Ministers oppose expanding gambling
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
This is an open letter from the St. Thomas-St. John Fellowship of Ministers, the St. Thomas-St. John Christian Council of Churches, the Caribbean Covenant Ministries, the Evangelistic Association of St. Croix and the Baptist Association of the U.S. Virgin Islands to Gov. John deJongh Jr. and Senate President Ronald Russell regarding expansion of casino gambling in the U.S. Virgin Islands:
We the apostles, pastors, bishops, shepherds, overseers and servants in the Lord's church, as His ambassadors, with and on behalf of the faithful, the Christian community, take strong objection to the expansion of casino gambling in the United States Virgin Islands, especially as it relates to the district of St. Thomas/St. John/Water Islands.
The voters of the St. Thomas/St. John/Water Islands District have already rejected casino gambling in a public referendum.
In light of recent discussions emanating from the Legislature and the proposed legislation to re-ntroduce casino gambling in the district of St. Thomas/St. John/Water Islands without a public referendum, the St. Thomas/St. John Council of Churches, the St. Thomas/St. John Fellowship of Ministers and Caribbean Covenant Ministries, among others, herein oppose the circumvention of the people's will on this critical issue despite the pending economic crisis.
Gambling is not the solution to the difficult economic times the people of these Virgin Islands are facing. The social ills that are associated with gambling far outweigh any economic benefit that the people of the Virgin Islands will receive.
Gambling offers no productive value. No money or goods are generated though considerable time and resources are absorbed by the same.
Gambling increases when economic times are uncertain and people are concerned about their future. A National Bureau of Economic Research shows that the poor and disadvantaged bet a much larger share of their income.
In addition to material deprivations, family members frequently experience the trauma of divorce, child abuse and neglect and domestic violence. In Harrison County, Miss., the number of divorces nearly tripled since the introduction of casinos. In Indiana, a review of the state's gaming commission records revealed that 72 children were found abandoned on casino premises during a 14-month period. In Louisiana and South Carolina, children died after being locked in hot cars for hours while their caretakers gambled.
Domestic violence shelters on Mississippi's Gulf Coast reported increases in requests for assistance ranging from 100 to 300 percent after the introduction of casinos.
And if the foregoing is not reason enough to shun the expansion of casino gambling in our territory, casino gambling is always associated with money laundering, human trafficking, prostitution and overall corruption.
While we are confident that the leaders of our choosing, now in government, can with God's bridge the financial chasm before us, we believe that it must be done without damning our collective future any further.
A vote against the expansion of casino gambling in the United States Virgin Islands is a vote for the innocent women and children who bear the brunt of the pain and misery that accompanies this devastating recreational practice.
While casino gambling may create several low paying jobs and has the potential to generate tax revenue, it will not serve us well.
- James Petty is coordinating pastor for the combined ministries.
To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.
Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.
