Hindu religious leader Pandit Roopnarain Persaud is welcoming the passage of legislation to strengthen oversight of Guyana’s gambling industry, warning of the damaging effects it can have on individuals, families and the wider society.
Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Pandit Persaud said gambling is fundamentally inconsistent with the principles of Hinduism, or Sanatan Dharma, which promotes duty, righteousness, self-control and responsible living.
He said gambling can lead to addiction, financial hardship, loss of dignity and the breakdown of family relationships, with the consequences potentially extending from one generation to the next.
“Gambling is not an act which is allowed or tolerated in Hinduism. We totally disagree with it, and it is prohibited,” Pandit Persaud posited.
He explained that Hindu teachings, including principles of Dharma, Karma and Ahimsa, emphasise responsibility and prohibit actions that cause harm to oneself or others.
The pandit noted that gambling can undermine these principles by encouraging deception, loss of self-control and financial irresponsibility.
He expressed particular concern about young people and vulnerable persons, especially as gambling becomes increasingly accessible through smartphones and online platforms.
According to him, easier access can increase the risk of addiction and divert young people from education and productive pursuits.
“Our children are a great asset to the country. They are the future contributors to development and the future leaders of all the agencies and every aspect of life,” he noted.
Pandit Persaud therefore believes the stronger safeguards contained in the new legislation are necessary, particularly the measures aimed at preventing children from accessing gambling platforms.
He said effective oversight must extend beyond physical betting shops to online gambling, where monitoring is stronger, and young people can mot participate.
The Hindu leader also stressed the importance of regulating betting shop operators and scrutinising the source of funds used in the industry. He said legislation must not exist on paper only but must be properly implemented, with consequences for operators who breach the established requirements.
“They must be able to implement this legislation and let them work and let people become examples,” he said, emphasising that enforcement and oversight must be continuous.
Pandit Persaud further warned that gambling among young people could lead to wider social problems, particularly when they lack legitimate sources of income and begin seeking money to sustain an addiction.
He said this could contribute to other forms of delinquency and ultimately cause young people to lose sight of education, personal development and their responsibilities to their families.
Pandit Persaud commended the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the persons involved in developing the legislation, describing the initiative as timely as Guyana advances along its development trajectory.
“We are now on a springboard of development, and therefore every single citizen should be involved, and not sitting in a betting shop and doing nothing,” the pandit explained.
He said Guyana’s growing economic opportunities provide citizens with avenues to improve their circumstances through productive activity, rather than becoming dependent on gambling.
Pandit Persaud said the collective objective must therefore be to protect vulnerable citizens, particularly children and young people.