Three months ago we announced a joint venture between the Government of Bermuda and the Bermuda Hotel Association to commission a feasibility study on Gaming. That study is underway by the Innovation Group.

Part of the feasibility study process calls upon us to establish a Gaming Task Force. There are two main objectives for such a task force.

First a gaming task force will help the Innovation Group gather public input in a series of public meetings. Members of the task force will help facilitate these public sessions and they will listen to viewpoints.

Once the entire feasibility study is complete the Innovation Group will submit its report to the Gaming Task Force. That is where the second objective comes in. The task force will dissect the study and pass along recommendations to Cabinet.

This is important work and today we are prepared to announce the people who will sit on the Gaming Task Force. I think we have developed a team that represents a demographic cross-section of Bermuda and is made up of serious thinkers committed to making decisions that they sincerely believe are in the best interest of the country.

The Chairman of the Gaming Task Force will be Wendell Hollis. Mr. Hollis is an experienced lawyer who has earned a reputation in the community as an impartial person who puts what is best for the country first.

The members of the Task Force are Ed Trippe, Norm Mastalir, Deena Harvey & Marc Daniels.

I am grateful each of these busy professionals has agreed to take on this important public role. They will have whatever support they require from the Government; however, the Gaming Task Force will operate absent of any Government appointees or influence.

I fully expect this task force to be guided by what they hear from the public, the scientific research of the feasibility study and their own independent thinking. I am confident that approach will result in the kind of recommendations the country can be proud of.

Thank you. I’m happy to take your questions.