THE RECENT opening and immediate closing of Cyber King mini casino has negative implication on Guadalcanal Provincial government (GPG) that needs clarification.
First, the business licence issued to Cyber King was done by the previous regime with the clear understanding that operating such businesses will add to Guadalcanal provinces’ alternate source of revenue.
The current regime shared the same view hence the reason premier Anthony Veke attended the opening ceremony with a short-notice invitation.
There is no wrong committed by Premier Veke and Guadalcanal provincial government, previous and present.
Guadalcanal provincial authority issued business licence to cyber king in accordance with Guadalcanal Provincial Business and Hawkers Licensing (Amendment) Ordinance 2014, (GPBHLO).
The provincial government has the right to issue such licence per section 2 amended.
It is the failure of Cyber king management that resulted in the immediate closure of their business.
Section 6 of Gaming and Lotteries Act states clearly that only Gaming and Lottery Board (GLB) shall issue commercial gaming permit with an overarching power.
Thirdly, the authority executed by the Board and Police came in the form of a ‘stop notice’ and not confiscation of cyber king properties, machines and equipments.
That said with a clear conscience, we encourage Cyber King to retract and follow the normal procedure and apply for gaming permit from GLB.
The above points cleared, Section 6 (1) of Gaming and Lotteries Acts stated that Casinos are only allowed to operate under Hotels.
However, according to, GPBHLO 2014 Guadalcanal province has the right to issue business licence as it sees fit to operate within its jurisdictions.
According GPBHLO Section 2 amended, Poker Machine means, A coin-operated gaming-machine which pays out […].
Schedule 1 amended, prescribed business and fees clearly categorises Casino and Poker machines (outside casino) separately.
Hence, the previous GPG issued Cyber King licence to operate on the understanding that they are operating poker machines and not a mini casino.
Furthermore, Guadalcanal province sees no wrong in having gambling business operating within its jurisdictions.
The executive in their deliberation acknowledged critics on the nature of such business on the backdrop of Solomon Islands being a Christian country however, thinks otherwise that freedom of choice of individuals on how they conduct their lives must be respected.
Finally not in defence of Cyber King, but in reality, in real situations on what is going on in this country, the provincial governments will continue to be subservient to the National Government with its unfriendly laws.
We (Provincial Governments) will soon be demanding more powers from the national government to allow us to determine our own future, intentions and interests.
The provincial government act 1997 is out dated thus needs review.
The bigger picture is those criticising provincial governments are not feeling the cruelty of the bottle-neck bureaucracy of the National Government upon the provincial governments.
Hon Premier Veke and his government took the bullet for the right reasons fired by Cyber Kings ignorance.
— GUADALCANAL PROVINCIAL GOV’T PRESS
The post Guadalcanal Province clarifies Cyber King Casino issue appeared first on Islandsun Daily News.