Set for Life winner collects keys

Set for Life winner Stella James, collecting her prizes last Wednesday at a small ceremony at her new home in Pembroke said that she plans to use the EC$50,000 to educate her children.

The 42-year-old James won the first place-prize in the Set For Life draw which took place on Saturday July 17. {{more}}As a result of winning, James was blessed with a house located at Pembroke valued at over EC$255,000, a Nissan X-Trail jeep (EC$110,000) and EC$50,000 in cash.

“I feel very glad cause I does work very hard so this can prevent me from work hard and take care of anything,” said James who after said that she plans to use the money to educate her kids. The New Grounds woman who resides at Diamonds Village is the proud mother of seven girls and has five grandchildren. James was accompanied to the ceremony by her common law husband Telberth Cruickshank, four of her daughters and two grandchildren.

Manager of the National Lotteries Authority McGregor Sealey who was also present at the handing over described the Set for Life as a massive prize.

“It is a pleasure to hand over this prize because of the fact that somebody from the lower echelons of society won,” said Sealey who added, “this is a dream come true”.

He said the prize was initially handed over on July 27, but James had indicated that she did not want the money until the house was completed. He said that he received the keys for the house last Saturday October 2. Sealey also noted that the 6594 square feet of land, the three bedroom, two bathroom house which is part of a housing project by Mark Punnett would have, “Set anybody for life”.

Chairman of the National Lotteries Authority Murray Bullock thanked the staff at the Lottery for their hard work in making sure that the Set For Life game which was part of the Lottery’s 20th anniversary celebrations was a success. He described the staff as a highly motivated group of individuals.

“The young people are banking on you to make this thing work cause all income of the lottery goes to sport and culture,” said Bullock.

James’ story is somewhat of a fairly tale. She learnt that she had won Set for Life while sleeping on the living room floor of her small wooden home. She had received a telephone call from a friend, Lorna, of her big fortune.

Her comments at the moment were, “Set fuh Life stop in dah ole house ya.”

Other prize winners in the National Lotteries Authority Set for Life Final Draw were Carlie Boyea of Park Hill, EC$50,000, Joseph Williams, Gomea EC$30, 000, Jenivey James, Dickson EC$20, 000 and O’Celia Williams, Level Garden EC$15, 000.