Organizers of the controversial 2008 NFL Super Bowl Raffle have announced that they have cancelled the event in a press statement released on Tuesday.
Their release claims that due to the low sales support of the raffle brought on by the 'negative publicity' generated by the editor of this local newspaper, they have made a decision to cancel the raffle.
But, The Freeport News makes no apology for warning the sporting population of Grand Bahama about what was believed from the very onset as a private money-making venture. The initial editorial on this matter questioned how this raffle qualified for a government licence, which is mainly given to churches and other charitable organizations to hold events for worthy causes. While the goal of the raffle may have been to help Bahamas Youth Football, it was not being created by a charitable organization or any church affiliation groups.
When the raffle was first introduced to the public in an August 23 edition of The Punch, it was stated that the event would take place on November 2 at the Isle of Capri Casino and that part proceeds would benefit the Rotary Club of Freeport's community projects and scholarships; Bahamas Youth Football; and the As One Foundation (Devard Darling of the Baltimore Ravens). The editorial also questioned that if these organizations were only getting part of the funds, where was the other portion of the money going?
Government ought to look more into this 'fishy' situation to ensure that Bahamian citizens are protected from organizations that seek to profit from so-called legitimate promotions which are really under the disguise of vicious scams.
Their reason for failure is truly amazing because when the promotion first began, this newspaper was only doing what any Bahamian citizen would have done, and that is to examine what they wanted the public to support.
Support expected from the public nowadays for any event has to be legitimately viable and of course for a suitable reason. While it is understood that Bahamas Youth Football is in dire need of financial assistance, a raffle requesting the large sum of money advertised would cause anyone to question whether or not the proceeds were indeed going to the cause intended.
Their release furthermore states that they (raffle organizers) are baffled as to why the local daily would go out of its way to dismantle a programme through its negative writings that would have greatly improved the lives of some 300-plus young men anxiously looking for some positive road to travel. This newspaper will never do anything to prevent the creation of any positive programmes that will aid in youth development.
There was never any problem with who was benefitting from the raffle, just how it was being handled and rightly so when one considers the growing number of money-making schemes out there which many people are falling prey to.
Even the raffle organizers would have to admit that based upon the number of times the raffle draw date was changed, it left many to believe that it was completely disorganized giving it the appearance of a scam. Who would consider supporting a venture like that?
At the conclusion of their release, the organizers claim that the cancellation is only a temporary setback as they will revisit the same prospect. It is hoped that the relevant authorities pay close attention to how they will proceed with this |
