Opposition MLA Mike Currie is calling down the provincial government's decision to approve the name re-branding of the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre, saying public consultation should have been sought.
Currie issued a statement Tuesday voicing his anger over the name change from the CDPEC to Red Shores Racetrack and Casino recently put forth by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.
"They knew about this and what's really irritating to the horse people is that they weren't consulted," Currie said in an interview with The Guardian. "They just woke up one morning and heard it on the radio."
Currie said the driving park holds a lot of history and is recognized across North America as the 'Kentucky of Canada'.
"Islanders aren't opposed to change, but they would like to be consulted," he said. "Branding is one thing but changing the name is a different thing altogether."
Currie isn't alone in his anger.
Online polls done by The Guardian and Standardbred Canada indicate a whopping majority is opposed to the name change with The Guardian reporting 81 per cent of people opposed while Standardbred Canada reported 75 per cent of people were against the change.
Local harness racer Albert Bernard is one of the many people angry over the change and wishing there was something he could do to stop it.
"I thought about it for a couple of days and I'm confused as to why they would go ahead and change the name of such a historic place in Charlottetown history," he said.
"I think it's a slap in the face to all the industries that have any connection to
the park and harness racing."
Likewise, he wished there had been some sort of consultation with the people most involved in the driving park, notably the drivers.
"Doing this without any dialogue with the people involved is just like a slap in the face," he said.
"I don't know what we can. I'm very disappointed in the government for going ahead with this. I think we should organize something to protest it."
However, according to Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan people within the industry had been consulted and will be consulted again when the Atlantic Lottery Corporation makes its final marketing presentation Friday.
"We consulted with the industry," he said, citing Harness Racing P.E.I. as one of the groups talked to.
Sheridan stressed that any re-branding done is done for the better, adding they're trying to sell harness racing to a different, younger demographic.
"We don't need to sell our game to Islanders," he said.
"Change has to take place, we're in a changing environment."
Consult people before changing name of 'Kentucky of Canada', Currie argues
Consult people before changing name of 'Kentucky of Canada', Currie argues
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Comments
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- ken
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:08
I would like to know what bird brain came up with that stupid name?
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- don
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:15
do you really think the goverment cares what the people think as long as big money is happy.maybe alc will make a big money deposit come next election lol. ghiz what happened to your open goverment big joke once you all got in you did not care about the people. wel we will remember come next election.ghiz jr you are DISTROYING our island home.
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- Wayne
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:10
Do not worry my friends, the Ghiz posse has everything under control.
They will just take taxpayer's money and buy the next election. They will pave everyones driveway and start burying the dead with taxpayers money like politicians do in all Third World countries.
I am starting to see a lot of similiarities here that remind me of my years living in a Third World country. -
- Change is coming
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:40:25
You are right about one thing Mr. Sheridan. Change does have to take place. PEI will be in a changing environment in 2 years.
I never thought I would agree with the people who are saying it, but this remarkable decision has me starting to believe it .... ONE TERM GOVERNMENT. -
- Linda
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:38:02
I LOVE the new name!! As for Currie, I don't listen to people that break the law!!
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- Jane
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:35:49
The place to be, is the CDP!!!!!
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- ron
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:34:59
Like Wes Sheridan says were in a changing environment, Well if they change the name of racetracks you can rest assure well be changing the political enviroment. ARNOLD GET OFF THAT LADDER!!!
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- Wes Sheridan is POINTLESS
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:34:15
Wes Sheridan is the poorest excuse of a politition. Give us the names of the those consulted- perhaps the two or three on your executive.
You know that you never met with the horseman's Association.
Wes Sheridan has messed up on everything he has put his hands on!
Get back to the shelf stocking Wes. -
- James B.
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:34:00
New Policy for the Liberal Party which is lead by Mr.Giz is Let's see how many Island People we can upset today.... He and other party members seem to forget ..they are VOTED into Position by the voters of PEI.. I am not against change... So lets call Mr Giz *Pat* rather than Robert.... Why is it necessary to change the name to something that has bee part of Our Heritage for years,,Same place , same position and same game.Harness racing... So Pat what are you trying to Prove,, that you are on your way out...?
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- Louie
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:32:01
To Robert Ghiz.. Your father would turn over in his grave knowing what your doing to the CDP. I never go to horse racing, but being raised on a farm i know the importance of it`s presence on P.E.I. Mr. Premier what is next on the block, first the hog industry, the beef industry, and now the horse industry. Congats Mr. Premier you make me proud to want to leave P.E.I. my home.
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- New Name
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:47
How about The Peoples Racetrack and casino?? We paid for it.
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- hehehe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:01
Mike Currie is angry again i wonder who he will assault this time.
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- Louie
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:16
Former Islander from Moncton, New Brunswick . I am one of the proud Islanders to say i am so glad you live there now.apparently you were never a True Islander.
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- Shurting
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:28:18
Folks, it was the leaders of our Atlantic provinces that created the ALC..another corporation not accountaqble to anyone in particular and as long as they continue to send money to the provinces, our leaders are willing to put up with the slimy underbelly of gambling addictions, family break ups,deprivation of childern and losses of life. But for our government to allow the ALC to yield so much power in the province is incomprehensible!! Our politicians are aware that Islanders are proud of their history and yes, the CDP is part of it. It is disguisting to know that there is no one in the provincial government with the bollocks to stand up to the ALC and run this Island for the residents, not the corporations! Shameful!! One term....yer outta there!!!
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- Doug
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:11
Dear Provincial Government,
Kind of shameful to call it a Casino when A. it's not a Casino, and B. you're trying to distance yourselves from gambling problems. You must just love that name... Casino... think of all the $...
I'd like to repeat, it's not a Casino. -
- More head shaking
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:22:04
This is just another reminder that our present government has no idea what is important to Islanders....and might I add, doesn't give a crap. What happened to all of Ghiz's opposition to ALC's involvement in the initial stages. Robbie doesn't have an opinion of his own, he flip flops and goes the way of the almighty dollar. One thing he can look forward to is his daughter reading about him in the history books as PEI worst leader. It isn't good to wish your life away but I can't wait for 2 years to pass so we can get rid of this embarrassing, pathetic excuse for leadership. I can't wait for the bailout to be announced for Entegrity Wind Systems....that will be good for a laugh! I wonder can we over-throw this government before we are totally destroyed as a province??
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- DJ
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:57
This is a flippin JOKE, they consulted harness racing PEI, they are part of ALC hahaha dosnt anyone get it.
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- Any news is good news
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:03
It got harness racing and the gambling spots in the news...and that is probably exactly what it was designed to do. This too shall pass and the same number of people will go to the races and the VLTs as go now--regardless of whether the tracks/VLT houses are called.
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- HIDDEN AGENDA
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:15:34
THIS IS THE QUOTE FROM WES SHERIDAN....We dont need to sell our game to Islanders, he said...My question Wes is who in the name of god are you trying to sell the game to ?????
If Atlantic Lotto wanted the Harness game to succeed then they should start looking after the fans they got !!!
There has been a large number of big betters stop going to the Races because of the poor service they received in the past.
Sweep off your own door step before you start attracting new betters from other Provinces...dumb...dumb...dumb... -
- Brian
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:12:45
I think all of us islanders should get a petition going to get Ghiz to step down and get a new leader in as he doesn't care about the islanders at all and he should step down. Look at the Dion fella he ended up stepping down and if we do not get this ghiz government t step down than this island and us people on it is going to be in a sh*t whole as he doesn't care at all.
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- Why???
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:11:15
Why???
It is the CDP & always will be. The Horsemen might have appreciated & been honoured with a tribute to one their own?? It is a history they can be very proud of.
What about The Gentle Island Racetrack and Casino or Come Play at My Racetrack and Casino ... Whatever the name is I am looking forward to Old Home Week and the 50th Gold Cup & Saucer (or are they changing too)? -
- Why Bother?
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:11:14
Why Bother Posting a Comment. I'm sure there were more than 10 comments submitted to this blog site today! Especially given the Topic!
I posted one early this morning twice to no avail as it still hasn't been posted on the site! It certainly didn't contain any profanities or derogatory statements !
Personally I feel it's a waste of my time to compose comments if they are not going to be posted! On the weekends there are very few comments posted on these blogs. I'm sure it's not from a lack of people submitting comments as most have more time on weekends to do so! -
- confused
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:11:07
I guess I am a slow thinker....but how in the world does a new name generate more business. If anything it is costing us money. Do u think the tearing down, making a new one and all the debate about it and the labour is free???? Someone was really hard pressed to spend the tax payers money. Slow Monday at work or something I would say.
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- Cindy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:09:30
It well always be call Charlottetown Driver Park even if you change the name It bend call that for 50 years.
Can you not spend my tax money on something worth wild. -
- Wade
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:03:34
Why don t we change the name from Anne of Green Gables to the Little girl from the red Shore and this way it would work with the new them.
What a joke this is name change is leave it the way it is .CDP -
- Email Wes NOW!
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:01:18
Please email Wes Sheridan at wjsheridan@gov.pe.ca
Robert Ghiz at rwjghiz@gov.pe.ca -
- BUDDY
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:00:59
THIS IS SHERIDAN'S QUOTE...Sheridan stressed that any re-branding done is done for the better, adding theyre trying to sell harness racing to a different, younger demographic.
We dont need to sell our game to Islanders, he said.
Change has to take place, were in a changing environment.
Is this guy that stupid to think that changing a Historic name that is known all over North America will attract a younger crowd form across the Bridge to come to the races??? To think that this guy in charge of our Tax Dollar is very scary. -
- Go figure
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:00:42
What gives? If memory serves me right, it wasn't that long ago that the harness racing clan was crying for some sort of cash infusion(Gov't or otherwise). Along comes ALC gives them a first class facility and tons of promotion. I think they should be free to name it as they choose.
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- LA
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:43
Rich, I'd be more worried about the issue than the details of polling.
The new name sounds like a tacky, irrelevant, tourist trap name. The CDP is well known, classic and classy. There was no reason for this whatsoever. -
- Patronage Pat
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:39
It should be called, We Are Darn Lucky to Have a Place to Race Even Though No One Comes To Watch . Not very catchy but appropriate.
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- RC
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:20
When the entertainment centre opened a few years ago, politicians said that this would not be a casino . Now, out of the blue, the word casino is going to be in the name.
Mr. Treasurer, how is the name Red Shores Racetrack and Casino going to appeal to the younger demographic ? I am not that far removed from the younger demographic and I can tell you that I am not all of a suddden going to run off to the racetrack and casino because of this new name!
How many hundreds of thousands of dollars was paid to a marketing firm to come up with this name? I would have supplied a similarly exciting name for a lot less - let's see: Confederation Driving Park and Casino (with this the former acronym which has been so widely used CDP could be maintianed except for the addition of a C at the end i.e. CDPC; perhaps Anne of Green Gables Racetrack and Casino (hey, with this one we would attact all the Japanese tourists- another demographic to consider!!!); or perhaps some business would have loved to have paid big bucks to have their name attached suh as The McCain Harness Racing and Gambling Centre . -
- CDP is Historic
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:01
Thank you Mike Currie.
Just wondering, can they change the name when part of it is a national historic site? -
- Chester Field
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:57:17
One question here folks, Who in the h%ll are these ALC folks, I want to know there names and where they live, name your Casino whatever you want but leave the Charlottetown Driving Park alone. I think it is about time that we as tax payers have finally said, Enough is Enough, and protest. It is hard to do the first time but gets easy after that, and looking at what our Provincial and Federal Gov't's have been doing to us I think that it is time for a revolt from us taxpayers, you know, the ones that are paying these JOKERS wages...what do you think, I can get this running , just need some people behind me????
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- D.J.
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:57:14
With 75% (8% undecided) in North America Against and 81 % of Islanders Against this name change, the best thing the Government and Atlantic Lotto should do is to admit they made a mistake. Change the name to Red Shores Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Red shores Casino at The Summerside Raceway get on with life.
Wes will you please release the names of the people in the Harness Industry that were consulted as nobody in the industry seems to know who they are.
Last week the girl from Atlantic Lotto said they consulted with employees , players and a FOCUS GROUP . Please release the names of the people in this focus group??? -
- woodsman
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:55:53
The liberal ran there platform on reducing gambling--now that we have gone to full Casino --blackjack and the wheel is next this makes Kino look like sunday school--this will hurt a lot of famly,s gambling is a weekness that a lot of people cannot overcome the courts call it an illness when someone steals to gamble and the Liberals call it progress--sad--sad--sad--now we have two Casinoes on PEI and the food banks are saying they are going BUST--oh well thank God for the taxpayer---
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- DISGUSTING
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:54:17
The arrogance of Sheridan and Ghiz is not only Astounding but Breathtaking ! It's already a Done Deal and not one Tax Payer was asked for their input!! DEMOCRACY??? Rush it through tell the people after it's a sealed deal! Not my style of leadership!
Consulted with The Horsemen who own the horses and stand to make a good return on same, The Ch'town Raceway who makes a great profit, that was proven recently when they lost a few hundred via in house theft and never missed it for two years and then ALC who are already Trillionaires and still get more!!!! SOME CONSULTATIONS!
And what does a NAME CHANGE have to do with attracting more Gamblers???? NOTHING - It's well know around the world now as the CDP however no one will recognize the RED SHORES RACETRACK AND CASINO!! WHAT A Long Expletive to have to verbally encumber!
But, Wes Sheridan's BULL on Compass tonight should provide lots of Green Acres for our TOURISTS till at least NOVEMBER! Talk about Indulging! Who does he think he is fooling?
ALC has the Money, Slots and $$$$$$. ALC will get whatever they want as long as they're Paying!
And what was that statement Wes and Robert made oh just a little bit ago about Not Feeling that a Full Fledged Casino would be appropriate for the Island!!!!! COME AGAIN??? I didn't hear you??? Can anyone say TWO YEAR TERM Enough ELection Please! -
- Bubba
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:52:48
Iron Mike will straight this out with PNP funds.
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- ALC
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:52:41
Change the name to Charlottetown Driving Park and Red Rock Casino.....Red Shores??? Who came up with that??
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- NO LOTTO SALES PEI
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:52:33
ISLANDERS if you really want to send a message to our Ghiz Government and ALC - DO NOT BUY ANY LOTTO TICKETS OR LOTTO PRODUCTS THIS WEEK! Do not patronize ALC's Casino at the RaceTrack with your Presence!
Show them you mean business! The only thing they understand is the Almighty Dollar! Don't give ALC your hard earned dollars! Hit them where it hurts! This is the only means we have to send a REAL MESSAGE! Maybe when there's no lottery sales and no money put into their VLT's this week on PEI they will Get It! -
- Dick
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:52:00
They needed to change the name of the Casino, but they didn't have to change anything with the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The name of the facility should be...The Charlottetown Driving Park and Red Shores Casino.
CDP is a world famous name. People from all over know about the CDP and Gold Cup and Saucer races during Old Home Week....there was never a need to change the name of the Driving park. -
- The Observer
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:33
To Why???. Please don't give them any ideas. Old Home Week might end up as the Red Shores Exhibition and Fun Fair if the Powers that Be get their way. Better yet they might change the name of the province to Red Shores?
More seriously, I'm not sure why ALC thinks that Red Shores is a better name with any demographic. Lots of places in this world have red sands. Nothing distinctive in that. -
- E.
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:13
suck it up buttercup(s)......how many ppl still call it Rasino? the same amount that will still call it CDP...its a local thing...and only the locals care about the change....when you call your cabs to drop you off so you can spend all your hard earned money down the drain to gamble, you can still say id like a cab to the rasino or id like a cab to the cdp ....they'll still get you there in plenty of time to watch your money go down the drain...or slots....either way...
the government doesnt need to take a poll on who thinks that the name needs to be changed or what the name should be...the results would be the same...ppl are just mad that they somehow feel that they dont get to be included in every little tiny detail b/c we're islanders and islanders are nosey and think they know everyone and everything!
but in the end...i tihnk its a stupid un-unique name and waste of money...but what also is a waste of time and money is ppl makeing such a huge deal about this! -
- Former Islander
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:03
Petty, petty, petty.
Do you think that the horses will stop trotting if it's called the CDP, Redshores or Rainbow Valley?
ALC owns it and can call it what ever it wants to.
This is just as stupid as a few years ago when everyone was saying that the phone service would degrade because the telephone company would be called Aliant instead of Island Tel.
If news on the Island is so slow, why not print a story reporting how few tourists are on the Island this year.
Maybe you should call it Anne of Green Gables Racetrack and Casino -
- rick
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:01
now here is an idea,how about the horseman change the name of the atlantic lotto corp.to ''maybe next time buddy''
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- Rich
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:34
I can understand Mr. Currie's frustration, as well as that of the people who race at the track.
What I can't understand is how The Guardian can continue to post a poll every day...and never, ever give the numbers for amounts of respondents? A poll is useless if you don't know how many people actually voted in it!
The story above states that polss were run with The Guardian reporting 81 per cent of people opposed while Standardbred Canada reported 75 per cent of people were against the change.
80 percent of how many votes? If only 5 people voted then we have a whopping 4 people opposed! However, if 5000 people voted, then we have 4000 opposed..and that says a lot more.
I have thought often about The Guardian's polls having no number totals for votes cast. Almost every other website shows the total votes cast in polls which give them a little more weight with those who read the results.
Is it because nobody votes in some of their silly polls? That The Guardian doesn't want the public to know the actual numbers because the response is so low that they would be embarrassed?
Show your numbers Guardian..it's a simple code in your HTML....any chimp can do it. Then, perhaps we'll care about your polls....well most of them...except the ones that show your poll question creator has had a few too many maritinis at lunch time! ;)
Thanks for your time and space. -
- JP
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:33
One Term Government
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- Fed Up
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:37
It is amazing that after all these years (1898) The Charlottetwon Driving Park has been know across North America. Wes Sheriden may not have known about it as I believe he is from away. If, as he states, we do not have to sell this place to Islanders, who does he think will be coming here? Except for Old Home Week, I would think it is mostly Islanders who use the facility. If he is thinking casino, I wonder how many bus tours he expects to arrive, especially as there are a already a few in the Maritimes. LEAVE the name CDP
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- JRM
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:40:25
The new name sounds alot nicer, the old one is horrible.
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- Deb
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:38:00
Just one point, change is not always good. Changing something just to say you made a change is ridiculous. Sometimes it's the pits to make a change.
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- Brendan
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:37:25
Why in the world would some high level suit wearing desk jockey decide to change 129 years of history and tradition when he/she may not know a horses arss from its head. MR Sheridan I would love to know who in th lords name did you and the Alc consult with i know that you didnt consult people that actually are in the industry. I am a 4 generation Horseman, my family has been racing at the CDPEC/ CDP since 1888 why would you change the name after nearly 130 years why dont you grits leave well enough alone. I know for sure that if Pat Binns was still in power that this would have most definately have not happed. If we let them push over us now where will it stop. The ALC Cup perhaps. Just leave well enough alone.
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- don
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:36
does the people of pei not know that big money OWNS the pei goverment. and the voters opinions means nothing.the only way to cure this is get the liberal goverment out. the binns goverment was bad you think but at least they did not sell pei off piece by piece.
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- Whats
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:35:09
I like the new name. The CDPEC sounds like some place you'd get your taxes done. The horseman should quit complaining. the gov and ALC is attmpting to save your industry by building the casino in the first place and now your complaining about the name change. PEI does not have the local population nor interest in the sport to sustain harness racing on our own. We need the tourist monies spent in order to make the casino a worthwhile venture, and more visitors are going to visit a place called The Red shores Reacetrack and Casino than the CDPEC : (some achronym they have no idea what it stands for). History and tradition is not enough to keep the sport alive, we already found that out when the industry was in trouble and looking for handouts before the new casino was built. You can't have your cake and eat it too. I thought you were hroseman not lobster fisherman !!!
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- THE ADACITY!
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:34:38
It is just BEYOND BELIEF to see this picture this morning of Sign Craft TEARING DOWN THE CDP SIGN!!!! Islanders just barely heard that our Ghiz Government had plans to change the Name! Democracy???? I Think Not!
Premier Ghiz is not a KING, an heir to a throne! Premier Ghiz is an ELECTED Member of Government! And he will not be a Member of Government for long!
STOP THE NAME CHANGE NOW or Step Down Mr. Ghiz! We didn't elect you to change our Island History or serve Corporate Interests! And this Change is definitely not in our (TAX PAYERS) Best Interest!
ALC is a GAMBLING INSTITUTION ! Why are you changing OUR HISTORY for Dice Rollers? Your Done MR. GHIZ! This is the LAST STRAW FOR ME! Your brand of Governing is Dictatorship not Democracy!
Islanders should DEMAND GHIZ STEP DOWN ! His Decision Making Skills are not that of an Islander. They are more comparable to a Yes Man for Corporate Interests! Islanders Mr. Ghiz are proud of their Heritage and therefore strive to preserve the same, NOT TEAR IT DOWN! -
- Jason
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:34:24
CDPEC is a horrible name, anyone who is not from here if they hear the name driving park they are thinking that it is for driving some golf balls.
Times have changed and so should this facility, i think there is a term, what was it now, something about whipping a dead horse.....
