SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on September 15 said that the government has given instructions to stop any further process to start casinos in the state.
He was addressing a meeting to welcome Sankey Shangpung, MDC and chairman of JHADC and Sherborlang L. Mawlong, MDC and other new members to the NPP.
However, Sangma said that the processes that had happened before the order was given are there and hence the communication to everybody was that the government will not move any further.
He said that before the NGOs and the Church leaders met the government certain processes had taken place and those were mentioned in the House and that happened to be the issue of three provisional licences.
“Provisional means temporary. The licences were given with the condition that within six or eight months the operation has to start and hence we have put a stop to everything after the discussion we had with the Church leaders and the NGOs. So we have not misguided anybody,” the chief minister said.
Sangma said that those provisional licences are automatically going to lapse after a certain time.
The chief minister said that he had made it clear to those against the move to set up casinos in the state that whatever decision the government takes in the future it will do it after extensive consultation and engagement with the stakeholders.
The chief minister said that his commitment that the government will not move forward setting up the casinos until and unless there are engagements still stands.
However, Sangma said that as of now the Act is still in place and the question of repealing it is not there.
“We have concerns about online gaming in terms of the jackpot parlours and they need to be regulated; they have not been regulated for the past 25 years. So, therefore, even if it requires that we wait for some time to regulate those also we can do that because for the last so many years we have not,” he said.
The chief minister said but it was important to frame a law and put the rules in place so that such things can be regulated whether online or offline.
Sangma said that not only for casinos, but for anything, before moving forward the government will have discussions with the stakeholders.
He, however, said that the law is in place and the rules have been framed but the government will not move forward in any situation right now but only after detailed discussion, consultation, and engagement.
Meanwhile, the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) will go ahead with the rally against setting up of casinos in the state even after the state government cancelled the move to start casinos in Ri Bhoi.
In a statement issued here, the organisation said that it does not trust the chief minister and will not accept unless there is a notification on the cancellation of casinos.