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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Nassau, Bahamas - Bahamian voters rejected a referendum to legalize gambling for citizens on Monday, January 28th, 2013.
Voter turnout was said to be low, and in the two-part referendum, voters were asked whether the gambling shops should be legalized, regulated and taxed, and if the
government should create its own national lottery.
Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/01/28/2372505/voters-in-bahamas-deciding-gambling.html#storylink=cpy
"This is a victory for the church," said Dr. Ranford Patterson, Bahamas Christian Council. "We are excited and thanking
God."
"As the world looked on, the
Bahamian people conducted themselves peacefully and with great respect for
others as the Referendum was held without incident." said
Bradley B Roberts, National Chairman, Progressive Liberal Party by way of press statement shortly after the results came in.
Joseph Gaskins, columnist for TheBahamasWeekly.com and sociology lecturer at College of The Bahamas expressed the following on social media, "
I want people to come to terms with the fact
that many of the people who voted no did so not because of the church
but because they are frustrated, and even offended, by the way the
government brought this issue to the people. The sad part is that I
think the anger of the Bahamian people is being lost in a discourse
about the influence of the church. Stop that! "
Gaskins continues, "In my opinion, people wanted to vo
te
yes...to ownership opportunities for all Bahamians, for a regulated
gaming industry and for a national lottery. What they didn't want to
vote for was a referendum that did not address legal discrimination
against Bahamians. They didn't want to vote yes for "web-shops" when no
one could define what exactly web-shop is. And they didn't want to vote
for a national lottery without any information on how it would operate,
who would be in charge of its operation and if these people could be
trusted to take on this task. The story is much more complicated than a
conflict between the church and number bosses."
"Sorry, as much
as I've talked about this issue from panels to radio shows, one thing
is clear -- the frustration of the Bahamian people is palpable. Let's
talk about that!" said Gaskins.
Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/01/28/2372505/voters-in-bahamas-deciding-gambling.html#storylink=cpy
According to unofficial results at the time of this posting:
Question 1: Do you support the regulation and taxation of web shop gaming?
YES: 27,321 NO: 42,393
Question 2: Do you support the establishment of a National Lottery?
YES: 27,787 NO: 40,983
The following are table results were provided to TheBahamasWeekly.com by
Trevor R. Moss Sr., Election Command Center
(for) Parliamentary Commissioner.
Bamboo Town
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Pinewood
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Carmichael
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Garden Hills
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Mangrove Cay and South Andros
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Mount Moriah
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Southern Shores
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East Grand Bahama
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North Andros and Berry Islands
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South Beach
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***image11***
***image12***
Marco City
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Bain and Grants Town
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© Copyright 2013 by thebahamasweekly.com
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