Long‑Awaited Lottery Funds Hit the Sports Ministry

For years, Belizeans were told that taking back the Boledo and lottery was about people. The nationalization came with a big promise, that those profits would finally be directed toward public good, especially National Health Insurance and the growth of local sports. Tonight, we’re actually seeing that promise move from political talking point to concrete action. The sporting community is getting its first real taste of the revenue Belize Government Lotteries Limited has been collecting. The government has officially handed over the first tranche of lottery earnings to the Ministry of Sports, a long awaited boost for athletes and programs across the country. News Five’s Shane Williams takes a closer look at what this moment means and where the money is headed.

 

Voice of: Cordel Hyde, Area Representative, Lake Independence (File: November 26, 2018)

“So, it escapes me why we don’t want to take back out boledo. Why is it that we are contended with making sure that a small clique to collect all the revenue whilst we have to hustle.”

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

Long before the Boledo ever came back under government control, reclaiming it for Belizeans was a rallying cry from the opposition benches. Back then, Brads Gaming ran the lottery. But once the P.U.P. formed the government, it moved quickly to take the reins and establish Belize Government Lotteries Limited. And in 2023, Prime Minister John Briceño laid out exactly how that transition would unfold.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño (File: May 19th, 2023)

“The BGLL will be required to promote, conduct and manage lottery schemes, to distribute earnings from the lotteries, all the winnings, all the profits from the lotteries, to be administered to the National Health Insurance, NHI, and to the official charities fund which we hope we could get more money for sports for young people and maybe even some money for education.”

 

And this justification to nationalize and plan for the profits was echoed by all members of the administration.

 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health (File: November 3rd, 2023)

“We wanted to return the Boledo to the Government of Belize, to the people of this country whereby it will benefit them in return, in terms of services that are rendered further to them through health, education and sports.”

 

Gilroy Usher, Former Minister of State, Sports (File: June 6th, 2023)

“As a part of our commitment to sports, including track and field, the government is committed to using the proceeds from the boledo and lottery when that starts up to promote sports.”

 

Henry Charles Usher (File: May 29th, 2023)

“The problem I have with the previous owners is that you never hear them sponsoring any sports team. You never hear those sponsoring La Ruta Maya. You don’t hear anything when it comes to that.”

 

For the past two years, most of the revenue from the national lottery has been funneled straight into expanding National Health Insurance. But the sporting community kept asking when would their promised share finally show up. Well, on Thursday, that long wait ended. Sports Minister Anthony Mahler received the first one million dollars from a two‑million‑dollar allocation coming from lottery profits. The second installment is expected in March, and for athletes and coaches across the country, it couldn’t come soon enough.

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Sports

“This is a commitment from the Prime Minister, from the CEO and from the LA or, and so this will go a long way in terms of getting the programs for sports going, getting some of the facilities going, and we have a long way to go from where we want to be. But this $2 million will be a tremendous help. We’re getting the first million today, and then in March we’ll get the second million… So we want to invest in some of the programs, developmental programs. Right now we’re working on a sports strategy and of course sports policy and the modernization of the legislation, and we’re working on some of the facilities and then we want to develop some of the programs with the federations and the associations who do the heavy lifting day in and day out, but this money will definitely go a long way, and I’m proud to be a part of this process.”

 

For national sporting federations, the announcement signals more than just funding. It signals intent. Jacob Leslie, President of the Belize Basketball Federation, describes the moment as significant for athletes countrywide.

 

Jacob Leslie, President, Belize Basketball Federation

“I just saw the news this morning actually… and I think as well with everybody else who’s in the sporting community, it’s a big moment for us… For the first time that I could remember, we had people who wanted that ministry… and they were purposeful in what they are trying to do and not reliant only on what is there, but seeking other avenues to generate revenues, to provide opportunities for athletes. I’m excited… It’s exciting times. So to be involved in sports and definitely exciting time to be an athlete.”

 

For many athletes and sports administrators, the payout isn’t just about money, it’s about finally seeing a political promise become real. It’s a promise that started as a rallying cry in opposition and later became one of the main justifications for government’s takeover of the lottery. Now the spotlight shifts. The question is no longer if the funding will come, but whether this new revenue stream can actually deliver the transformation Belize’s sporting community has been waiting for. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: