Bermuda casinos could be delayed

A former governmental official revealed that casino development in Bermuda could be delayed.

Bermuda Islands.- As casino development in Bermuda has generated big controversies, the former tourism minister Shawn Crockwell revealed that casinos would be delayed “until the One Bermuda Alliance was out of power,” as he stated in an official email he sent to Alan Dunch, chairman of the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission.

The email was sent less than two weeks after Crockwell announced he was going to quit the One Bermuda Alliance. As reported by local press, the email was leaked to The Royal Gazette. Dunch received the statement “after the commission chairman publicly compared the cost of two taxpayer-funded trips — one taken to Las Vegas by Mr Dunch and Richard Schuetz, the commission’s executive director, for $6,500 and the $46,000-plus bill for a trip to Singapore by Mr Crockwell and Cabinet colleague Mark Pettingill.”

Meanwhile, the independent MP Mark Pettingill said that the work of the Casino Gaming Commission in Bermuda is not good enough since it failed to develop the gaming product. The official believes that they didn’t make the efforts to develop the industry in the country.

Along with MP Shawn Crockwell, Pettingill claimed that the Government was misleading the House of Assembly with its response to the proposed casino fees. According to Royal Gazette, the independents spoke against the measure that was passed in February. “Where is the resignation for putting these fees out there? I believe the Government and the Minister were misled by the independent commission and someone needs to resign over that,” said Pettingill.