Trinidad Takes The Low Road To Prohibition
Published: Friday, October 06, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
TRINIDAD TAKES THE LOW ROAD TO PROHIBITION
Moves to ban online gambling announced by prime minister
Reporting from Port-of-Spain on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Associated Press said this week that the government intended to follow its recent executive order ban on land casino slot machines with measures to outlaw online gambling for island residents.
The socially conservative prime minister Patrick Manning announced the changes in his budget proposal speech to Parliament on Wednesday, less than a week after the U.S. Congress passed legislation cracking down on the financial channels used for Internet gambling by US players.
"Gaming activities are of great concern to the government," he said. Displaying at least some consistency, Manning also revealed that Trinidad would discontinue its national lottery. Observers noted that the prime minister commands majority support in Parliament, assuring passage of the online gambling prohibition. No timetable was given to eliminate online gaming and the national lottery in the twin-island country.
Oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago relies less on gambling and tourism than other Caribbean islands. But land casinos have started to proliferate, with dozens opening on the islands over the past five years.
Manning also announced a 15 percent tax increase on all tobacco products. Alcohol produced inside the 15-nation bloc Caribbean Community also will see a 15 percent tax increase, with taxes rising 30 percent on liquor and beer from outside the region, he said.
