News that the Gaming Control Board (GCB) has still not been realised (see related story) is disappointing to say the least. After all, it was listed as priority by not just this Government, but several ones before it.
As a matter of fact, Prime Minister William Marlin recalled that the articles of association actually had been completed when he was a Commissioner for the then-Island Territory of St. Maarten.
The apparent lack of action on this topic over the years is highly regrettable, also because particularly Dutch politicians during all that time have kept hammering on the island’s gambling sector as being a source of organised crime, corruption, money-laundering and other illegal practices.
Finance Minister Gibson is said to be “putting final touches” on establishing the GCB. Hopefully his current medical condition won’t cause too much further delay, because the matter is already long overdue.
Considering Government’s financial situation it’s understandable that the immediate focus has been primarily on the huge amounts owed by local casinos, for which a draft law facilitating their collection is currently under review at the Ombudsman until August 12. It reportedly involves some 12.3 million guilders in total, so going after that money makes a lot of sense.
Still, the GCB reasonably should have long been in place by now and whatever more excuses simply won’t suffice. There is no direct reason to suspect ulterior motives why this is not yet the case, but some kind of decisive move regarding the issue well before the September 26 elections would certainly help address any possible doubt.
