Prime Minister Patrick Manning is again sacrificing the well-being of people in the country to appease his religious beliefs, said local casino workers. Kenroy Phillip, chairman of the Union of Members Clubs and Lottery Workers, said yesterday at a news conference held at Henry St, Port of Spain: "The prime minister is set in his religious beliefs and will not see the gaming industry as an aid to the economy of Trinidad and Tobago."

The Union of Members Clubs and Lottery Workers (UMCLW) is demanding that Government put a hold on granting licences and work permits to foreigners as a way of dealing with the reported foreign infiltration and alleged "foreign Mafia" in the gaming industry.

Only the signature of President George Maxwell Richards remains for the Finance Bill that will ban slot machines to become law, as it was passed in the Senate after midnight yesterday. Among its many measures, the bill is meant to amend the Gambling and Betting Act that will phase out slot machines which are used in casinos and private members clubs.

An executive member of the Union of Members Clubs and Lottery Workers (UMCLW) is to be sworn in as a temporary Opposition Senator today, as the Senate debates a bill that could put an end to the local gaming industry. "Because of the special nature of the occasion the UNC is offering the opportunity to the executive member of that union to speak in her capacity as a temporary Senator, Cindy Gibbs," said Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Wade Mark.

Close to 7,000 employees of the gaming industry will be placed on the breadline if government moves ahead with its plan to present a bill in parliament on Friday to phase out slot machines. Addressing a news conference hosted by the Union of Members Club and Lottery Workers (UMCLW) at the NUGFW headquarters at Henry Street, Port of Spain, yesterday, member Cindy Gibbs said slot machines make up 75 per cent of the gaming industry.