Friday, November 10, 2006

President Bharrat Jagdeo has indicated that the Guyana government may enact
legislation similar to that in the Bahamas, which will allow casino gambling
before the Cricket World Cup (CWC) matches are staged here next year.
However, the legislation will be highly restrictive, allowing only four-star
rated hotels with 250 rooms and above to be granted licenses. At present
there are two hotels under construction that may meet the requirements,
which will be completed to cater for the influx of over 30,000 visitors to
Guyana for CWC. President Jagdeo said that the passing of the proposed
legislation will in no way open the floodgates for widespread gambling,
since only visitors to Guyana will be allowed to use the casinos. Guyana is
hoping to use next year's CWC to catapult its tourism industry and, with the
installation of casinos, hopefully the industry could become more
attractive. The Christian community has opposed the idea of casinos, citing
reports which showed that every area where gambling was prevalent recorded
an increase in crime. Some social groups have argued that the monies spent
by the average person on gambling detract from what could have been spent on
household items aimed at enhancing family life. "I think that if the guests
are going to go to Barbados or the Bahamas because they have casinos and we
could attract them in this country by having casinos at the hotels where
they are staying, then we should do so," President Jagdeo stated.