Trinidadian Prime Minister Patrick Manning has announced that his administration will stand firm in opposition to casinos and gambling businesses.

He refused to back down on plans he announced in the budget to put the squeeze on the industry, with the eventual aim of phasing them out.

Mr. Manning added that the gaming industry will be restructured so that it would comply with the law.

There was heavy police presence Friday as over 1,000 casino workers marched to the Prime Minister’s office at Whitehall to protest the anti-gambling statements in his October 4 Budget presentation in Parliament.

Meanwhile, casino owners have denied claims that they were using their industry to launder money and called on Mr. Manning to take his evidence to the police.

The Prime Minister’s measures to curb the gambling industry were met with loud approval by several sectors in society including religious leaders.