Predictably, with Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett indicating the new government's willingness to re-examine the possibility of allowing full casino gambling here, church representatives have expressed their objections.

Any mention of casino gambling in Jamaica has been to the Church like a matador waving a flag in front of a bull - it results in much snorting and feet stomping. This might be quite humorous were it not so symptomatic of a mindless display of hypocrisy.

We note that there are differences of opinion within church circles about games of chance and what constitutes gambling. But many church leaders like to engage in self-congratulation that they mounted "a successful campaign" against the state-sponsored National Lottery introduced by the Jamaica Labour Party government in the 1960s. Since that time, we have had various, forms of gambling flourishing in the island, without the same kind of strident opposition.

The critics may well be right that casinos do more social harm than good, but their generally accommodating silence or wishy-washy comments on the other forms of gaming across the length and breadth of Jamaica, undercuts their moral authority to denounce casinos exclusively. Indeed, we have no quarrel with the criticism that the proposal, at this time, points to a kind of desperate lurch to grasp at seemingly simple solutions.

For we have yet to be convinced that the introduction of casinos will bring any great fillip to Jamaica's tourism.

Jamaica has a multiplicity of opportunities to be exploited by persons prepared to think outside the box and become more creative in how we develop and market the country's tourism product. Of course this requires financial risk taking and improvement in national-security arrangements that would allow more of our people and visitors to travel across the island, to better enjoy what Jamaica has to offer, than being holed up in the all-inclusive attractions.

In any case, studies done on cities and communities are inconclusive as to the great benefit or great harm that results from the introduction of casinos. Municipalities in some parts of the United States point to greater visitor arrivals and tax revenues without any spike in crime rates. Others point to the possibility of crime syndicates and greater opportunities for money laundering. These perspectives cannot be dismissed out of hand, but we caution against a knee-jerk reaction seemingly devoid of careful consideration.

As this newspaper has reported on several occasions, many places in Jamaica already offer casino-type gaming, except perhaps, for the use of roulette wheels. So, what exactly are the church groups opposing?

Perhaps their stridency is grounded in ignorance.

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