Golding shows hand - Government gambles on casinos in Jamaica
April 23, 2008Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter, Jamaica Gleaner News
Prime Minister Bruce Golding has confirmed a Sunday Gleaner report that his administration has given the green light for the introduction of casinos.
Already, the developers of the Palmyra Resort and Spa have been given approval to construct a new hotel - on a 65-acre property in Rose Hall, St James, with 2,080 rooms - predicated on the granting of a casino licence.
Making his contribution to the Budget Debate yesterday, the prime minister remarked that the issue of casinos has been "a lightning rod of controversy for a long time".
He argued: "We have in a sense sneaked up on the issue while proclaiming to be opposed to it".
Pointing to the number of gaming lounges and slot machines already in the island, the prime minister said these accounted for 50-80 per cent of casino revenues.
"So, what was intended to be excluded is very much here. Slot machines, however, do not attract major investments, table games do," Golding added.
PNP was committed
According to Golding, in 2006, the People's National Party (PNP) administration entered into an agreement for the multibillion-dollar development of Harmony Cove in Trelawny and committed to "use its best effort" to secure a casino licence.
The prime minister said his administration conducted a review of the issues surrounding the introduction of casino gambling and reviewed the recommendation of a study carried out in 2003 by a committee chaired by Dennis Lalor.
The committee recommended that casino gaming be introduced and the appropriate legislation enacted.
Golding said, based on this review, "the Government had taken the decision to permit the licensing of casinos".
The legislation will be taken to Parliament for its consideration and approval.
According to Golding, with the new hotel to be built in Rose Hall, the developers of Harmony Cove have agreed not to hold the Government to the agreement that no other licence should be issued within the 10 mile radius of the Trelawny boundary.
Jamaica's PM pushes for casinos
April 23, 2008, CNN.com, Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Prime Minister Bruce Golding wants to permit licensing of casinos in Jamaica as a way to boost revenues, a move that is certain to ignite fierce opposition by religious groups who argue gambling encourages vice.
During a budget debate in Parliament Tuesday, Golding said he has already green-lighted a proposal by a group of international investors to establish the Caribbean island's first casino. Jamaica currently has a few hundred slot machines at various hotels in Kingston and St. Ann Parish.
"There are those who I know disagree with casino gaming. But the fact is that the horse bolted through the gate a long time ago with the granting of licenses for hundreds of gaming machines," Golding told legislators.
Parliament will take up Golding's proposal in coming weeks. There was little indication Tuesday of how the bill would fare in the socially conservative country, where church leaders have blocked previous casino proposals.
If Golding's pitch is successful, revenues from casino operations would be earmarked for capital improvements in health, education and security.
Applications for casino licenses would only be considered if there is a minimum investment of $1.5 billion (941.5 million euros) with adjoining hotel construction of not less than 1,000 rooms, Golding said. The casino component could be no more than 20 percent of the total project.
Golding told lawmakers that his Cabinet has backed a proposal from the developers of the Palmyra Resort & Spa in the northern resort mecca of Montego Bay for a $1.8 billion (1.13 billion euros), 2,080-room addition if the casino proposal passes.
Jamaica moves to legalise casinos
23 April 2008, BBC News
The Jamaican government has announced its backing for gambling in casinos to be legalised, despite stiff opposition from religious groups.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding said he had already given the green light to a group of international investors planning the island's first casino. Casino deals would bring in money for areas like health and schools, he said.
Parliament will now consider the proposals which opponents say will bring no benefit to Jamaican society. Slot machines and other gaming devices are found in bars and hotels across Jamaica but until now casinos have not been permitted. Speaking during a budget debate on Tuesday, Mr Golding said he had already given approval for moves to set up the first casino.
"There are those who I know disagree with casino gambling. But the fact is that the horse bolted through the gate a long time ago with the granting of licences for hundreds of gaming machines," Mr Golding told parliament. He said studies had shown casino gambling would be a viable industry, and bring employment. Mr Golding said casino licences would be granted on condition that an investor commits at least $1.5bn (£760m) towards the project which must involve a hotel with no fewer than 1,000 rooms.
The casino component could be no more than 20% of the total project, he added. "It is our intention to dedicate the revenues from casino operations to a special fund to finance capital development in health, education and security," Mr Golding said.
The Art of Luxury Living - PALMYRA RESORT & SPA
Jamaque Magazine
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