Don’t build casino

THE approval by the Government for the establishment of Pacific Pearl Casino at Paga Hill, Port Moresby, indicates it has run out of ideas to grow the country’s economy. There are more problems than benefits that this industry will bring into the country. National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) chairman Clemence Kanau mentioned that the industry would bring in much-needed foreign exchange and employ about 10,000 people. However, these benefits should have been quantified and released for public consumption. On the flip side, casinos around the world are sites where money laundering occurs. This is an avenue where drug lords, terrorists and organised gang elements illegally channel their money to avoid being caught. Without effective systems to monitor our international borders and no tough laws on money laundering and drugs, our country will be a haven for illegal activities to flourish.  It seems the recent major drug bust just outside Port Moresby, where the accused are yet to be penalised, has not taught the Government a lesson before approving the casino to be constructed. The NGCB, in its media release, has given the guarantee to the country that they would go out and source the best international operator to run the casino.  But how much experience do they have in executing this task?
If Australia’s major casino operator, Crown Casino, can be implicated in money laundering at their casinos in Sydney and Melbourne, how much guarantee can NGCB give this country that all will go well once the casino is in operation?
The NGBC has no experience in effectively running other gambling activities. It has mentioned that they would look at legalising lottery, bingo and online betting. These will add more misfortune to Papua New Guinean families who are already suffering because of our struggling economy.  The introduction of these gambling activities also contradicts the current consultation processes on making PNG a Christian nation. This confused Government is bringing more pain than gain to the country.

Tore Kila