the numbers business??
Slow it down, but am sure individuals would find other innovative ways to do their trade.
Similar to prostitution, we don’t have a ‘red light’ district, but do you really believe there are not any prostitutes operating in Nassau.
In fact the govt. would probably spend more money trying to police ans shut down numbers houses, than what they would get in any fines issued.
It makes more sense on all sides to legalize, regulate it and impose a reasonable tax on it, and police the operators who refuse to operate within the regulatory framework, would be more cost effective.
Mr. Pinder, I said the same thing regarding fining these establishments. If the government is smart, establish a fine equivalent to what the applicable tax with be but still dont legalize it. Therefore, you have your cake and eat it to.
Our society loves favors and getting the hook-up. No one stands up for what is right. If dad is a drugdealer send him to jail, if my sister stole something, arrest her. There is a lack of strong individual principles and ethics therefore we always turn a blind eye.
Because we have made largely irrelevant the law of the land, preferring instead tribalism,the power of of the individual.
Personal edict and leniency rules the day.
The law is the law, but Constitutional Authority has been adapted into personal power and at almost every level of civil service and political leadership.
The law has become inconvenient for them, therefore ignorable for the general pupulation.
We do not appraise or ally ourselves with the law, we seek protection/priveledge from individuals.
If we are going to address the real issues and failings, we must identify the root causes, not the consequential effects.
Apply the laws.
Hold the courts accountable.
Only the people can fix this, the politicos and their afficianados enjoy the current situation.
I’m with you C.Lowe.
As for fining and taxing these gambling houses; lets be realistic… we can’t seem to police/control petty let alone major crime. Fining is useless because they simply will not pay and our current track record for collecting is not up to par…[can we spell NIB, real property tax, BEC et al.] If they do not pay then what? shut them down? Well if they are illegal, why not shut them down now. Further, I would not be at all surprised to find these “number houses” ARE paying taxes… unfortunately we might call them bribes and payoffs.
We need Government to Say what they mean – Mean what they say – and also DO what they say!
“mout cud say anyting” and like so many issues in our country… “errybody wan’ go to heaven – ain’t nobody wan’ dead”
Here is our not so great future!
Better explained by the following article written in 2006! http://www.asecu.gr/Seeje/issue06/katsios.pdf , which today seems more like prophesy than just a mild warning, and we could replace the word Greece with Bahamas in this very same article, and it would still be factual. Every citizen, politician, business owner, church leader and law enforcement officer should read this article to see where we are headed.
Along with this fun fact of just how rampant their corruption and tax evasion is http://www.aipnews.com/talk/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=13828&posts=1. We don’t need more taxes, we need less, and that could happen if the government did it’s job of properly collecting what is was owed, on all not just a few honest. Look at Greece to see our future friends.
What good is the Law if not enforced with equity and swiftness on ALL, not just a select few!
My Two Cents
Thanks Mr. Kemp.