BUDGET STATEMENT 2014
6
SUSTAINING GROWTH, SECURING PROSPERITY
prevailing in Trinidad and Tobago, all casino
operations conducted by self-styled private
members’ clubs and all gaming machine
operations inrecreationclubs,inpubs,inarcades
and in shopping malls are illegal activities.
Gambling has the potential to lead to criminal
activity as well as to devastating consequences
for a small minority of customers, including
minors and compulsive gamblers. There is a
clear public need for regulation.
Mr.Speaker,wehavedevelopedacomprehensive
governance structure for this industry over
the last year. It will entail the establishment
of a Regulatory Commission with the power
to license premises, operators, suppliers and
key employees. The new legislation will control
the operations of what will be referred to as
registered casinos.
Mr. Speaker, before moving forward with the
legislation next year, we have commenced
extensive
consultations
with
various
stakeholders,
including
Inter-Ministerial
Working Committees and civil society groups.
Many further consultations are scheduled.
We expect full co-operation from the Industry
whose members have been proposing the need
for regulation for a number of years.
Mr. Speaker, in the interim and to ensure that
everyone meets their full tax obligation, all pool
betting shops will be required to computerise
their operating systems to allow the Betting
Levy Board under its operating authority to
determine the taxes which are due from the bets
being negotiated at those pool betting shops.
In parallel, I propose to increase the license fee
for betting offices which conduct betting at
fixed odds.
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (PPPS)
Mr. Speaker, much was expected of public
private partnerships in the last year, but the
procurement process to establish a transparent
institutional framework took longer to complete
than expected. We have since addressed this
• procuredmorethanadozennewambulances
for our national ambulance service;
• issued lands to 500 persons under the Land
for Landless Programme;
• increased a number of benefits: sickness,
invalidity, special maternity, employment
injury, and grants under the National
Insurance Board;
• commenced construction of the National
Aquatic Centre, the National Tennis Centre
and the National Cycle Centre;
• completed the first phase of the San
Fernando / Point Fortin Highway;
• removed VAT on over 7,000 food items;
• constructed a state-of-the-art water taxi
terminal in San Fernando;
• refurbished 7 markets and installed 8 bailey
bridges across the country; and
• refurbished the Scarborough Inter-Island
Ferry passenger Terminal Building.
Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of our many
achievements in the last fiscal year and we shall
build on these as we go forward.
MAJOR AREAS IN THE 2013
BUDGET
Mr. Speaker, in the last Budget we highlighted
a number of policy initiatives which we are
implementing. These initiatives were not as far
advanced as I believed when I assumed office
last year, but good progress has beenmade over
the last 12 months. However, I shall enumerate
our progress in these areas for the benefit of this
Honourable House and the national community.
GAMING INDUSTRY
Mr. Speaker, gambling is emerging as a
substantial industry in Trinidad and Tobago,
with consistent growth in unlicensed and
unregulated gaming. I wish to emphasize
that under the current legislative framework
