By Diallo Rabain The 2012 Gaming Referendum Act tabled by the then Progressive Labour Party Government, would have asked Bermudians: “Should there be licensed casino gaming in Bermuda?”

The One Bermuda Alliance’s 2013 Gaming Referendum Act asks: “Do you favour the introduction of regulated casino gaming for the purposes of creating new jobs for Bermudians and encouraging hotel development?”

Is this an honest question to take to the people or a cynical, thinly veiled act to exploit the people’s need for jobs and create a certain outcome?

What happened to just laying the facts out, asking a non-weighted question and allowing Bermudians to decide?

As a disclaimer, I am not saying the gambling will not encourage hotel development and by extension new jobs. Our own Green Paper on Gaming, showed the potential benefits.

Furthermore, the PLP recognizes that Bermuda needs a game changer in tourism and for our product to be improved. Yet we also recognize that there are risks involved.

That’s why we believe in an honest, open and transparent referendum where both pros and cons are given a full airing and where Bermudians are informed and where the people’s desire for the direction of our country can be clearly heard. We cannot allow a process that could be used to exploit people’s fears or that preys upon the economic turmoil of our people.

It isn’t fair to Bermudians and it simply isn’t right.

Imagine the rancor if an anti-gaming government via referendum asked: “Do you favour the introduction of casino gaming in spite of the vast social problems it creates in societies across the globe?”

How would pro-gaming Bermudians react?

Bermudians, (despite what is said ad nauseum in certain dark corners of our Island) are NOT stupid. We are more than capable of making an informed and rational choice about the direction of our home.

We do not need to be hoodwinked, manipulated or scammed into making the “right” decision. At the end of the day, armed with the facts we may not all agree, but we are capable of deciding for ourselves.

We’ve wasted a year. A year that saw our Premier seemingly unable to decide whether to keep the OBA’s promise to hold a referendum and obey the will of the people. A year that saw hotel investment fly to competitors like Jamaica, while we were paralyzed.

After a year, the Premier has made the right choice and the people will finally have their say. Now, we need an open, honest and transparent process free of manipulation that will give a true, open, honest and transparent result.

Between the OBA’s indecisiveness and the dubious referendum question they intend to ask, the referendum debate is already off to a shaky start. Yet the opportunity exists for collaboration.

We can work together in getting the referendum question right, on ensuring that both sides of the gaming debate have their say and on an open process free of manipulation. Bermudians deserve nothing less.