“Yes all the necessary safeguards are in the legislation, unless of course it’s those people who shoot from the hip. They are the ones who do things in the dark and do not want to understand the Act” – PM Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi

The campaign to stop Casinos in Samoa has failed.
With the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) back in power, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi says work on Samoa’s first Casino should “start at the latest [in] June this year.”

“The Casino and Gambling Act is passed so the only thing left is to implement [it],” he says.
The Act outlines implementation by way of, “The Casino and Gambling Authority (CGA) will be the body to implement all the [necessary processes] and I think that by June everything should be done.

“Actually it should be between now and anytime to June.”
But before the CGA is established, a committee under the guidance of the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) will initiate the early steps. Tuilaepa is the Minister of the TAB.

“We’ve had more companies expressing interest to set up casinos so the committee is researching into this and there will be another call for Expressions of Interest (EOI),” he reveals.

The Government will not be involved in setting up a Casino.
“This is a private sector initiative,” he says. “As we all know, companies with hotels can team up with relevant stakeholders or form consortiums to bid for the licenses available.”

According to the Act, only two licenses will be made available in the first 10 years.
Says Tuilaepa, “In line with the restrictions where only overseas clients and holders of foreign passports are eligible to play, two licenses will be more than enough."

“And that’s appropriate for a small country like us especially taking into account the concerns raised by the churches and [members of the] public.

“What we’re doing here is no different to what other countries have done to protect their people.”
He is confident that protective mechanisms in the Casino and Gambling Act and its eight-member Membership are more than adequate to avert public concerns.

The CGA membership outlined by the Act will be appointed by the Head of State acting under advice of Cabinet.
The eight member are:
A chairperson with an accounting qualification and experience;

•     the Attorney General;
•    the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance;
•    one member an experienced practitioner under the Law Practitioners Act 1976;
•    one member nominated by the Samoa National Council of Churches;
•    one member nominated by the Samoa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Incorporated);
•    one member representing the interests of women and children;
•    and one member representing the interests of sports.

Says Tuilaepa, “Yes all the necessary safeguards are in the legislation, unless of course it’s those people who shoot from the hip. They are the ones who do things in the dark and do not want to understand the Act.”

In October last year, current Tautua Whip Lealailepule spoke out against the Casino and Gambling Act.
He promised Tautua would scrap the Act if they win the election.

He reasoned, “These casinos will not bring any benefits to the people of Samoa, we’ve been fine all along without casinos. If it’s to develop sports, then look we’ve won the iRB world sevens title without it.

We’ve now won Commonwealth gold medals without it. But you also ask, why is the government prioritizing sports when they should be focusing on education and agriculture which will enrich the nation through exports, knowledge and employment?”

In despair Lealailepule said, “Despite all the protests and opposition it’s [the Act] still passed. This is just a rubber-stamp government we have.”
Tuilaepa’s reply, “We know well the nature of these people.

They are the ones who oppose the government for the sake of opposing so no matter what good programmes the government brings in, they will oppose it because they don’t want to understand the benefits why government is introducing these programmes.”
He repeated one of the key reasons for government introducing Casinos is sports.

“Government has prioritized sports because it allows a broader range of the country’s youth who have sports talent to be given the opportunity to succeed. Not all will achieve in the classroom and especially in these modern times where there is a lot of money that can be earned from professional sports. That is why government will continue to prioritise this area and for good reason.”

This is in-line with the HRPP Manifesto under Youth and Sports stating, “Obtaining and making use of all available sources of financing including sponsorships to help the participation of Samoan sports women and men in international competition as well as to fully prepare them for competitions.”

He called most of the people opposing the Casino Act as hypocrites, “The ones who preach ‘do as I say but not as I do’.
“I’m aware many of those opposing the Casino are the very ones who love it when we win in sports.

They don’t appreciate that bonuses from government is one of the big factors pushing our sports people to aim higher and achieve bigger. It’s also a fact many of our sports and athletes would not be able to participate at international events if it wasn’t for the government.

“So we definitely want to increase the bonuses for winning gold medals. We want more of our teams to compete at international events – but the money has to come from somewhere.”

In October last year at a Pacific Council of Churches (PCC) workshop, Coordinator MrRaju Fong presented a gambling paper explaining why governments support gambling.

“Reasons why government promotes gambling is purely monetary and studies have shown that in some cases up to 90 percent of the income is in the form of taxation and this generation of income far outweighs the social concerns that may arise. For Pacific islands with limited income streams, the lucrative income from gambling is an additional one that will assist in the creations of jobs.

Studies in the USA indicated that income generated from gambling have been used for much needed capital development and reconstruction projects and the financing of the civil war in the southern states.”

However, Chairman for the Samoa Council of Churches told the Samoa Observer the Council is very much against casinos, “We have seen examples of the destructive effects casinos have wrought in other countries. Reasons why it’s very worrying for us since it is now law.”

The great concerns led to a delegation to the Prime Minister’s office.
Rev. Fauolo revealed Tuilaepa’s reply.

“We did receive the Prime Minister’s answer in the form of a letter to say the government will look into our concerns and make every effort to stop what is happening in other countries from happening here in Samoa – if the Casinos go ahead.”
With all matters taken into account, Tuilaepa says the success of any programme depends on the people in the middle.
 
“The [Casino] committee includes the police, religious representatives and so on who together if they carry out their duties well will ensure compliance to the Act. For example, the Act empowers them to inspect the Casinos at any time.

It ensures we monitor and control who plays at the casinos.
“Those are some of the important parts of the Act.”

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