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Churches in Samoa have expressed concern about the affect the opening of casinos will have on the country.
“The love of money and the casinos will only drive people further into poverty… People will start to save money to play in the casinos instead of feeding their families,” says the Chairman of Samoa’s National Council of Churches, Reverend Kasiano Le’aupepe.
“The addiction will become too much; it will result in crime as people start stealing to fuel their addiction. Gambling opens the door to the influx of outsiders who have no fear for God,” he said.
The Samoa Observer reports that the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, did not have time to address the concerns expressed by Le’aupepe during an interview in his office last Tuesday.
In an earlier interview Tuilaepa said that the Government was going ahead with plans to build two casinos. One is reportedly planned for Savaii with the second one in Upolu. He said the idea behind the introduction of casinos is firstly to help towards economic growth, and secondly, as an incentive for tourists who enjoy this type of entertainment to come to Samoa.
Source:
- Sunday Samoan
- Image: The Guardian
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News category: Asia Pacific.
