On June 22nd the LOTTO's jackpot ballooned to $115,000 and the computers told the folks at the LOTTO office that someone had won the jackpot. But no one came forward to claim it....until today, a month and 3 days later. Belize City businessman Sydney Thurton says he did not know he'd won but when he stumbled upon the ticket, he was delighted to find that he had the winning combination.
Sydney Thurton, LOTTO Winner
"I feel glad. Excited I guess. Nothing has changed, I still have to wake up and go to work in the morning."
Alfonso Noble,
Now you took quite a while to claim the prize. Is there any particular reason for that?
Sydney Thurton,
"Yeah we don't normally buy the LOTTO, except when it jumps above a certain figure and then you don't really expect to win so you don't check it. In a move that we were doing recently we located the ticket and we checked and found out we were lucky."
Alfonso Noble,
Had you lost the ticket?
Sydney Thurton,
"No, it was just amongst some papers while moving."
Alfonso Noble,
You glad you moved?
Sydney Thurton,
"Well yeah obviously because I located the ticket but its not like I lost it. Its there now and since last week they commented to check your ticket and we did that and found out that we won."
Alfonso Noble,
So it was never pressing in your mind to find this ticket and check if you won?
Sydney Thurton,
"No it was not."
Alfonso Noble,
The money, what will you do with it?
Sydney Thurton,
"We haven't discussed it as yet. We will sit down when we have the actual cheque in hand and discuss that then."
LOTTO's Managers remind the public that a winner has 90 days to claims their prize. Unclaimed pots are recycled as promotional draws.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift