GEORGETOWN – A sobering warning has been sounded from the highest level of government regarding a pervasive social ill allegedly tearing apart homes and corrupting communities: chronic, everyday gambling. Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo today delivered a powerful commitment to tackle the crisis, revealing that faith-based leaders have directly petitioned the government over the devastating impact of the gambling epidemic.
Jagdeo spoke with urgency, painting a human picture of the devastation being seen across communities. He referenced concerned religious leaders who claim the addiction is “creating many problems within the family,” as people flock to local shops or spend their days glued to their phones, “thinking about some credit to put in a bet.”
The Vice President lamented the tragic consequences for the nation’s children. He revealed that countless parents and guardians are now allegedly “shortchanging their children,” depriving them of basic necessities like school clothes and essential supplies, all to feed their habit. “Something has to be done about it, and we intend to do something about it,” Jagdeo declared, underscoring the government’s commitment to intervention.
The social fabric of communities is also under threat. Jagdeo warned that gambling has begun to change the very nature of Guyanese life, claiming that “Some people don’t even want to work. They live for that little credit on their phone to place a bet.” He even cited cases within the public service, stating, “I know some people in the public service, they do it too and there it goes.”
The core of his message was a harsh financial reality check for those chasing the elusive big win: “You always lose in the long run. You always lose your money, rather than investing it in your family or your future.”
Jagdeo is pledging the government’s full support, working closely with religious organizations to disincentivize the addiction and break the back of this “social ill” that has quietly infiltrated every corner of the country.
