Government should have made provisions so that taxation on the gaming industry could be used to establish a gambling anonymous centre.
This was the view shared on Friday night by MP for Cumuto-Manzanilla Christine Newallo-Hosein as she spoke on the motion to confirm the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order in Parliament.
“If there is an addiction to gambling, taxation is not an option for helping an addict. You must provide an avenue for rehabilitation so the person does not return to that addiction,” Newallo-Hosein said.
“I heard the minister speak about social aspects and social fallout but nothing was put in place to bring people out of that addiction.
She said while Government had discussed addiction, they had not said how they would use any of these taxes to provide that kind of help.
“Internationally the private members club and casinos pay toward a fund that contribute to rehabilitation and I have heard nothing like that. The minister should have known places like Singapore does not allow for locals to gamble at all. It is only for tourists and foreigners and they only have two casinos.
“They took steps to deal with the root problem but I haven't heard anything like that. At the end of the day, we are asking the minister, you have all of the taxes but what do you have to deal with the fallouts that are happening?” Newallo-Hosein questioned.
She predicted with the tax-related changes, small casinos would go out of business and foreigners would come in to fill that void and may bring greater problems.
“I don't think the Government thought this out properly. And it is important they continue with the engagement with the JSC instead of coming with a motion short of ideas and short of solutions.”
COUNSELLING FOR ADDICTION ALREADY PROVIDED—MINISTER
Contributing to debate on the motion, Social Development Minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn responded to Newallo-Hosein’s comments, saying gambling addiction support services was already present as part under National Family Services.
“We provide counselling, treatment and rehabilitation at the Piparo Treatment Centre. There is no need for Government to say the taxes will be used for that because these systems already exist,” Crichlow- Cockburn said.
She said while Government sought to diversify through tourism, she had to acknowledge gaming was part of that whole tourism drive.
“We cannot put our heads in the sand and say we will not participate in gambling but it needs to be regulated and that is what we are trying to do with these taxes.”
Counselling for addiction already provided—minister
Contributing to debate on the motion, Social Development Minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn responded directly to Newallo-Hosein’s comments, saying gambling addiction support services was already present as part under National Family Services.
“We provide counselling, treatment and rehabilitation at the Piparo Treatment Centre. There is no need for Government to say the taxes will be used for that because these systems already exist,” Crichlow-Cockburn said.
She said while the Government sought to diversify through tourism, she had to acknowledge that gaming was part of that whole tourism drive.
“We cannot put our heads in the sand and say we will not participate in gambling but it needs to be regulated and that is what we are trying to do with these taxes.”