The Editor, Sir:

Well the JLP Government has decided to roll the dice and gamble its hopes of economic turnaround on casinos. While the debate on legalising casino gambling has been mostly a moral one, my major concern is on more a pragmatic level. everywhere that casino gambling has been legalised the spectre of organised crime has emerged. The fact is, casinos are inextricably linked to organised crime, specifically money laundering.

Taking a great risk

Jamaica has seen money laundering infect the used car business, real estate developments and financial investment schemes and in none of this have we been able to dissect and remove the cancer. What hope do we really have that we will be able to introduce something tailor-made for this activity and keep it 'clean'?

In light of the explosion of gang-related crimes, are we not taking a great risk in introducing casino gambling, with the possibility of waves of dirty cash washing onto our shores. Doesn't this introduce the possibility of a unification of our violent gangs into a single, centrally managed crime syndicate; an entity able to extort, bribe and execute anyone who happens to oppose or offend.

Cocaine infiltration

St James has rapidly become as dangerous a place for policing as some of the darkest reaches of Kingston. Isn't this rapid transition based on the flow of cocaine money into this parish?

I do not purport to have the gift of foresight but considering how much gang crime has escalated in recent times, can we afford the gamble of casinos?

I am etc

PAUL DUNCAN

pduncan428@gmail.com

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica