Trinidad says no to casinos and slot machines

The Trinidad & TobagoGovernment is totally against the operation of casinos and all associated businesses, Conrad Enill, Minister in the Ministry of Finance, said earlier this week as debate on the Finance Bill 2007 began in the Senate.

Among a slew of provisions in the Bill is a clause that will officially make it illegal to import slot machines.

"These provisions define slot machines and tokens; removing any ambiguity as well as ensuring that slot machines are considered gambling machines," Enill told Senate President Linda Baboolal as he laid the bill for its second reading.

Enill said: "Accordingly, this measure will enforce the ban on the importation of slot machines with took effect from March 1, 2007, and will reiterate the position of the Government."

Once passed, the amendment will not immediately seal the fate of private members clubs, which offer slot machines as one of their main attractions.

Enill explained that the clubs will "continue to be able to operate within the parameters of the law", and he reiterated statements made previously by Prime Minister Patrick Manning that dialogue with the club owners will continue.

"On this basis the legislation provides this amendment will not be effective unless proclaimed," Enill pointed out.

The bill was passed in the House of Representatives on June 13, and had been introduced in the Senate last Monday. In addition to amending the Gambling and Betting Act, it also makes provisions for statutory increases in pensions, increasing the spending limits of the Chief Administrator of the Tobago House of Assembly, and also the elimination of customs duties on computer peripherals and certain types of telecommunications equipment.

Giving an account of the country's economic performance since the PNM took office, Enill admitted that while inflation was "the primary macro-economic challenge that faced Government", it was being brought under control and now stood at 7.9 per cent.

More jobs and businesses were being created and existing businesses were expanding to employ more people, he said.