Deputy Alencar da Silveira Jr. (PDT-MG) is a journalist and broadcaster. He began his political career in 1988, being elected the youngest councilor in the Belo Horizonte Chamber in that legislature. In 2015, he was elected to receive the Guará Trophy in Minas Gerais, as Sports Director of the Year, having received several awards.
Luiz Carlos Prestes Filho: What are the economic activities that contribute to the social and economic development of Minas Gerais? What actions has ALMG (Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais) developed to give greater dynamism to these structuring activities?
Alencar da Silveira Jr: Minas Gerais has very diverse economic activities that vary from region to region. The service sector is the biggest contributor to the economy. Mining and other industrial activities are also very important for the state's economy, as well as agriculture and livestock. To help with the economic recovery, we launched the ‘Recomeça Minas’ plan in the state’s Assembly. The proposal will help sectors of the economy that were affected by the Coronavirus pandemic with the settlement of tax debts and tax incentives. In this first semester, we will study and promote debates with businessmen, workers' representatives, and the Government. Based on that, we will draft a bill to help the economy resume. We expect to regularize approximately R$ 14 billion in tax debts and reduce taxes in various sectors as a form of incentive.
What are ALMG's programs and projects aimed at Tourism, Leisure and Culture activities?
At the end of last year, ALMG approved the final report of the Extraordinary Tourism and Gastronomy Commission, which highlighted the impacts of the pandemic on the sector and presented data that show the growth potential of tourism in the State. The commission started this work in March 2019 and ended with the approval of the report, which is available on the Assembly website. Last year the Assembly created Minas Arte em Casa, to move the cultural sector during the pandemic. The project broadcast several online presentations on ALMG's social networks. Now, we need to work to create exemptions and allow the renegotiation of tax debts to help the recovery of the sector, which was greatly affected by the pandemic.
Could the reopening of casinos and bingos help to strengthen state tourism? How many new jobs would be generated? Would the tax collection increase by 5% or 10%?
Several state’s towns became famous because of the casinos, especially in the South of Minas, the “Brazilian Las Vegas”. With the reopening, tourism in these municipalities would again have a large growth with generation of jobs and income. And today, with the ease of locomotion, other regions of the state could be benefited as well. In Minas there are several municipalities with truly relevant natural and cultural attractions. This is essential to attract tourists to the casinos. The time that casinos brought people just to gamble is over. Now, the person travels and takes the family along, there must be entertainment for the children, for the whole family. It is not possible to maintain casinos without offering these attractions together. In Brazil, the legalization of the gambling sector could generate around 600 thousand direct and indirect jobs and R$ 15 billion annually with taxes. It was the amount that could be collected with grants.
Would it be important to also regulate in the state the jogo do bicho? How big is this activity in Minas Gerais?
Illegal gambling benefits few people. The jogo do bicho is on every corner, with informal workers and without paying taxes. With legalization, the government could use the money for health and education. In addition, thousands of workers could move out of informality. Gambling in Brazil is a reality, but few are benefited by it.
Would it be opportune for the State Secretaries of Finance to send a document to the National Council for Farm Policy (CONFAZ) in favor of the regulation of gambling? What points could be highlighted in this document?
The Government of Minas Gerais is going through a very difficult economic moment. It is unable to pay the civil service salary on time, it has already delayed transfers of ICMS to the municipalities. The legalization of gambling is one of the ways to help in such a delicate moment, which was aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic. Given this scenario, it would be very valid for the Secretary of State for Finance to point out the benefits of legalizing the activity for the collection of the State and the generation of employment and income for several regions. It can point out the tourist potential of the municipalities that have housed casinos in the past and others that also have attractions to receive the casinos. In addition to showing that illegal gambling already exists but does not pay tax and has no rules. Another thing that the Government needs to do is to let several companies explore gambling in the State, through the Loteria Mineira. It will carry out the concession again in 2021. At the moment, only one company can explore the activity here, we need to allow other firms to explore as well.
Would the resumption of the activity of casinos give a greater appreciation to the historical identity of the Mina Gerais towns that lived through the Golden Age of the Casinos?
Casinos will attract more tourists and reinforce the identity that these cities have created with gambling in the past. Older residents certainly remember that time, as casinos move these cities a lot.
In your opinion, what should be the destination of the tax collection of regulated gambling?
Part of the collection must be reserved for the treatment of compulsive gamblers. Most of them, on the other hand, should be used for health, education, and security. The activity needs to contribute to the social and help the population. In relation to the carnival, today it earns much more than any jogo do bicho bank in Rio. The time that gambling helped has passed. Today, carnival is an industry. How much does it cost for you to parade on the avenue? How much does carnival make today? It is an industry that has evolved and that currently earns a lot.
Does the Minas Gerais legislature follow the debates on gambling regulation in the National Congress?
I have advocated the legalization of gamblings since I entered public life. I always follow the debates and proposals presented at the National Congress. On several occasions, the Minas Assembly has already held debates and brought deputies from other assemblies and also parliamentarians from the National Congress. We are attentive and prepared if the legalization is approved. I think that the deputies and senators should use this difficult economic moment, with high unemployment, to approve the return of the gambling sector. Of course, with proper regulation and inspection.
Democracy is a universal political system; it is above ideologies and religions. Do you believe that regulated gambling strengthens democracy?
It strengthens, because you stop restricting an activity due to religious interference, as it happened in Brazil when gambling was banned. In addition, you regulate and define rules for an activity that already happens illegally, without paying taxes or bringing any type of benefit to the population.
Source: Luiz Carlos Prestes Filho – Executive Director of Tribuna da Imprensa Livre newspaper
