Monrovia – The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Lottery Authority T. Titus Charley has taken serious exception to the banner headline in February 12 &13, 2019 editions of the Hot Pepper Newspaper.
The paper in its two separate publications claimed that the Liberian Vice President Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor who currently has oversight responsibility of the National Lottery Authority has violated the gambling laws by approving the construction of a casino in a densely populated residential area contrary to what the paper called, expert advice.
But the NLA board Chair T. Titus Charley in a statement Wednesday distanced the Vice President from said claim saying, the Vice President as a legal luminary and a respecter of the law cannot be seen violating any constitutional instrument including the laws governing the gambling sector of the country.
According to Mr. Charley, his office is in receipt of a communication from the River View Hotel Casino owned by Mr. Nelson Oniyama requesting the transfer of its gambling license from Review View Hotel to Sinkor, Tubman Boulevard, a request, he revealed is being reviewed by the Board of NLA.
Mr. Charley is quoted as saying the request by the Hotel in question is being reviewed and that no action has been reached, noting that the Board has also asked the Ministry of Public Works to advice on the zoning in line with gaming regulations.
He also clarified that contrary to the claim by the paper that there currently exist four license Casinos in the country, the Board is aware of two licensed functioning casinos to include the Psalm Spring Hotel and the Mamba Point Hotel Casinos.
Mr. Charley therefore expressed shock by this dangerous lie and wonders how the editorial team of the paper can be so devilish in their propaganda drive against the Vice President.
The NLA which has seven members Board of Directors ardently regulates all Gaming Companies and Stakeholders in the Lottery Sector, and at no time has the Vice President violated or used her personal relationship to manipulate the law governing the gambling sector.
Explicitly, according to the statement, the policy Staff in the Office of the Vice President T. Titus Charley who is appointed by the President chairs the Board of the Liberia National Lottery as provided for by the NLA 2014 Act. The Office of the Board Chair is therefore requesting the management of the Hot pepper Newspaper to desist from this form of negative propaganda spree against the Vice President and get their facts right before making grave allegations.
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