Devon DickWHAT DOES the former president of the Jamaica District of Methodist Churches, Reverend Philip Robinson, and the former Chairman of Caymanas Track Limited, Mr. Howard Hamilton have in common? Both gentlemen have challenged the nation to re-visit our attitude towards gambling. The former in a Gleaner front-page story exposed the government's inconsistent stance on gambling (February 12) and the latter through his weekly column, 'Horse sense', wants greater involvement of the Church in horseracing.
Philip Robinson preaching to a large congregation at the Methodist school, Excelsior Education Centre, claimed that the government says no to casinos while opening the floodgates to other games of chance. He is correct because under the PNP government there has been the establishment of the Racing Pools, the placing of up to 70 gaming machines per hotel and granting of two licences to operate lottery.
It is however, worse than that. In my book, Rebellion to Riot: The Jamaican Church in Nation Building it states, 'Interestingly, at least one government-owned hotel advertises, as one of its major attractions, a casino though the government officially has an anti-casino stance' (p.27). So there is not only inconsistency, but also hypocrisy.
The most unfortunate thing caused by the government allowing a proliferation of gambling activities is that we have developed a culture of gambling, which can have a damaging effect especially on children. This was evident late last year, when I was the guest speaker at a function at a school and I asked the bright students to name the company that advertises that it will help you to get a dream car.
The answer they gave with one accord was Lotto. However, the correct answer was Bank of Nova Scotia. Ironically, it was the BNS who agreed to sell Lotto tickets for the Jamaica Lottery Company in 1994. And now the cult of lottery is more identified with helping persons to achieve goals rather than a bank. This ought to worry the Bankers Association and the PSOJ that young people see the way to 'step-up inna life' is through lottery rather than business entrepreneurship.
This adulation for gambling is unhealthy. Sociologists, politicians and psychologists should worry about the influence of Lottery advertisements on the psyche of the young impressionable minds. The Lotto ads are well done, very clever and funny. However, they have the potential to cause damage. Just as how cigarettes ads are banned because they are dangerous to one's health so Lotto ads should be banned for psychological damage to the nation's health. At least, with immediate effect the Broadcast Commission should not allow the lotto ads during the viewing time of children.
Interestingly, on Valentine's Day Brother Howard Hamilton lovingly called for the Church to be involved in racing similar to the role played by the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America. The chaplaincy is reaching out to those who earn their living from horseracing. He even mentioned that jockey, Pat Day, is a devout Christian. In fact, the church has been involved in racing in Jamaica. In the above-mentioned book it records, 'The Roman Catholics' relaxed stance on the issue was demonstrated prior to 1976 when Mass was celebrated in a room at the Caymanas Park race track, courtesy of Joseph Armond, a Roman Catholic'. The Church does care for everyone including persons involved in the gambling industry. However, the point made in Hamilton's article is a call to the Church to be involved in the lives of workers in the industry who need Christian care and religious guidance through a specialised ministry. This should be examined and supported. In addition, this ministry could help gamblers to control indulgence within reasonable bounds.
In fact, the church also needs to re-examine its attitude towards gambling and gamblers and persons who benefit from the industry. Let them be accepted and affirmed as people deserving of the churches' specialised ministry. Too often these people feel neglected and alienated from the service of the Church. The Church has concentrated too much on prison ministry so much so that some Correctional Centres cannot accommodate any more church services while overlooking a ministry to the gambling and gaming industry.
In addition, some of the arguments against gambling need to be re-examined. Take for example the one that says, 'the money obtained by the winners is money lost by someone else and there is no corresponding production'. But isn't there production in the racing industry with the creation of jobs and stud farms for provision of horses? In fact, the Lotto ads have been responsible in highlighting persons who have used the winnings to start a business. Gambling has to be attacked at the level that it breeds a get-rich-quick mentality that is dangerous for a young mind and it is one of the unfairest ways to distribute wealth.
Yes, the issue of gambling needs to be debated and a ministry to the gambling industry is appropriate while regulating the excesses of the industry.
The Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
