The following is the introduction to a press conference held by the Anguilla Christian Council and the Anguilla Evangelical Association on Tuesday 4th April, 2023, with regard to casino gaming in Anguilla. The presentation is by Pastor Phillip Gumbs of the Church of God Holiness:
“Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to this press conference being held by church leaders of Anguilla.
Seated with me are Reverend Wilmoth Hodge, ordained Presbyter of the Anguillian Methodist Circuit and Chairman of the Anguilla Christian Council, Canon Reid Simon, Anglican Priest-In-Charge, Pastor Dwayne Adams of the Central Baptist Church, Pastor Gareth Hodge of Hilltop Baptist Church, Apostle Elmead Allen of Kingdom Vision Apostolic Church, and Minister Avenella Griffith of the Apostolic Faith Church. I am Pastor Philip Gumbs of the Church of God (Holiness), and President of the Anguilla Evangelical Association.
We greet our audience in the name of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today the Anguilla Christian Council, the Anguilla Evangelical Association, and other members of the clergy speak to the hearts and consciences of all who love Anguilla. We speak to our Honourable Premier and Ministers of Government. We speak to the Leader of the Opposition and the elected members. Whether you were born here, came here, live here or abroad, you have this one thing in common – you love here.
From pulpit to pew, on radio and social platforms, on the streets and in homes, the church ministers to the wounds of our people. We hear their fears, we feel their confusion and hopelessness, and we provide assistance for their many needs.
We are convinced that Anguilla, though beautiful, is broken. Dysfunctional homes, gang violence, addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling, financial destitution and stress, all shout the message impossible to ignore, that this land we love needs healing.
Gripped by this reality, we can only be stunned and horrified at government’s grim determination to legalize casino gambling on this beloved land we call our home. No volume of revenue for government could justify this industry that has proven to be a curse, poisoning communities wherever it is established.
As our Christ was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver our government seems intent on betraying Anguilla for a pitiful 4.5 million US dollars.
Several times in the past we have strongly expressed to past governments our opposition to the lottery. We have spoken with this present government about casino gambling, and today we speak to the nation. We speak to conscience. We speak to the world.
We will now call upon God in prayer led by Reverend Wilmoth Hodge, Chairman of the Anguilla Christian Council, and after this prayer members of clergy will detail why you the people must stand up and say no to casino gambling in Anguilla, why the members of the opposition must exercise conscience and say no, and why our government should listen to conscience, respect God’s truth, and cancel its plans to legalize casino gambling on Anguilla.
God declares in Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalted a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Righteousness makes a nation great, but sin diminishes any people.” This today is not politics. This is love of country.”
Following Reverend Wilmoth Hodge’s prayer, other Pastors weighed in and vehemently expressed their objection to the issue of casino gaming. These pastors and church leaders included Pastor Dwayne Adams, who spoke on the risks of money laundering; Pastor Gareth Hodge, who elaborated on rigging of the system and the eventual vacuuming of money out of local economy; Canon Reid Simon, who addressed the Destruction of family as well as Crime and poverty and Antigua’s negative experience with casino gambling.
Also speaking was Apostle Elmead Allen who shared a warning against casino gambling from a US friend and the proliferation of mental illnesses associated with gambling; Reverend Wilmoth Hodge, who focused on the negative Impact on tourism and the negative views of tourists and villa owners; Pastor Philip Gumbs, who addressed Addiction and the Betrayal of 1967; and Minister Avenella Griffith, who presented sound and wholesome alternatives to Casino gambling.
