The social justice group CURB has thrown its weight behind a petition demanding that Government reinstate the referendum on gaming.

The scale of the movement, which has racked up thousands of signatures, is still being tallied by activist Jonathan Starling.

“CURB believes it is the right of every Bermudian to have a say with regard to whether they wish gaming, and all its concomitant social problems, to be established in our small island home,” the organisation said in a statement issued earlier today.

“Gaming will change the very social fabric of our community and set us on a course, which will be difficult to reverse. This recession will pass but gaming will stay along with its social problems. As such we urge Government to consider the will of the people in this regard and reconsider its decision to move forward with legislation without the people’s agreement, collaboration or consultation.”

The group urged its supporters to sign, saying that the “rushed implementation” of resort model gaming would adversely affect the poorer segment of the community, which is predominantly black.

The CURB statement also suggested crime stood to increase with the introduction of gaming, adding: “We strongly believe that all legislation should go through an Equality Impact Assessment to ensure that it does not discriminate or disenfranchise any segment of our community, especially given the history of our past and the ongoing legacy of that history that continues to play out in our community.”

The group is working on its own position paper on gaming to be made public “shortly”.