Headlines:
| Bi-partisan talks about casino gambling |
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| Friday, 02 May 2008 | |
Opposition Senator Basil Waite has called for the
Government to set up a bi-partisan task force to examine how casino gaming is likely
to affect Jamaica.Senator Waite was jeered in the Senate Friday by Government members who pointed out that the previous People's National Party administration had all but legalised casino gaming. But Basil Waite insisted that the new administration had granted two casino licences without consultation. Evil upon evil - Church More church Leaders are expressing disappointment over the government's decision to license casino gambling. The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands has sent a statement saying the regret which is felt is not primarily centered on the present generation. 
The Group in a statement said it mourns the decision
because of its impact on future generations of young people who will not know a
Jamaica
without casino.The statement is under the signature of Moderator at the church Reverend Henley Bernard and General Secretary Dr Collin Cowans. The Church outlined that at the present time, Jamaica is being wrecked by crime, violence and moral degradation and it therefore seems almost incredible that those charged with the administration of the country's affairs should think of introducing casino. The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands added that casino activity has been shown to produce an increase in crime, violence and moral degradation. According to the Church, - it is adding evil upon evil. The statement also noted that it has been statistically proven that casino gambling has spawned crime, prostitution and other moral vices, and has been seriously destructive to family life. 12,000 jobs from Celebration Jamaica 
The Dennis Constanzo led ‘Celebration Jamaica' on Thursday
unveiled details of an ambitious development project which is promising 12,000 jobs.
Mr. Constanzo is also promising that the new attraction to be located on 65 acres of beach front property in Montego Bay, St. James will generate $13 to $15 billion in taxes per annum. The project, the single largest private development in Jamaica will cost US$2.1 billion and boasts 2,000 rooms. One hundred million dollars is to be spent on a water park which will sit on 13 acres. Mr. Constanzo in his address at the UWI Mona Visitors Lodge Thursday said the development would not make Jamaica a casino destination but an attraction destination. He added that the development will make Jamaica's tourism product multidimensional and create velocity in the economy that Jamaica needs. 
For his part, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said two
new housing developments are to be constructed in Barrett Hall and a nearby community
dubbed "Palmyra District" for potential employees and other stakeholders. Three thousand units will be built. Mr. Bartlett said the casino would represent no more than 20% of the experience for tourists who visit the attraction. In his budget address, Prime Minister Golding revealed that Government had granted two casino licences to the Tavistock Group and Celebration Jamaica. |