Truck Raffle Fallout Leaves Hundreds of Belizeans Demanding Refunds

More than five hundred Belizeans are demanding answers after a highly promoted truck raffle, offering a brand-new Toyota Hilux, was never drawn, despite each participant paying one hundred dollars for a chance to win.  The raffle, organized by the Belize City Sub Umbra Floreo Lions Club, was launched back in August as a charitable initiative to support families battling childhood cancer. The grand draw was originally scheduled for December 31. Almost three months later, however, there has still been no winner, and there are growing concerns among the 513 ticket holders.  Information to Love News is that the club requested, and was granted, an extension by the Gaming and Lotteries Commission to March 7, but that date has passed, and still no drawing of the raffle.  Subsequently, the club informed the Commission that it had been unable to meet its ticket sales target and had cancelled the raffle altogether. Ticket holders are now being promised refunds, with the Commission outlining that the club must submit a full list of purchasers, publicly announce the reimbursement process, and complete repayments within thirty days.  This, however, has done little to ease public frustration, especially after revelations that the grand prize itself may never have been secured.  Despite the use of Belize Diesel and Equipment Company Limited’s branding on promotional material, the company says there was no formal agreement in place. According to its owner, only a proforma invoice was issued, no down payment was made, and no vehicle was ever reserved for the raffle.  Meanwhile, the Lions Club has sought to reassure the public, insisting in an official statement that there is no substantiated evidence of fraud or financial misappropriation, and that a full internal review and audit is now underway. The Club also maintains its support for its president and says it is committed to transparency and accountability as the process unfolds.  Even so, the situation has been further complicated by internal disputes within the organization. Love News understands that a police report has been filed by members of the club against its president, alleging fraud, though no official confirmation has been provided regarding the status of that report or the whereabouts of the more than fifty thousand dollars believed to have been collected from ticket sales.