Will there be a future for gaming in Bermuda? Johnson Johnrose of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, speaks with Bermuda Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert on the topic.
WAYNE FURBERT: The country has decided to have a referendum on gaming, something which has been ticklish for a long time โฆ split between gaming, so has always been desiredโฆ
JOHNSON JOHNROSE: By gaming, you mean casino gambling.
FURBERT: Casino gambling. You may not be aware of this, but two years ago, when honorable, the leader of the โฆ party, put a paper to parliament, it was defeated significantly byโฆ
JOHNROSE: By his own government.
FURBERT: Well, it wasnโt a vote per se; it was a discussion paper, but the signals that were being sent out by the members of parliament on both sides, is that nobody wanted a casino. Bermudaโs a very conservative, religious community. As a matter of fact, I live in the Bible Belt. My constituence is the Bible Belt, so letโs face it, you know how politicians are โ itโs very hard for me to put my hand up and say, because at the end of the day, itโs cut off at the next election. So we felt, or I feel, even when I was leader of the United Bermuda party is that the best way to handle this, let the people decide.
JOHNROSE: But you already know the results, donโt you? Itโs going to be no.
FURBERT: No, I donโt think so. Itโs interesting that youโฆ Iโm not going to pre-determine or pre-guess what the outcome will be, because I think itโs going to be very close. Because what happens inโฆ and weโve had some polls doneโฆ 80 percent of the White community supports a casino, 80 percent of the Black community says no, and itโs because of our upbringing within our society. But the younger people within our society are much more open. Now itโs not something that I personally push is a casino. I donโt think thatโs the end all, be all, for casinos really.
JOHNROSE: I was about to askโฆ if left to you, you would not do it.
FURBERT: If it were left to me, it would not be, but I have no problem in a democratic society is to auction for what you would like to do.