Gambling licences on hold

The Licensing Committee will not renew or grant any new certificates to private members club until the issue with Golden Entertainment Members Club is resolved.

So said committee chairperson Senior Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim at the Port of Spain Fourth A Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Objections have been filed by the Association of Members Clubs, members of the Union of Lottery and Club Workers, a group of concerned citizens and a pastor, against the granting of a certificate to Golden Entertainment which will allow them to operate a gambling facility.

Golden Entertainment wants to open up at Movie Towne at Invaders‘ Bay, Mucurapo.

Applications for the renewal of certificates by the St James Recreational Club, Lucky Jordan recreational club and Spin and Win Private Members Club came up before Lee Kim on Thursday.

When Lee Kim told Glenn Edwards, the assistant secretary to Lucky Jordan, of the committee’s decision, he was not pleased and asked Lee Kim why, they having been in existence for so many years, „this Movie Towne thing“ would affect his application.

Lee Kim pointed out that although no objections were made against the three clubs, the objections against Golden Entertainment dealt with the issue of gambling.

„It speaks about gambling and the committee attempts to look at all the applications it has along those lines, in an effort to be fair with everybody,“ Lee Kim said.

Attorney Lennox Sanguinette, AMC‘s chairman and legal representative, wanted the committee to know that they were only objecting to the licensing of new clubs operating with casino-type slot machines, while attorney Nitram Kowlessar, who is representing the concerned citizens and the Christian Council, added that their objection is grounded on Golden Entertainment being located at Movie Towne, which is a hub for young persons.

The three members clubs were told that their application would be pushed back to May 24, pending the Golden Entertainment issue.