Montserrat Chamber of Commerce president joins lottery debate

Saturday, March 6, 2004

BRADES, Montserrat (GIU): Kenny Cassell, president of the Montserrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) says despite strong opposition from the churches the private sector body will continue with its plan to set up a lottery on the island.

He made the comment during a news conference held on Thursday.

The Chamber, with support from the government, is spearheading efforts to establish an internet-accessible lottery for Montserrat.

Mr Cassell believes the lottery will bring financial benefits for the island with the government expected to receive eight percent of the profits and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, two percent.

If the Gaming and Wagering Bill now before parliament is approved it will regulate the lottery and other games of chance.

In addressing some of the concerns raised by religious leaders here Cassell, a former senior civil servant, said gambling is already legal in Montserrat since last year.

"It's against some people's religious views and I believe in today's world we have freedom of religion. There are some of us who believe that it shouldn't be and there are others who have absolutely no problem. I am Catholic and we gamble all the time. I think it was last year that the Penal Code was repealed in order to make gambling legal so at the moment I believe gambling is not illegal. The legislation that is being discussed today serves to, in my judgment, regulate any such gambling that may be instituted on Montserrat now or in the future and I believe that's the purpose of the Gaming and Wagering Act and the regulations that come with it," Cassell said.

John Ryan, a former Government Financial Secretary and now a businessman and building contractor, has added his voice to the ongoing debate.

Ryan, who is also director with the MCCI Board, said many of the persons who are opposing the establishment of the lottery here are uninformed.

"I believe if you were to take a poll the minority of Montserratians are the ones who are saying let's not have the Gaming and Wagering Act and you get such reasons as social ills being banded around," according to Ryan.

He further explained that the social ills spoken about by some politicians and people in opposition to the Gaming and Wagering Act - refers to the street corner type of gambling.

"The internet-access lottery is only made possible if you have a credit card. How many Montserratians have a credit card? So that it's not really something to my mind which will affect or impact negatively on our society. As to people's own belief I am going to leave that. As grew up as a Methodist but nevertheless I do have my own views in terms of gaming and certainly it is not one that says we cannot game or the country cannot game and the majority ought to take the sway and I believe the majority of Montserratians will in fact support the Gaming and Wagering Act," Ryan said.

The Evangelicals - a grouping of evangelical churches here will host a panel discussion to address what it refers to as the "dangers of the Gaming and Wagering Act."

Pastor Melroy Meade told Radio Montserrat that the religious community remains steadfast in its opposition to the Gaming and Wagering Bill.

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