The M.P. for Palauli Sisifo, Afoa Amituana’i Mauli, says he will not stop campaigning against the airing of bingo games on national television.

Government members responded to Afoa’s criticism by urging him to move on from the matter and defended their stance on the issue. 

“This is a matter this constituency will continue to have a voice against, this is regarding TV bingo,” Afoa said shortly after Parliament convening on Wednesday.

“You all laugh when I mention it but this constituency’s request remains that the Minister please [reviews] the law.

“It is the love for the children that prompts this constituency to say this and I will not stop speaking about it. I will come back in the next term and speak about this again.”

The Minister of Public Enterprise, Lautafi Fio Purcell interrupted Afoa’s speech saying he had expected a new year would inspire a new song from the Palauli Sisifo M.P.

“This is the opinion from this sole Member of Parliament, while the Government holds a different one because we look at the larger benefit than what this member is looking at saying such things should be banned from families’ homes,” said Lautafi.

“We have decreased the times and limited the airing times so that by the time it is broadcasted the students should already be in bed. They should be asleep, that is the duty of the parents, put them to sleep.

“TV bingo airs at 10pm and these are things that we cannot enforce ourselves: what should and should not be done in the homes of families.

“We also look at the benefits that are gained by those who play from their homes in the evenings and the income that we gain from the licensing of these games including the assistance in paying the student’s school fees of less fortunate families.”

Lautafi, who is also the Minister for Commerce Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.), said bingo’s benefits were more far-reaching when compared to other issues being raised by Afoa.

The Minister said that not having TV bingo in a home is a choice that lies in the hands of a family and the Government has done all it can to limit the impact of gambling on children.

“I do not know what other explanation to say to the Member of Parliament,” Lautafi said. 

“The Government has tried its best to accommodate the concerns he is trying to convey.”

Following Lautafi’s interjection, the Speaker of the House, Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi, also explained to Afoa that while he has his own beliefs, the Government is expected to look at the advantages of the matter for the broader benefit of the country.

The M.P. for Salausa, Dr. John Ah Ching, said one advantage of televised TV bingo was limiting the number of mothers who left children unattended while attending bingo games. 

“As the Member is interested in the matter for the benefit of children, and the Minister has explained that the bingo time has been delayed to a time when students are expected to be asleep,” the M.P. said.

“There have been health issues arising amongst the youth, especially females, during the time their mothers take them along to the bingo house.

“This was a problem because teenage pregnancy would arise in this circumstance and this is why it is now good that they are staying home and playing bingo, they no longer take their daughters with them when they go to bingo in the evenings.

“Because while the mothers focus on the bingo game, the children would be outside playing, and it has been witnessed that in those settings, such occurrences have happened with older men performing indecent acts on the young girls while their mothers are occupied.”

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, said the Gambling Control Board had implemented controls to ensure that TV Bingo has a minimal effect on the nation’s children. 

“The important part that I want to explain is that it was not easy for the Cabinet to discuss this bingo matter during this time of COVID-19,” Tuilaepa said.

“It was also not easy, in regards to what the Member had just spoken about, to ensure mothers do not neglect their children. 

“There is a time when the mother is determined to attend bingo while she leaves her children unattended, as the doctor has said, this is why TV bingo is important.

“Bingo is a gamble. It is no different from other things including raffles, used by some denominations to raise funds, it is all gambling; the only form of gambling that is permitted. And this is why the Government allows it…”

He then urged the M.P. to move away from the topic assuring that they have heard it all before.

Last year, Palauli Sisifo’s M.P., said the decision to allow bingo games to be screened on national television was akin to “opening the gateway to hell.”

Afoa expressed concerns about exposing Samoa’s children to a form of gambling at such a young age through a medium available in most homes.

He said that while Gambling Control Authority restrictions prevent gambling among people aged 21 and older, such guarantees cannot be made with televised games.