Bermuda considers referendum on casino gambling

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.

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 โ€ฆ split between gaming, so has always been desiredโ€ฆ

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 โ€ฆ party, put a paper to parliament, it was defeated significantly byโ€ฆ

JOHNROSE: By his own government.

FURBERT: Well, it wasnโ€™t 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. Bermudaโ€™s a very conservative, religious community. As a matter of fact, I live in the Bible Belt. My constituence is the Bible Belt, so letโ€™s face it, you know how politicians are โ€“ itโ€™s very hard for me to put my hand up and say, because at the end of the day, itโ€™s 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, donโ€™t you? Itโ€™s going to be no.

FURBERT: No, I donโ€™t think so. Itโ€™s interesting that youโ€ฆ Iโ€™m not going to pre-determine or pre-guess what the outcome will be, because I think itโ€™s going to be very close. Because what happens inโ€ฆ and weโ€™ve had some polls doneโ€ฆ 80 percent of the White community supports a casino, 80 percent of the Black community says no, and itโ€™s because of our upbringing within our society. But the younger people within our society are much more open. Now itโ€™s not something that I personally push is a casino. I donโ€™t think thatโ€™s the end all, be all, for casinos really.

JOHNROSE: I was about to askโ€ฆ 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.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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