Kurt Sansone
Caritas usury spokesman admits to being casino consultant
A person representing the Church foundation that deals with victims of usury admitted on television yesterday to being a consultant to one of the casinos.
The admission was made when Reno Bugeja, host of Dissett current affairs programme, raised the issue of gambling as one of the reasons that pushed people into usury.
Caritas representative John Zammit was critical of the numerous gambling houses that opened up in every locality and argued that he would have preferred reversing the clock when there was only one casino.
"Gambling has increased and everybody knows this. Over the past 22 years we passed from a situation where we only had one casino, which was closed to Maltese citizens, to one where we have four casinos and I don't know how many gambling outlets. The situation is not nice at all. If it were up to me I would put the clock back 22 years," Mr Zammit said.
It was at this point that Mr Bugeja asked him whether he was a consultant to one of the big casinos.
A visibly stunned Mr Zammit confirmed he was a security consultant to a casino but denied having a conflict of interest because he was not involved in gaming issues.
"Yes, I do stand to gain from the casino but gaming has never been my friend. The first time I entered a casino was in 1998 at the age of 48 when I was appointed to the Gaming Authority's board. When I started doing freelance work, my financial position did not permit me to refuse clients and one of the casinos is a client of mine," Mr Zammit said.
Uncomfortable with the question Mr Zammit was spared further embarassment when the programme host stopped the discussion on the issue and tackled other arguments linked to usury. The Foundation for Victims of Usury was set up by Caritas in 2000 to help victims deal with the problem.
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philip pace
May 21st 2009, 10:21
Key words in this article
Church Foundation
Usuary
Security Consultant
Casinos
Gambling
Gambling Houses
Increase
Gaming Authority Board.
Questions.
1. How legal and fair are the odds in the Casinos, Gambling Houses and yes the U Bet syndrome (including the world famous Super 5 where the odds are more then Malta's population)?
2. Who is to be held responsible if the odds are found to be unfair thus more money to the operators, more money to the Government and more money to the usuary criminals and forcing the increase in gambling?
3. What was Mr.Zammit role in the Gaming Authority?
4. In this sordid and sleazy 'legal' gambling Maltese industry who represents the unfortunate punters?
5. During the artificial talks between t he operators and the Government in these last 22 years was there anybody who could speak up for the 'consumers/punters'?
6. What is the actual work as a security consultant?
7. Are these gambling houses LEGAL?
These are the questions that require solid and undisputed answers for us citizens to understand and appraise the situation.
Government wake up and speak up!
The gambling industry has not improved even now even as we are full members of Utopia land.
j camilleri
May 21st 2009, 09:16
Please do not let The Times get so low.Some journalists and a section of those who write comments like to be sensational. Where is the balanced judgement? Are we to promote good or evil in this society of ours. Envy, intollerance and promotion of evil are getting common.
Franco Farrugia
May 20th 2009, 19:39
I, for one, commented according to the article above.
I quote: 'Yes, I do stand to gain from the casino but gaming has never been my friend.'
Sorry, but this statement is self-contradictory and I stop here. If you work at a casino, you cannot claim that 'gaming was never your friend'.
A. Cassar Pulis
May 20th 2009, 16:39
Oh what a pity!!! Reno Bugeja felt surprised about Mr. Zammit being a consultant for a Casino!! And some people also are having the same feeling.
Let us ask Caritas the good work Mr. Zammit does for the Usuary victims before pointing our fingers. Be Christians my dear people and let judgment to the One who is taking good care of us through Caritas.
John A. Zammit
May 20th 2009, 16:18
Your newspaper has become a dumping place for Malta's armchair critics who see evil in everything and yet they are not prepared to dirty their hands with work. Your article seems to imply that I am a paid employee at Caritas; on the very contrary I am a VOLUNTEER and get nothing out of the service that I give except the internal bliss that one feels whe doing a good turn to those in need.For those who have seen evil in what I have done I invite them to try to give the service to the victims of usury that I have been giving for the past year.
One last thing, since out of a programme of an hour's duration your journalist found it fit to pick just this point and a follow up is expected tomorrow, I ask does you paper has a hidden agenda or is it seving someone's interest?
j camilleri
May 20th 2009, 11:21
Who is going to gain by discrediting the Caritas spokesman? Was the question tackled in the proper context? Can we give the criminals breathing space by being "smart" with ourselves?
Franco Farrugia
May 20th 2009, 11:08
My goodness! What a shambles!
And there is never a conflict of interest?
philip pace
May 20th 2009, 09:58
I am amazed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Smells bad, doesn't it?
What;s next?