Gambling scandal

Ennis

Erica Virtue, Staff Reporter

ERROL ENNIS has been stripped of his responsibilities involving Government-backed gaming operations after the Junior Minister of Finance bounced two cheques he had used to gamble.

Since early March, Mr. Ennis has not been allowed to deal with Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) or with other matters concerning the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), after two cheques tendered in a slot machine game were returned.

The Sunday Gleaner understands that Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, has assumed responsibilities for the BGLC.

Information reaching The Sunday Gleaner is that Minister Ennis was relieved of the portfolio responsibility by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, after Dr. Davies indicated that he was embarrassed and unwilling to work with him following the incident involving the bounced cheques.

Last week, Mr. Ennis admitted that the two cheques were returned.

"Yes, it was a private matter involving two cheques totalling $23,000 which was made out to a company under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission," he told The Sunday Gleaner on Thursday evening.

According to Mr. Ennis he "was not fired by the Prime Minister or Dr. Omar Davies. But in my interest I believe it was best if I had nothing to do with Caymanas Track Limited."

Mr. Ennis explained that he played slot machines all over the world, but did not start playing them locally until December last year. He said he wanted to get first-hand experience of how they worked, with a view to having the correct regulatory machinery in place. He denied having a gambling problem.

"I am not a compulsive gambler," Mr. Ennis said. "I enjoy playing the slot machines. And the matter has been fully cleared up. It is clear that it was made public to embarrass me."

Sunday Gleaner sources said that Mr. Ennis's troubles started when he reportedly expressed his displeasure about at least one award which was presented at the 12th Annual None Such/Horse of the Year ceremony in February this year. The Minister is said to have written a letter, in which he stated inter alia, that he believed that it was self-serving to present the top award, a lifetime award, to his former colleague in the House of Representatives, Danny Melville.

Mr. Melville left the People's National Party (PNP) late last year. At that time he was chairman of the board of CTL.

According to sources, the Minister believed that it was Mr. Melville's own board that presented the award to him, and although he believed Mr. Melville deserved the award, Mr. Ennis reportedly said it would have been more appropriate to make the presentation at another time. Since then, individuals in and outside the racing industry are said to have embarked on a campaign to discredit the Junior Minister.

Mr. Ennis admitted writing a letter after the awards, but did not disclose the contents. According to him, disclosing the contents would not change what has been done. While admitting that the turn of events over the bounced cheques was embarrassing, Mr. Ennis said he will not allow anyone to deter him from the task ahead.

"I am still the State Minister with responsibility for planning in the Ministry, but I have been given new responsibilities for segments II and III of the North Coastal Highway Project and also the Kuwaiti road projects," he said.

The Finance Ministry and the Cabinet Office, in a joint response to questions from The Sunday Gleaner, said Mr. Ennis was shifted (from the CTL) as there was a need for "concentrated attention to be directed to project implementation - such as the North Coast Highway and other road projects financed by the European Union and the Kuwait Government.

"Within that context", the response continued, "it was decided that Minister Ennis would be released from responsibilities relating to the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, including horse-racing, in order to allow him to focus attention on project implementation."

It stated that Dr. Davies took over CTL responsibilities in March and said that Mr. Ennis's re-assignment was not a demotion. It did not state what incident was involved with the bounced cheques, neither did it say how much was involved.

However, Dr. Davies stated, a "new (CTL) board will be appointed before the end of May."

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