Lottery sales up – NLA Manager

Sales of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) last year increased by almost one million dollars over the previous year.

Manager at the NLA McGregor Sealey told journalists last Wednesday that during the financial year which ended in July, 2016, his organization, despite harsh economic times, was able to increase its revenue by $942,165.{{more}}

But while NLA sales reached $42,518,174 this year, Sealey said this does not indicate an upsurge in revenue, because a few years ago, sales averaged around $53 million.

“…it is EC$42 million and up over last year…we have lost sales over the years, but this year we have a better year than last year. I think the up-sales is because the National Lotteries Authority has been doing tremendous work,” said Sealey, encouraging persons to play the games offered by the NLA.

“You say it, we in it, football, cricket and carnival and we have quite a sizeable number of children who we support for school including university, books, uniform. We have been doing our part, hence the reason why the NLA had been so successful,” stressed the manager.

He also revealed that during the last financial year, the NLA spent $6.5 million on renovating and rebuilding sporting facilities throughout the country. Money was spent on playing fields at Fitz-Hughes village, Cumberland, Buccament, Vermont, Campden Park and Chili, to name a few, but according to Sealey, persons have been stealing thing from, and vandalizing the venues, usurping the NLA’s good work.

Sealey therefore called on the public to own the facilities and take care of them.

“I was called sometime this week and they said that somebody broke one of the doors and stole another one at one of the facilities. There is one in North Union and someone tore down all of the electrical fittings and destroyed the project.(LC)