During his Budget Debate presentation on Friday, Youth Development and Sports Minister Kenson Casimir expressed serious concerns regarding the CAGE gaming agency’s contractual arrangements with Saint Lucia.
Casimir explicitly mentioned that the former administration quickly accepted changes to the contract with CAGE involving license fees just before the July 21 general election.
This decision cannot be ignored, he stated.
With Team Saint Lucia’s track and field athletes from the recent CARIFTA Games and officials present in parliament, the Minister emphasized on the negative consequences of these license arrangements.
“The fees we received from CAGE decreased. These fees directly support our athletes,” he said, blaming the drop on actions made by the previous leadership.
He explained that these license payments are required to facilitate requests from sporting bodies, including supporting trip expenses. “They determine how many athletes can travel based on the revenue generated,” Casimir said.
However, he complained that, due to past agreements, “that percentage decreased.”
He also recalled that the contract signed in July exempted CAGE from paying any taxes, including VAT.
“When CAGE upgraded their gambling devices and brought in equipment, all taxes due were unjustifiably waived by the previous administration,” Casimir claimed.
The Minister emphasised that this matter was brought to the cabinet’s attention to highlight the critical needs of young athletes preparing to represent Saint Lucia at the CARIFTA Games and the World Championships.
“The very foundation of the country’s athletic development has been compromised,” Casimir declared.
In response, the present government performed a thorough appraisal and achieved a new agreement that is critical to promoting athletic growth.
Several attempts to get a response from CAGE yesterday regarding what Minister Casimir said were futile as our calls went unanswered.
Caribbean CAGE, LLC (CAGE) was founded in 2004 with the goal of bringing a superior Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) system and innovative new gaming content to select Caribbean countries.
The purpose is to boost local economies and develop new entrepreneurial and job opportunities in these areas.
CAGE is a firm registered in the United States Virgin Islands with business licenses to operate throughout the Caribbean. The corporation maintains offices in each market where it possesses VLT licences.
CAGE currently holds licenses and/or rights to operate Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) in the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, and Sint Maarten.