Dunkley: Expenses & Lack Of Results On Gaming

February 7, 2020

“It is evident by the lack of results that to date the money spent by the PLP Government has not been a wise expenditure of taxpayer dollars,” Michael Dunkley said regarding the expenses to operate the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission.

Mr. Dunkley said, “Last Friday in Parliament during the question period I asked Minister Dickinson to provide details of the total costs to operate the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission from July 1st 2019 through to the end of December 2019.

“This was a follow up from questions asked in July 2019 during which the Minister provided costs for the period April 2018 to the end of June 2019, a period of fifteen months, and the total cost was more than $2.5 million. This averages out to about $167,500 per month.

Audio of the questions in Parliament about cost of Gaming Commission

“At that time upon further questioning the Minister stated the BCGC was focused on three priorities: “to get the legislation passed in the House in terms of the regulations and the law”, “getting an executive director in place to run the organization”, and to resolve the issue of having “banks accept gaming proceeds.”

“The questions asked last Friday were to obtain an update on what has been done since that time and at what cost.

“Parliament learned that almost another $840k had been spent during the past six months at an average spend of about $140k per month. We also learned that two of the three priorities remain outstanding; finding an executive director and a correspondent bank. Regulations have been tabled; however they were completed before the last election by the former chairman, the last Executive Director and the BCGC staff.

“The Minister further stated that he estimated $3.2 million would be spent this financial year.

“It is evident by the lack of results that to date the money spent by the PLP Government has not been a wise expenditure of taxpayer dollars. Little has been done but a lot has been spent!

“While gaming is not a cure all for boosting our tourism numbers, it can be an important additional amenity to the product we offer.

“It is incumbent, as I have said before, that politicians get out of the way and that gaming becomes a reality. If the PLP is unable to do that they should not waste any more money as it can be spent on other very needy initiatives to help the people we serve.”

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Comments (9)

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  1. Joe Bloggs says:

    Dear M. Dunkley, PLEASE get this through your head. The PLP Government does NOT want gaming in Bermuda. The PLP Government will not say that openly, but why else do you think they sabotaged the Gaming Commission?

    • Hon. Michael H. Dunkley JP, MP. says:

      Dear Joe Bloggs,
      Please read the end of the release.
      Have a good evening.

      • STFU says:

        You will never get a Casino! Churches don’t want their coffers affected by gaming!

    • Insane in The Membrane says:

      Joe Bloggs, Could just be complete and utter incompetence?

  2. Onion_peels says:

    This is the ideal civil servant job init? Regulating and industry that doesn’t exist. What do they do all day, every day?

  3. chips says:

    The whole thing came to a grinding halt when they wanted to be able to control it. Now it Aint gonna happen soon. They left a foul taste in any possible directors mouth, yet we pay our commission to do NOTHING of any use.

  4. Unbelievable says:

    The Gaming Commission is fat. Cut it. They aren’t doing anything.

  5. Toadinthehole says:

    All that money could have been used to give some tax breaks smh

  6. Donderered says:

    Ler’s try and look on the bright side – at least they’ve saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by not having executive director.