‘You gonna ban food, sex?’ People get addicted to food, sex – Dr Wheatley
Dr Wheatley was among legislators debating the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act, 2020, at the Ninth Sitting of the Second session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom on Tuesday, June 17, 2020.
“You gonna ban food? You gonna ban sex? None of us would be here. You cannot ban it, everything in moderation. We have to look at this from a holistic perspective, and we cannot allow this whole activity to be unreasonably demonised. I heard the moral and religious arguments, and I thanked my colleague across the aisle for expressing them very clearly. But I took the liberty, Mr Speaker, to examine for myself what the bible says about gambling,” he said.
Dr Wheatley added: “I did some research because some would have you think that the bible outlaws gambling, and come to find out, the bible says nothing at all about gambling. Now what the bible will make reference to is greed, the love of money, covetousness, none of those things apply solely to gambling.”
He also called for the education sector to benefit from the proceeds of the regulated gambling.
Always an opposition
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone (AL) said he has noted that there is always opposition to everything that is done in the Territory, from the construction of the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, to the original Tortola Pier Park, to the H. L. Stoutt Community College among others.
He said he sought the views of some sections of the Territory and: “Of the responses I received tonight, from the many persons that answered back, there were two or three who cited that it was going to lead to a moral decay if you legalise it. But most of the comments were it would help to regulate what is happening already.”
Similar sentiments were shared by other ministers of government such as Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) and Junior Minister for Tourism Sharie B. de Castro (AL).
New revenue stream
With the introduction of gambling legislation, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the hope is to have another revenue stream since the Territory cannot depend on the United Kingdom (UK) for robust financial support when facing challenges.
Hon Fahie also said: "a managed and regulated gaming and betting industry is also an opportunity to create jobs and to attract and earn revenue."
The Bill is yet to be passed and the House of Assembly will continue on Thursday morning, June 18, 2020.
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17 Responses to “‘You gonna ban food, sex?’ People get addicted to food, sex – Dr Wheatley”
And as for the love of money, it is the root of all evil. ALL evil, not some evil. “He also called for the education sector to benefit from the proceeds of the regulated gambling.” See, here goes, the love of money. The fall out from gambling will be murderers.
One question: Who got money for one to lose it and another to win it? Seems like some way of washing or laundering dirty money into the Territory. It is not this same Government that saying the Territory broke and that for the people to survive the finance protocols got to be amended so that the country can borrow against U.K. guarantee.
A leopard cannot change his spots, or can he? This proposed gambling legislation is more than what meets the eye. If I recall someone was held in the USA for money laundering. Seems like those leopard spots are still there. Beneath the surface ready to be shown.
Set of white washed graves in the place.
And as for those that went in dirty, it cannot get worse ... dirty is dirty.
Premier couldn’t get his hands on more money because of financial management protocols so he here now talking about gambling. This same gambling gonna take a lot of lives and create a criminal place; and then what.. I never heard in his campaigning he talking about gambling. Or, is this a Premier saying tourism dead, but in another way.
Plan. Assess. Identify. Strategise. Implement/ Execute.
It is your duty as legislative and executive elected ministers moreso than catchy one-liners that make news headlines.
If you intend to do this, do it properly.