The Bill also seeks to establish a body to be known as the Casino Gaming Commission, which will have regulatory functions over how casino gaming is conducted. The commission will, among other things, be empowered to ensure that casino gaming is conducted fairly, legally and in a manner which protects children and other vulnerable persons.

Yesterday, Paulwell queried whether any of the three groups that have so far indicated an interest in establishing the facilities had disclosed the number of staff required, and said that the issue of employment in these entities needs to be addressed.

He added: “I would hate for us to be issuing work permits to fill these positions. The point is quite critical because we are seeking the establishment of casinos as an important element of our job creation activities and it could very well be that we, on day one, aren’t able to fulfil the requirements.”

Paulwell said he was concerned, based on the range of the due diligence and the number of individuals who would be needed, how those persons for employment in casinos would be attracted outside of importing them.

In response to Member of Parliament Paulwell, Derrick Peart, the executive director of the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), said it was imperative that Jamaica begins preparing.

The legislation had previously been tabled in the House of Representatives in July 2008, but was withdrawn and amended after consultations involving the Office of the Prime Minister, potential investors and other stakeholders.

The Government had announced plans to introduce casino gambling well over a year ago, but this has been on hold pending the passing of the relevant gambling legislation.

Two international investors have already been given the go ahead to establish casinos locally.

According to Pereira, “I don’t think that we Jamaicans could have any more corruption of our morals, we’re already corrupted. I have no reservations whatsoever in proposing that we promote casino gambling as quickly as possible. It seems to me that, when you look at other places that have done this, it has been a boost for the economy, without corrupting the morals of the society.“

The editorial begins – “It is unfortunate that having dithered for so long on the issue, Jamaica is unlikely, in the near term, to reap as much benefit from allowing casinos, as might otherwise have been the case.

But that does not mean that the administration should not proceed, as Prime Minister Bruce Golding has promised to pass the casino law when the Parliament returns from its recess this month, although the Government needs to explain the rationale for establishing a new entity to oversee casinos rather than using the existing Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission” … more

Dear Editor,

On June 30, 2009 I wrote to you advising that the Government of Jamaica, insisting that an investment of US$1.5 billion including a minimum of 2,000 rooms was required to obtain a casino licence, was asking for too much and that Jamaica had lost several new hotel investments as a result of this policy.

Barrington Green

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, recently tabled a Bill to amend the Act in the House of Representatives. The Act is also being amended consequent on the passage of a Casino Gaming Act, which has also been tabled in the House.

The Bill’s Memorandum of Objects and Reasons states that the amendments are based on recommendations from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission, to strengthen the regulatory framework, as well as the rules governing the operations of licensees – in order to ensure against criminal influences.

“We spent a long time working on the draft, probably longer than we had hoped, but on Tuesday, Audley Shaw, the finance minister gave notice of tabling the Gaming Bill, and it will be debated in July and then passed into law,” he said.

Prime Minister Golding made the statement in response to a concern raised by mayor of Montego Bay, Charles Sinclair, about the delay in opening up the tourism industry to casino gaming. He also stated that the delay in drafting the casino gambling framework that will govern their operations was a deliberate move by Government, as it wanted to ensure that the country would maximize the benefits that are to be derived from such ventures.

“We spent a lot of time preparing the draft, because we wanted to ensure that every sentence was right: every ‘t’ crossed and every ‘i’ dotted,” he said.

Will Celebration Jamaica be pulling out of its Jamaica casino plans? Right now it’s a wait and see situation.