The Editor, Sir:

Since post-emancipation, the Church as an institution in Jamaica was entrusted to chart the path of the nation in spirituality and moral righteousness. This, they have had good success in earlier decades but have lost their way since the late 1990s.

The churches and their leaders have become very politically tainted and lack potency in addressing real societal issues like murder, teenage pregnancy, prostitution, unemployment, carnal abuse, incest and the increasing monster of homosexuality. Instead, they are using the possibility of an introduction to casino gambling as scapegoat to mask their fading role and effect in society.

As the economy gasps for breath and struggles with this one-trillion dollar debt, tourism is our surest thing and casino gambling is a safe bet to enhance this product. The churches need to relent and approach this venture with an open mind.

One of our main competitors, Bahamas, registered US$1 billion in accumulative wins last year. Our own studies suggest that casino entertainment would provide an additional 15,000 needed jobs and billions of tax dollars to the Government. Enough, I estimate, to finance the 54 billion dollars educational transformation programme in the short term and refurbish our rural police stations. Why would the Church be against such gains to the country?

Hypocritical

The churches hypocritically speak about moral breaches and the laws of God when there is nothing directly in either The Ten Commandments or the entire biblical doctrine that directly prohibits gambling. Ironically, it is the same churches that stayed mute to the Tivoli massacre, excessive alcohol consumption and drunkenness, and the influx of Hollywood entertainment, i.e, gun violence and pornography.

Casino gambling is inevitable. Frankly, I do not see any difference between horse racing, national lottery, lotto, Pick Three, drop pan, Lucky 5, Dallaz, etc., and casino. I don't hear the churches' voices against these. Besides, thousands of Jamaicans are already logging on to the Internet to engage in online casino gambling.

Casino entertainment belongs to the sphere of the economy and not the sphere of religion. I strongly urge the JLP administration to expedite the move to legalise casino gaming. For starters, it should grant licences to selected entities, ensuring that the process is stringently regularised and monitored, so the activities can be confined to the resort areas.

I am etc,

RICHARD PATTERSON

richie2sweet@yahoo.com