THE EDITOR, Sir:
MANY PEOPLE are behaving as if no studies have been done concerning the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats presented by casino gambling.
In the 1970s and 1980s Dr. Carter of the University of the West Indies carried out two detailed studies on casino gambling, one for Prime Minister Manley and the other for former Prime Minister Seaga. Both men must have been so horrified by the foreboding threats that they decided against its implementation.
Nowadays we are being told that things have changed, there is a proliferation of lotto houses all over the country, not only are we listed in the 'Guinness Book of World Records' as having the most churches per square mile, we will soon be listed for having the most lotto outlets. Billions of dollars of drugs pass through our shores annually, there are no longer extenuating circumstances to prevent the implementation of casino gambling.
The question we need to ask of ourselves is how can we sit on the steps of the richest nation on Earth and are unable to attract investment, which instead is taking place in faraway places like China. We must be facing a fundamental dilemma.
I am, etc.,
MARK CLARKE
Frome P.O.
Westmoreland
