... No help from the public

GETTING SUPPORT from the general public to break the stranglehold of the criminals in the communities benefitting from illegal cash pot is very difficult, senior cop Clifford Chambers admitted.

“They see it as that which provides for them; as that which they can always rely on, from the operators of these illegal cash pot, and so it thrives. The community sees it as providing some kind of support, and as a result seems not to really have an issue against it. So it thrives for some of those reasons; the bets are paid at a premium; the bets are paid instantaneously, so you don’t have to have this long wait. And the truth be told, once your fund is won, it’s gonna be secure, [because] no one is gonna try to rip them off or anything like that, so they feel much comfort in carrying out these activities.”

Tashai Hutton, vice-president at Supreme Ventures, said that customers who usually do business with Supreme Ventures have been intercepted and enticed by the gains offered by the illegal cash pot operators.

“They can afford the higher payout because the informal sector, as you can appreciate, no tax is paid. So they can afford the higher payouts, and does it impact? Yes, it does impact us significantly,” she admitted. “The problem still exists and it is real! The only thing we can do from a Supreme Ventures end is to advise people to stick to the formal sector because sometimes people will have genuine complaints in relation to their experiences and it can be easily confused with the formal sector.”

While the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission is working with the police, through Crime Stop, and has made a few major arrests, Assistant Commissioner of Police Chambers said the lack of cooperation from the citizenry continues to hinder their efforts.