The Sub Umbra Floreo Lion's Club has been under major scrutiny after it was revealed that they were selling raffle tickets for a truck that didn't exist. As we have been reporting, the club members sold over 500 tickets at $100 each before they realized that they never got the 2026 Toyota Hilux they were advertising. In fact, no contract was ever signed with Belize Diesel and Equipment Company.
According to the president, the raffle was cancelled because they could not meet the threshold. And the club announced via a press release that - following the guidelines of the Gaming and Lotteries Commission - they would reimburse funds on April 7th.
That story seems simple enough, but according to members of the club, it's not so. They say that there were attempts to rig the raffle. And on top of that, there are monies missing from their bank account - including the $50,000 that was supposed to have been raised from the ticket sales.
However, the members are also in fear of their lives and their jobs if they speak out. One of them spoke to us anonymously and we have distorted their voice. Courtney Menzies has that story.
In late 2025, the Sub Umbra Floreo Lion's Club advertised a raffle for a brand new 2026 Toyota Hilux, which was supposed to be drawn in December. It was later extended to March before it was reportedly cancelled. Now, in April, the club members are alleging it wasn't cancelled, it was stopped before it could be rigged.
Voice of: Club Member
"We realized something was wrong with the raffle when a fellow member gave me a call and was like, there is no truck."
"I can't really say if it would have proceeded in December but it definitely would have proceeded in March if it was not stopped by a fellow member of another club."
Reporter:
"How did this member go about stopping it?"
Voice of: Club Member
"We were having a closing of our convention and they announced that they would be doing the raffle and he stood up and said well how can you guys do a raffle if there is no truck. And everybody really just, they just dispersed, nobody really wanted to deal with that matter."
And this anonymous club members explained that they've been in the dark when it comes to correspondence with the Gaming and Lotteries Commission and recent press releases - including this letter that claims to bear signatures from the presidents of all the local Lion's Clubs. However, this member told us 3 clubs did not sign it.
But still, they're unable to issue any information of their own.
Voice of: Club Member
"At this current moment, that club does not have a board, there is no board. It's solely a dictatorship. Members of the board have been kicked out because they opted to raise the concern, kicked out of the club completely, kicked out of the chat, nobody knows what's happening, only the president has access to that email so she's sending out emails on behalf of the club."
Reporter:
"So this latest press conference saying okay if you want reimbursement you come by Civic Center, I think it was April 7th, you all have nothing to do with that, you didn't know that was happening?"
Voice of: Club Member
"No. I mean because then that would raise the question majority of the members in the club are asking. How are we going to reimburse over 500 persons with only that amount of money that we have? And that then draws us back to everything, it goes back to our banking issues that we're having so it's all over the place and nobody seems to be focusing on that."
And that's the crux of the matter: where is the money that was raised from the ticket sales
Reporter:
"You guys sold over 500 tickets which would have made over $50,000 should have been in that account and it wasn't."
Voice of: Club Member
"Yes, at the time only $27,000 was in it when we originally went to the bank, before we got the bank statement the other day that you guys aired so that means monies have been going into the account but the biggest concern is how is money coming out of the account when it's an NGO and the bank would require at least two signatures? How is it only one signature has been withdrawing monies from the account?"
And they feel the bank nor the police department are working with them, which now has them at a loss.
Reporter:
"What do you think will be you guys' next steps to try and rectify this whole situation?"
Voice of: Club Member
"We don't know. We honestly don't know, that's why we are here. We feel like we're being pushed against the wall with the Belize Police Department. We have written of course to the Central Bank to get involved because Atlantic Bank has stopped responding."
"we want an explanation as to how did you guys allow this to happen and that's what they're not telling us."
"we're trying to get this matter sorted out but the biggest matter is that the finances of this club really need to be audited. We're trying to write to FIU and FIU is like oh they need to get it from CIB."
"It's a turn around and this is public funds we're talking about so we really don't know what to do next."
Reporter:
"How frustrating is it that after years of all this work that this raffle might now give people a different impression of the club?"
Voice of: Club Member
"That has really been affecting individuals of different clubs, not just the members of the Sub Umbra Floreo club. Persons are being asked about it at work, different stories are being told about different persons that have risen up in terms of seeking the truth. And it's really disheartening because unlike Rotary, wearing that jacket we say we work with our hands and we go into the community and we talk to people and we assess their needs and see how we can help. But it really gives us this black eye and it's causing this whole mistrust with persons because if I can't even trust you for this why can I trust you with anything else?"
And that is the question that all the Lion's Clubs around the country will have to grapple with even if this issue is resolved.
We reached out to the president today but at news time, we have receive no response. We will continue to follow this story.
