Refunds Promised at Ten, Frustration Arrived First

What was meant to be a simple refund turned into a long, frustrating wait. Ticket holders hoping to get their money back from the Sub Umbra Floreo Lions Club’s failed 2026 Toyota Hilux raffle showed up today expecting quick reimbursements, but instead found locked doors, hours of delays, and plenty of unanswered questions. When club members finally arrived, the process moved forward, but not without tension and heated moments along the way. News Five’s Paul Lopez takes us through what went wrong, how tempers flared, and where things stand tonight.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Instead of quick refunds and clarity, patrons were met with locked windows and long waits. Ticket holders who showed up early at the Belize City Civic Center on Monday morning, expecting promised reimbursements from the Sub Umbra Floreo Lions Club’s failed 2026 Toyota Hilux raffle, found the ticket booth completely empty. The club had announced on Facebook that refunds would begin at ten a.m., but at opening time, there were no signs of organizers and no explanation for the delay. Frustration steadily grew as more ticket holders arrived and questions went unanswered. While Lions Club members eventually appeared and refunds were processed for most who returned their tickets, the rocky start set the tone for a tense day that many described as anything but straightforward.

 

Carl Duncan, Ticket Holder

“I hope everything go through for everybody, because it is a big let down. People have their trust in the organization, So hopefully it pulls through. They have out here waiting and I took a long journey up here. I came from Ladyville but gas high.”

 

One after the other, ticket holders voiced their frustration and concern about the delay.

 

Voice of: Ticket Holder #1

“Well, they said Christmas and they pushed it to March. I was ok, you will sell more tickets. I guess now we know something unforeseen is going on.”

 

Voice of: Ticket Holder #2

“Disappointed, at least they could have sent out another notice if they were unable to go through with the reimbursement today.”

 

The wait dragged on for hours, with the ticket booth still empty well past midday. Nearly two hours after the scheduled start time, the club posted an update on Facebook, citing banking delays and pushing refunds to later in the day. It wasn’t until around two p.m. that club members finally arrived, and the reimbursement process got underway.

 

Paul Lopez

“Can we please do an interview?”

 

Lion’s Club Member

“Nope.”

 

One by one ticket holders walked up to the booth and left with their refund, disappointed with the outcome of the raffle, but pleased that their money was returned.

 

Voice of Ticket Holder #3

“Yes, I got it back but she had to contact the person I purchased it from.”

 

Voice of: Ticket Holder #4

“I bought one ticket and then I got back my money today. One ticket I purchased and I came back for my money, which is good. For what reason they did not have the raffle, but at least the club I giving back people their money nuh.”

 

Refunds ran smoothly for most, but police were called when one mother challenged what she saw as unfair treatment of her daughter and a friend.

 

Voice of: Ticket Holder #5

“So can I please get the refund for this and I bought these two tickets. So this is for me, please and tanks and I am not leaving here until I get that four hundred dollars.”

 

Voice of: Relative of Ticket Holder

“Unu done collect this money, just pay it out back, that is all they asked us to do, don’t see what is the big f***ing problem right now f**k. I nuh sih why people have to come out here ot get out of character for what they done f**king pay.”

 

Elizabeth Ranguy, a former board member of the Sub Umbra Floreo Lions Club, says she’s pushing for accountability over the truck raffle. She went directly to the ticket booth to collect refunds on behalf of several ticket holders.

 

Elizabeth Ranguy, Former Board Member, Sub Umbra Floreo Lions Club

“The truth to the Sub Umbra Floreo Club has taken a hit. The club has raken a hit. Will they be able to recover, I don’t know. I hope so. The club is still great. The members in there are still great. This is just one bad situation. I know it has some side effects on Lions International itself.”

 

The refunds offered relief for many, but they also left behind disappointment over the way the process was managed. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

 

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.

 

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