MONTEGO BAY, St James — MEMBER of Parliament for St James Central Lloyd B Smith has controversially suggested that spoils from the lottery scam be used to assist the education system.

Though Smith made it clear he’s not in support of scamming — which has tarnished Jamaica’s name abroad and robbed millions from elderly residents mainly in the United States — he said the money accumulated from the illegal activity could be used to assist needy students.

“All I have been saying, for those who are trying to persecute me, I am not supporting lotto scamming. Never could! But, I am saying, some of that money that so many people have benefited from — plough back some into the schools. Assist some of the students,” urged Smith.

“I am saying, yes, the money may be tainted, but it is already out there. So, why not use some of it for a good purpose. Out of evil cometh good, and I make no apology for that assertion,” Smith said.

He added: “As MP, I have so many youngsters from the tertiary level, from the university come right down, can’t find the next dime for their tuition. Some of them are being deregistered, they can’t find books.”

Smith made the suggestion while addressing his constituency GSAT awards luncheon on Monday. The function was held at the International University of the Caribbean in Montego Bay, St James.

The function saw some 15 outstanding GSAT students who attended primary schools within Smith’s constituency being assisted with back-to-school supplies.

Smith said it is no secret that the economies of the parish of St James and other adjacent parishes have benefited tremendously, directly or indirectly, from scamming.

At a recent stakeholders meeting in Montego Bay that saw National Security Minister Peter Bunting attending, Smith, who is the publisher of the Western Mirror newspaper, suggested that his own newspaper benefited from lotto scam proceeds.

“The reality is that it has become so embedded in the community because everybody benefits… from the funeral parlour to the supermarkets, to the construction industry… to the Western Mirror. Everybody benefits; so does the Government by GCT and other means. So it’s a harsh reality we have to face,” he said.

A day before Smith’s suggestion, Bunting, in an address to a St James South conference, made a plea for residents to decide whether or not they will continue to support lotto scamming.

“We have to decide as Comrades what we are all about. We have to decide if we are going to be ambivalent about what is taking place; whether we are going to say well you know scamming might help the community and send this one go school or build that one a house,” said Bunting. “We have to decide once and for all where we stand.”

He added: “We don’t need no offering from lotto scammers. We don’t need no offering from drug traffickers. We don’t need no offering from extortionist. The Church does not need that to move forward. The people don’t need that.”