Come forward

Manager of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Mc Gregor Sealey, is calling on sporting organizations to come forward to operate ticket outlets.{{more}}

Sealey was at the time addressing the 2009 National Sports Awards Ceremony held Saturday, April 17, at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

He said that only a handful of the outlets are operated by sporting bodies.

“Of the ninety or so agents, only five are operated by sporting organizations. If only more sporting organizations could come forward to operate tickets outlet, could you imagine what a $100,000 can do for your organization’s coffers?”, he questioned.

He said some agents make that amount in commission.

“You could employ at least two of your unemployed members and still have enough funds to assist the other members when travelling overseas for tournaments and to purchase gear,” the NLA Manager further advised.

Sealey advanced the thought that one should not want “to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.”

He said that against a backdrop of increased revenue from its games.

“The National Lotteries Authority can boast an increase in sales as compared to the same period last year,” Sealey said.

He revelled in the fact that the local entity is doing much better than those in the other three Windward Islands.

“When our financial year ended July 2009, we at the National Lotteries Authority had amassed sales of $51406,090.00,” the NLA Manager revealed.

“Currently as I speak to you, we are ahead by just over $2 Million when we compare the sales to date for the same period last year,” Sealey stated.

“If the trend continues, we would be setting a new record again this year. We have done better than the other three Windward Island combined,” he added.

“Our Mission statement states the National Lottery is to develop, manage and promote gaming in the most effective and efficient manner for the purpose of generating profit to provide counterpart support for organizations and individuals involved in sports,” he cited.

The National Lotteries is the main financier of the Annual National Sports Awards Ceremony.(RT)