( L - R ) Henry, Garth, Notice

SEVERAL CHURCH leaders are calling on the Government to reverse its decision to introduce casino gambling in Jamaica, arguing that the practice would only serve to further damage the moral fabric of the society.

Pastor of the Mandeville New Testament Church of God, the Rev Roy Notice, challenged the Government to respond to a number of questions relating to its decision to sanction casino gambling.

"Is it helping the poor? Is it helping to reduce any kind of gap between rich and poor? Is it good for the children? Will it help to enhance our already damaged family life in Jamaica?" Rev Notice questioned Monday in a Gleaner interview.

Referring to the current gambling practices in Jamaica, Rev Notice said that it was designed to transfer resources from the poor to the rich.

Ill-advised decision

He contended that the decision was ill-advised, arguing that policymakers did not consider the negative implications for the country, but rather placed emphasis upon the bottom line.

The Reverend Peter Garth, president of the Jamaica Association of Evangelicals, expressed extreme disappointment that the country could be "going down that road at this point in time when we are actually calling the nation to values and attitudes and a fresh start".

He urged the Government to commission a national impact study in Jamaica to determine the ill-effects of gambling. Rev Garth noted that the country had only been presented with the material benefits of casino gambling.

General superintendent of the Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica, the Rev Dr Alston Henry, described the Government's introduction of casino gambling as "unworthy". He said casino gambling had no moral basis and could not help to foster the kind of values of honesty and hard work as critical to the business of achieving sustainable economic success.

"There is quite a body of well-researched information and evidence there to suggest whatever gains that you may be able to achieve as a country through casino gambling will be wiped away with the social and other problems which the country will have to contend with through the introduction of casinos," he added.