Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Gambling
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| Chin |
Well the Play Whe man has gotten his two weeks notice. You know it have to be hard when even the Play Whe man getting retrenched (not even VSEP eh). Not even Chinese Bicentennial could save Chin (I think that’s his name). So in it’s 2006/2007 budget available here, the Government has declared a war on vice on things such as alcohol, tobacco and gambling. The budget detailed that a 15% tax be levied against all rum and beer from local and regional sources, and that non regionally-produced alcohol be taxed 30%. Additionally the Government imposed an immediate 15 per cent increase on excise duty on tobacco products. Which means if any of allyuh smoking a cigarette right now, yuh owe the Government money.
However gambling was the hardest hit with a new anti-casino and anti-online gaming laws. The Budget speech addressed it as follows (page 50):
Mr. Speaker, the emerging trends in casino-type gaming activities are of great concern to the Government, particularly its rapid spread in urban, rural, and semi-rural communities. The Government is totally against the operation of casinos and all casino type establishments.Global research findings have shown that the gaming industry can destroy the financial security of families, negatively impact marriages, encourage deviant behaviour among children, undermine work ethic, cause increases in crime, including that of money laundering, and give rise to problem gamblers. The Government is strongly against the proliferation of these casino-type establishments in Trinidad and Tobago.
That means no Play Whe, no slots, roulettes or black jack, no Cash Pot, Pick Two, Lotto or any of other 351 games now run by the NLCB. Don’t worry people, yuh sou-sou hand still safe.
As far as the budget makes it sound, legal gambling in Trinidad is all but done. And when I say legal gambling, I mean just that. Every town has a Whe Whe man. I know exactly where ours is - standing in front of bank. However I don’t play Play Whe or Lotto, so I doubt I’ll turn to Whe Whe, even for protest’s sake.
But what about horse racing? I may be wrong, but isn’t the primary purpose of horse racing “bet-taking”? And therefore isn’t it gambling? However horse-racing wasn’t cast in the lake of fire and brimstone with all the other vices. I’m not sure what makes some types of gambling more corrupting than others.
So what about punchboard. Doh play yuh don’t know what punchboard is. If you ever been to a school bazaar, you know what punchboard is. I was such an addict. Punchboard was my bazaar game of choice - that and the one where you’d throw the rings on the items perched on the big blocks of wood. But I’ve moved away from being the 10 year old addict and into a well-adjusted adult.
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| Neighba, wha yuh dream? |
So as I mentioned before, not only are some types of gambling outlawed, but the prices of alcohol and cigarettes have been increased. By the way, has increasing the prices of alcohol and cigarettes ever helped to decrease their use? I know some countries have tried it, but I don’t know of anywhere where it has actually worked.
In any case, whether it works or not, there are thousands of people who’ve had their entire social lives wiped out by the budget.
And it’s fine if the Government wants to go after what it perceives to be the causes of social decay, but in my opinion it’s such an easy target. Why not go directly after crime itself, which is on everyone’s minds? But anyway, that’s the subject of my next post.
Grandma and Grampa took a chance,
Remember how they did that dance,
What I say is truth - no lie,
So come on down and take a try,
If yuh want a chance to live it,
Only lottery classic could give it,
(I can’t remember this line (or lines)…someone help me out)
On any given Saturday!
Just to add to this story, someone talking on Power 102 was just saying that Manning and his Governent in a way was trying to go the George Bush route of morality. Their plan may be cloak himself in moral superiority and in the process have anyone not with him, appear to be against moral values. And if you paid even 1 second of attention to W’s last political campaign, you’ll know how well that worked. So could this be? Are we seeing the emergence of liberal and conservative politics in Trinidad & Tobago?
Just be aware that when it comes to politics, there’s always more in the mortar than the pestle.
12 Responses to “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Gambling”
By TriniOne on Oct 6, 2006 | Reply
What next? Bingo???!!!
If Manning doh like Bingo ah go get real vex cause he go ban dat too!
I don’t know about you, but suddenly I am starting to see this ‘creeping dictatorship’ talk having some truth to it.
Manning is a madman! So I have to go back to playing whe-whe on de block with meh boys and dem! Steups!
By rotipelau on Oct 6, 2006 | Reply
New & loving your blog!!
Patos once again uses the “moral crusade” as a way to blind us from the real issues.
Haven’t seen what he intends to do about the basic problems of increasing crime,lack of health and education. Where is the accountability for what his gov’t didn’t spend money on as promised in the last budget?
You can almost close your eyes and predict the next budget. My new firm is offering security to all whe-whe bankers. Their pockets fatter than bwee & tstt employees VSEP put together.
By bronz_eye on Oct 6, 2006 | Reply
Well mani.. I think manning delivered a Christian budget… clearly the government don’t care about how the poor man survive. Over seven thousand young people will be unemployed once these casinos are closed down. Then you know the old saying the devil finds work for idle hands. Not to mention the figure with play whe and lotto. Crime will grow ten times. And one hundred dollars increase for pensioners.. Manning and his government should be ashamed of themselves. Why not take vat off food? I for one will not be voting for the pnm government ever again.
By Hottie Hottie on Oct 6, 2006 | Reply
Allyuh getting save by hook or by crook. And all dat extra tax just going to pay for the jet, play allyuh eh know.
By TriniOne on Oct 6, 2006 | Reply
Patos showing we the way! Why can’t we see dat and as Lenny Saith would say ‘just trust dem?
Come on my people, my flock. Close your eyes and see the Vision.
You need to stop studying and working hard. You need to become a URP worker in the morning and whe-whe banker in the evening.
You need to block up my road and demand something! I don’t know what yet, but I go figure that out after I bun a few tyres and old fridge.
WHOA!!! Serious matter .. just got a call on my Digicel from a friend of mine. His mother collapsed in Starlite Shopping Center, Diego Martin and they have been waiting forever for an ambulance and he needs my assistance.
Damn! Now we are going to test the health system. Will let u guys know how it turns out.
Wow! See how quickly ole talk could change to serious talk.
Later.
By Anonymous on Oct 7, 2006 | Reply
Manning’s Moral Majority. He hopes.
I heard a bit of a news item that said some contract was signed with a US firm to provide online gaming for 5 years …?? And is it my imagination or did I also hear a whole bunch of ‘moral’ and ‘visioning’ ads on the radio too..
By Mani on Oct 7, 2006 | Reply
Trinione - At best that decision wasn’t well thought out. Because there’s a lot more gambling in Trinidad than just Play Whe and casinos. So Patos saying I can’t go and play punchboard again? “Close your eyes and see the vision” - lol. Just now you will tell us to let’s all drink the kool aid?
I hope your friend’s mother is ok. How did it all turn out?
Rotipelau - Thanks! Well that’s exactly what’s going on. I think this whole aclcohol, tobacco and gambling this is a smokescreen so that we won’t see they really don’t have an idea when it comes to crime.
Bronz_eye - $100 increase for pensioners really isn’t enough. $100 dollars at these groceries nowadays is really not enough.
Hottie - well the man said he wanted to preach when he was done with politics, so I guess he getting his fock ready.
Island Spice - Well everybody perplexed about that one. He probably mention it to the NLCB.
By lime on Oct 9, 2006 | Reply
wow! no i can say i am against casinos. they bring a lot of crime to the area they are located and i personally know many people who gambled away everything they had as a result of going to casinos. too easy to make the really big bets. but lotto and play whe? it’s unlikely an entire life’s saving could be blown on that.
and lord help all yuh if manning is paterning himself after dubya.
By Justice on Oct 9, 2006 | Reply
Mani what it is really going on in Trinidad..I reading the express this morning (Oct 9) and its more murders, and they still kidnapping..I taught the PM say this was down..And why them Ministers meeting with gang members? I swear this is the worst gov’t I have ever seen. I will take Panday any day with he lies and thifeing self..I have told many ppl that Manning running with the gangs. Thats why he refuse to do anything that will help curb the crime situation in Trinidad. Each time I think about coming back home to live I change my mind cause I do not think I could live with all that crime. Granted crime is everywhere but it seems to be worse in Trinidad. I keep telling my family to get out and move to the states cause I do not see trinidad getting any better.
As much as I love Trini I am sadden by the terrible state its in. The gangs now rule Trini and if they keep this up more police will being taking bribes and then what?
By Mani on Oct 10, 2006 | Reply
Lime - I doh know nah. I read an article in the papers on Sunday where some guy was saying that he spent $400 on Play Whe every week. And I’m sure he’s not the only one. So I think it could be just as addictive.
Justice - I’m sure it can get better had we a better, tougher government, who is ready to take some drastic measures. As for Panday, I don’t think I will ever vote for him or his minions. I will prefer the third party.
By Carnival Jumbie (Diva) on Oct 11, 2006 | Reply
Buh I eh win lotto yet !! How they could cancel it !! But seriously I think that what is unfortunate about this whole thing is that the Play whe/ Lotto gave poor people a little sense of hope even if they was struggling. So now they struglling and have no hope. Even people like myself who not poor but surviving..I definitely can’t by a house or a new car now but i could still play a mark and hope I get a end. (that small change i get from that play whe did come in handy!). Anyhow you take it, if you take away lotto there will always be some other vice to replace it. People will have that extra money they need to buy alcohol at the raised prices. They could still bet on horses as was mentioned and it still have good ole whe whe that never went anywhere in the first place
By Mani on Oct 15, 2006 | Reply
Diva, you and me both. The truth is I don’t even play, but I always wanted to win big. But yeah, I don’t understand taking away some forms of gambling and leaving others there. Iz back to Whe Whe yes.