Dear Editor,

Sometime recently I was watching a TV programme involving a young woman who was very promising in her studies, quite active in sports and a member of the school's football team. She and her mother lived together.

She had a young boyfriend who was a compulsive gambler. He got her involved in his gambling activities and she in due time became addicted. However, luck was not with her. In order to satisfy her gambling habits, she stole, she lied, she cheated.

She was caught with her boyfriend in the act of removing $4,000 from a wealthy businessman when he and his colleagues were playing golf at their club. Fortunately for her, the boyfriend's father knew the man from whom the money was stolen and he was able to persuade him not to go to the police.

Even more fortunate for her was the fact that she became so ashamed of her behaviour that she joined an anti-gambling organisation that came to her rescue and by attending regular sessions was able to overcome her addiction.

I began wondering how many people in Jamaica, young and old, find themselves in a similar situation in regards to gambling. There is so much enticement and encouragement to gamble permeating every aspect of our life - Lotto, Pick 3, Lucky 5, Dollaz - slogans like "Take a chance and step up inna life" -- buying furniture, household effects, even food that can allow one to win houses, motor vehicle, money in thousands and even a million in dollars. Our people are besieged with the "get rich quick mentality" and doing good, genuine hard work is looked upon as something degrading.

I sincerely hope that the government will realise how deep we have sunk as a nation into the morass of moral decay and will not entertain any further discussion with those who have made the offer.

I should like to make the suggestion that an organisation comprising those who are strongly opposed to gambling be formed in order to give help, encouragement and advice to individuals who are addicted to gambling so that they may find their way out of the tangled web of deception into which their desires have led them.

CL Beach
PO Box 466
Kingston 6

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