PM still opposes gamblingClint Chan Tack Saturday, October 14 2006
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Whitehall protest but - ...
PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday told protesting private members clubs and casino workers that Government stands firm on its opposition against casinos and casino-type establishments and the local gaming industry will be restructured so it complies with the law.
Prior to speaking with Manning, the club owners said Government should take any information it had about gaming establishments being involved in money laundering, to the police.
Under the watchful eyes of the police, nearly 1,000 private members clubs and casino workers assembled outside Whitehall around 9 am to protest Manning’s anti-gambling statements in his October 4 Budget presentation in Parliament.
Many of them, wearing ‘PNM voter’ shirts shouted chants of “no work, no vote” as they demanded an audience with Manning and for Government to protect their jobs. The Prime Minister arrived at Whitehall around noon and briefly met with the workers.
Manning told them that while his decision to curb gambling in TT, there would be a level of retraining in and phased restructuring of the gaming industry to ensure it operates within the law. The Prime Minister told the workers that he would address their concerns when he wound up the Budget debate in Parliament later in the day.
Ma Pau spokesperson Annette Richards said Manning’s statement meant that the gaming industry would continue to struggle to ensure its workers’ livelihoods are protected and it would continue to present proposals to Government to reform the industry so that everyone would benefit.
Speaking outside Whitehall, Island Casino group marketing and human resource manager Charles Sookhan said owners and workers would be listening to Manning’s statement in Parliament to see whether he would clarify issues which were of concern to them.
Sookhan also said the argument of casinos being connected with money laundering was a longstanding one and “if they (Government) have information regarding money laundering then take it to the relevant authorities.
“We have nothing to hide. We have been operating a legitimate business from day one. I am referring to the Association of Members Clubs (AMC),” Sookhan declared.
Sookhan said the owners had a second meeting with Junior Finance Minister Conrad Enill at the Eric Williams Financial Complex on Wednesday and Enill told them he would take their proposals to regulate the gaming industry to Manning.
Sookhan said the owners were hoping for a “stay of execution” on such measures as the immediate ban on the use and importation of slot machines.
