By ENNIO KUBLE
THE country’s poverty issues, law and order problems and other social issues will not be resolved by rescinding the Casino Act, the Secretary of the Community Development Department said yesterday.
Joseph Klapat, who was responding to calls by churches and other social groups, said the department’s position did not mean that it supported operation of casinos.
He said what was required was stringent application of laws governing casinos, nightclubs and other entertainment centres.
He pointed out that casinos also provided employment to many people.
“Poverty and social problems will only be resolved when communities become self-reliant,” he said ina press statement.
“One way in which the department intends to address these problems is through the implementation of Integrated Community Development Policy (ICDP).
“My department sees the implementation of ICDP as the way forward, through the establishment of Community Learning and Development Centres (CLDCs), which will enable communities throughout the country become self-reliant.”
Mr Klapat said the CLDCs would enable the people to acquire relevant skills and knowledge to enhance their income-generating opportunities, respond to change and improve their livelihood.
The acting chief executive of the National Gaming Control Board Simon Sanagke said repealing the Act was “not easy”.
He said the Act had already been passed and the board was studying the various forms of gambling to prepare a report.
Officers had also been sent to the provinces, he said.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands has reiterated the call to rescind the Act.
General-secretary Fr Nick Groot said gambling was causing a lot of damage to families and communities, depriving them of money for food, school fees, clothing, rentals and other necessities.
He said the Government was not addressing social issues emanating from gambling-related issues.
“It is the churches taking it on ourselves to reach out to people and communities who were affected all through,” he said.
“There would be devastating effects as we are not talking about simple gambling.”