And in other news, yesterday we told you that the contracts for government lotteries had been signed by GOB and the master agents, Nando's Wholesale and MGM Entertainment. Little is known about the latter company, and since the media was excluded from the signing, we did not get the opportunity to interview them.
But today, the PM said the names behind the companies will soon be released. He also explained how the new process will work.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I think the release has been made, today the actual names of the people behind the company is going to be released, there is nothing to hide, there was next to no information when it comes to the Boledo because earlier the company was reporting high payouts, so they have low profits, and when they realized that the government could probably take over, then all of a sudden, the payout got small and the profits got large, and so there's nothing on where we could really make a basis on what the percentage is supposed to be between us and the sellers. Again, I repeat, we're following the same system that the telecoms have used successfully. As opposed to the government having 1,000 sellers, what we're doing, we're working with master agents, now these master agents, initially they wanted to get 25% but the numbers did not work and finally, back and forth, with the, everything has been vetted by the contractor general, I think they ended up with a 5% margin for themselves and then the government will be paying out the payments and everything. And if I remember right, they are also required, just like with the telecoms, they have to pay for the tickets, they have to pay in advance."
"To be able to sell the number which is now being done electronically, so what we're trying to do, we're trying to get the best deal possible for the Belizean people."
Needless to say, those names were not released today.
