Greetings readers, this week, I read with sadness that apparently government might once again be considering plans for gambling casinos in our beloved nation of Fiji.
This concerns me on a personal basis as I have lost loved ones to gambling addiction and also as an advisory board member of the Salvation Army, I have an obligation to speak about the perils of gambling and other negative elements that impact our citizens.
Now, I would like to make this quite clear, this is not an anti-government or anti-FijiFirst article, but on the contrary it is a pro-Fiji and pro-peoples’ article where I would like to win the hearts of the ministers concerned for making these decisions on behalf of the nation, in bringing casino gambling to our shores.
I was made aware of Fiji’s first dismal effort to bring gambling to our shores when I met Larry Claunch, the front man of a company called One Hundred Sands Limited just a few short years ago.
Claunch had a fancy ground breaking ceremony followed by a reception in Nadi to commemorate the opening of Fiji’s first gambling casino.
The development ultimately did not get off the ground and failed miserably.
I fully understand and respect the authorities’ keen interest to bring casinos and gambling into Fiji for it would offer another source of income to already over stretched government funds.
I also understand the government is indeed borrowing a lot of money to pay for services and wages and looking for additional income streams are important, I get that.
What I do respectfully disagree with and believe is for the limited income received from gambling casinos in Fiji, it is the social impact for the citizens of our nation which will be far more devastating and destructive.
At first, it may seem like a good idea to attract a few more jobs and revenue, but a year or two down the road the social impact for individuals and families will be devastating.
I have travelled to more than 50 counties across the globe and every time I visit casino hotels, you are met with the marketing and sales pitch to gamble then there is the element to drink while gambling.
With this comes prostitution that surrounds the environment as the pimps loiter around the complex.
Lastly, there is always the availability of a full range of illegal drugs for gambling patrons to purchase.
I am a very liberal person, but with any form of gambling ultimately comes prostitution and drugs as they come hand in hand, and to discard this very well-known fact is foolish indeed.
With these three elements comes grave social problems that quite frankly will end up costing much more for the government to attempt to solve than the revenue that they receive from gambling licences.
We must also take into consideration the very fabric of family and loved ones who can be caught up and affected so quickly from this type of negative environment.
I am sympathetic with governments push to create more revenue as we certainly need income to sustain our fragile economy, but with the introduction of gambling casinos into Fiji and the negative elements it brings we must be mindful of the type of tourists we would like to attract to our shores and what their expectations are for a “gambling holiday”.
Finally, I value and very much respect everyone’s views on gambling, prostitution and drugs in our beloved Fiji. I, therefore, am sending my best wishes to all those who firstly do not agree with this article and I will pray for you and keep you close to my heart, and to those of you who do agree with this article, I very much appreciate you.
Adios readers and have a blessed weekend ahead.
- Ajay Bhai Amrit is a freelance writer. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily shared by this newspaper
