Tonight, two Jamaican nationals who arrived in Belize between October twenty-fourth and twenty-sixth remain in custody. Their attorney has filed for a judicial review of their detention. The two men, thirty-seven-year-old Devon Duran Dean and twenty-four-year-old Khairo Fisher, faced criminal charges this morning after attempting to enter Belize through the Phillip Goldson International Airport in Ladyville. Denied entry, they somehow ended up with criminal charges while detained. Dean and Fisher were arraigned on separate charges in different courtrooms but were both represented by attorney Norman Rodriguez. Dean was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly attacking an immigration officer with a wooden chair while detained at the Global Village Hotel, and for escaping lawful custody. Initially, Dean pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault but guilty to escape. The magistrate indicated a fine between six hundred and one thousand dollars for the escape charge. The aggravated assault charge was later dropped after Rodriguez argued that Dean was charged under a non-existent section of the act. Dean was fined eight hundred dollars for escaping, which he had to pay immediately. Fisher faced a single charge of harm for allegedly injuring a security guard at the Global International Hotel. He pleaded guilty and was fined three hundred dollars. Despite their guilty pleas, their troubles are far from over. Dean, Fisher, and a third Jamaican, John Brown, remain in custody. During our interview with Dean, he was once again detained by police.
Devon Dean
Devon Dean, Jamaican National
“They hand me over to the police and when they hand me over to the police they said they are not in charge of me anymore. So, I am with my lawyer. Video them Anita. In the morning I feel threatened, it fell like I was kidnapped. So I looked down and saw the officer sleeping so I said I am no going down the step because I don’t know if thy are trigger happy and will see me going and shoot me. So I jumped through the window and landed on my feet. I kinda feel hungry so I went across the road and process something to eat because the night before I did not get something to eat. So, on the way purchasing it and walking down the road. I saw a white vehicle, people jump out, point gun in my face and tell me don’t move. They carried me back to the hotel. When I am the hotel I told them, they ask me where I was going. I told them I was going to eat something. One of the immigration officer point on me and stepped on my foot and then I say ah you broke my foot. No one wanted to assist me when I told them I feeling pain. I was crying balling, living eye water before someone took me to the hospital. They get a prescription to fill out. Up to now they didn’t give me a prescription. The only officer that gave me something was an officer by the name of Johnson.”
“The Honorable Shyne,” a documentary about the life and times of Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow, premiered on Hulu on Monday to rave reviews from viewers both locally and internationally. For several weeks, Barrow was in the United States, making media rounds to promote the new release. The biographical documentary debuted at number one on the streaming platform. This morning, Barrow sat down with reporters to talk about this latest achievement.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It’s the number one film show on Hulu worldwide. So I’m extremely grateful for that, you know. Thank you for everyone out there that has supported the Honorable Shyne documentary to make it number one. So I am extremely grateful for the reception that we’ve gotten so far, especially in Belize. There are a lot of people that did not know the Shyne story and because I am a political figure, the PUP has done an effective job, that’s the only thing I can say they’ve done an effective job at in their tenure, in this administration. But even before that, a narrative has been crafted about Shyne Barrow that, as you can see in the documentary, for those of you that have seen it; whether hearing from my father himself, hearing from my mother that I did not grow up with even a bronze spoon in my mouth. Coming from a single parent household and everything that I have, I had to endure great suffering and sacrifice to get there. But, from a political opponent’s standpoint, it’s not a story that they would want to tell. So I am delighted that people have gotten to see the complete journey, whether you support me politically or not, I think this is a Belizean success story, a global success story and so I am happy that people at least get to see who I am.”
Barrow’s biography is both a cautionary tale and a rags-to-riches story, highlighting his journey of overcoming life’s challenges. But does it change the minds of his many critics back home in Belize? That’s what we asked him earlier. Here’s his response.
Isani Cayetano
“Do you feel vindicated now that your story is out there, for all the naysayers who would have written you off as a “just come” or a “fake” or whatever description of criticisms that they would have against you?”
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I’m very grateful, as I said, to share in the story with Belizeans in particular. I’m happy that the world is drawn to the story because, as I said, it’s a human story, the human race. But in particular, when it comes to Belize, I mentioned, maybe it was to the Daily Show or one of those interviews that I did, that I’ve been working to be where I’m at for the last forty-six years, in particular for the last twenty-six years. I feel that the underdog has been vindicated, not just Shyne Barrow but this story, this documentary, the success of this documentary, the fact that this multibillion dollar, hundred billion dollar corporation like Disney is behind this, it says to all of the underdogs in the Belizean society and society at large, you know, that you are somebody, you do belong and it doesn’t matter what they naysayers say, it doesn’t matter what the detractors say, keep going, keep fighting, keep sacrificing, keep believing and your time will come.”
Isani Cayetano
“What is your relationship at this point with Juliet Thimbrel? If you look at the documentary, she spoke glowingly about you there and as of now, you guys are at loggerheads.”
Shyne Barrow
“I’m not at loggerheads with Juliet. I will always appreciate Juliet Thimbrel, you know, she was a friend and a sister at one point and I am not arguing with her. Whatever issues may be there, you’d have to ask her how she feels. But I only have love and good things in my heart when it comes to her.”
Shyne Barrow and his leadership team returned to the U.D.P. headquarters on November eighth after a favorable High Court ruling. They also regained control of the party’s media outlets, including Wave Radio and the Guardian Newspaper. But what happened to talk show hosts Joe Bradley and Alfonso Noble? The duo, who had been on air since 2008, were swiftly removed last week when Barrow reclaimed the headquarters. Their removal came after they made scathing remarks about Opposition Leader Barrow on Wave’s “Fus Ting Da Maanin.
Isani Cayetano
“You’re back at the UDP headquarters after that legal outcome. What is the present status quo and share with us what some of the decisions have been in terms of the organs of the UDP, primarily the Guardian Newspaper and Wave Radio?”
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Well, the status quo ante, as has been established by Justice Hondora which is that everything returns to the way it was until he makes a decision in the case. And that’s overall, everything, the Guardian, Wave, everything, even our UDP letterhead which I notice is still being unauthorizedly used by the Alliance.”
Isani Cayetano
“But there have been significant personnel changes in terms of the way the organs are now being run.”
Shyne Barrow
“It has been, to be clear, we’re looking at the Joe and Fonso situation because I am here to bring the party together, maybe to heal and get to reconcile, as long as people accept the status quo, accept who the leader is, who the leadership executive is, the duly elected leadership executive. So, we’re looking at how we can work with Joe and Fonso. So you’re hearing that here first. There has not been a termination letter sent, but it was definitely something that was contemplated based on the outburst that Fonso had and different things that they did. But we’re looking to see how we could incorporate them into the new structures of the Guardian and Wave.”
Does the early success of Shyne Barrow’s biography help boost momentum for his faction of the U.D.P.? While the documentary doesn’t delve into the party’s internal conflicts, Barrow is confident that his team of thirty-one candidates is working hard to win over voters by election day 2025.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I do believe that the team that I have has to keep doing the work. I believe that they have the potential to deliver their seats and certainly this can only help this type of positivity, this type of disclosure as to many of the political myths, the political misconceptions. I think this removes many hurdles that we may have had because of the stigma, because of the dishonesty. Just the exaggerations and distortions when it came to who Shyne is, what is his motive, you know, da why he deh yah? I believe that politics is local and all of my standard bearers need to do their jobs, need to engage their people, need to build those relationships and relationships built on trust and confidence cannot be easily penetrated. So I have a great level of confidence that my standard bearers have been working judiciously and whatever they are doing will have no impact.”
You’ve probably walked past a pile of garbage and cringed at the sight and smell. It’s not just an eyesore; it attracts pests and rodents that can spread diseases. A lot of the trash in Belize is made up of recyclable materials, like plastics. Plastic bags, for example, take ten to twenty years to break down, lingering in the environment. Studies show that plastics and microplastics have infiltrated all levels of the ocean’s food chain and are also clogging our drainage and waterways in Belize. Plastics can bind with harmful chemicals, known as persistent organic pollutants, which pose a threat to the reproductive systems, growth, and health of animals that consume contaminated food. Plastic bottles can take hundreds of years to decompose. In this edition of our Five Point Breakdown, News Five explores the issue of plastic waste and how recycling efforts can help mitigate its environmental impact. Here’s Marion Ali with the report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Plastics – they’re absolutely everywhere! Whether you’re at home, in the office, or shopping at the supermarket, you can’t escape them. They’re probably the most common items you’ll find in any building, unless there’s a ban in place and alternatives are being used. While many countries see plastics as a necessary evil, there are ways we can cut down on the plastic waste we generate. Dr. Arlenie Rogers, an Assistant Professor in Marine Biology at the University of Belize, suggests two key strategies: one proactive and the other reactive.
Minimizing Plastic Waste by Education & Recycling
Arlenie Rogers
Dr. Arlenie Rogers, Assistant Professor, Marine Biology, U.B.
“If we educate people, people will know, people will become more aware on how to recycle, but if we don’t have the right legislation in place, for example, a requirement where we have to separate our garbage into recyclables and garbage that cannot be recycled, then it’s going to be easier for people that collect recycling products at the landfill, or sorry, not at the landfill, at the transfer stations. And they will have less exposure to chemicals and other dangerous materials when garbage is all in one bag.”
Marion Ali
“One company in Belize wants to make a difference with the plastic garbage that we produce. Businessman Freddy Oriana is hoping to seek funding to be able to expand his Belize Recycling Company Limited at mile eight on the George Price Highway to be able to convert the plastic garbage into building materials such as plastic wood.”
Freddy Orellana
Freddy Orellana, Owner, Belize Recycling Company Ltd.
“Mostly it’s the wood because you can make it different sizes and for different purposes too. You can build garbage bins, you can build chairs, you know, like picnic tables and things like that.”
Orellana shared that his company used to buy plastic waste to export to Guatemala, where it would be transformed into useful items. However, with the drop in purchasing prices, he’s had to hit pause on that part of the business. Despite this, he’s still happy to accept plastic donations, storing them with the hope that his recycling dream will soon come to life. His goal? To produce plastic wood as a sustainable building material.
Freddy Orellana
“If people want to bring it and donate it here, we process it and we file it and bail it and keep it. We visited various businesses in other countries, and they have strewing machines that have different molds, and we can use all the plastics to make this that we call plastic wood. You can add different colors, you can make different shapes. You can even build houses with it. This has a lot of benefits because it’s fire resistant, like bullets will be really hard to work through it.”
Orellana mentioned that plastic wood is actually tougher for bullets to penetrate compared to regular lumber.
(The Benefits of Building with Plastic Wood)
Freddy Orellana
“We had here a robbery at night and then somebody came with a gun and shot at the security guard, and then it went through the wood, but it wouldn’t go through this. So, this basically saved the person’s life.”
Luis Garcia
Luis Garcia, President, Belize Recyclers and Waste Management Association
“We’re gearing towards being that loophole between the private sector and government – that crossroads of building recycling opportunities in Belize. When we mean recycling, we mean doing recycling in Belize and selling recyclables out of Belize.”
Luis Garcia, the president of the newly formed Belize Recyclers and Waste Management Association, leads a group of over twenty passionate individuals and businesses united by a single mission: cutting down on plastic waste. They are currently exploring ways for Belize to make some cash by exporting plastic waste.
(Exploring Plastic Garbage as Part of Circular Economy)
Luis Garcia
“We have an interest from Taiwan of buying all the plastic bags from the banana industries, and we’re looking at tons of plastics there. So there is an interest there. There’s also an interest on the pet plastic, which is what is used for soft drinks. So we do have a lot of, interests that are already on the table, but we still need to put everything together and to make sure that we meet the volumes that make it sustainable. By just picking up a few crocus bags here and there, we just have to sell it to the nearest buyer, which would be Guatemala or Mexico. But if we can actually put everything together, all the efforts together and put policy in order, then we can actually build a recycling opportunity for Belize and develop recycling as a business and not just as an environmental willingness of people.”
Dr. Rogers believes that if Belize had laws requiring us to separate our garbage, it would make everyone responsible for not just reducing, but also organizing the waste we create, much of which is plastic.
(Separating Garbage Protects Recyclers)
Dr. Arlenie Rogers
“When we put our garbage in the drum, like in the cities and the towns, everything is in one. In other countries, their laws require people to separate their garbage. They separate organic waste, they separate plastic waste, they separate cans, they separate bottles. Everything is separated. So when the collection truck comes, it’s separated. If we were to have that in Belize, the people that are at the transfer station, the people that the recyclers, they would be less exposed to, you know, many chemicals that come with the garbage.”
Dr. Rogers thinks Belize needs to tighten up its laws for businesses that handle plastic containers. It’s time to get serious about regulating plastic use.
Enforcing the Laws on Businesses
Dr. Arlenie Rogers
“What needs to be done is to ensure that those companies that market themselves as producer of biodegradable products, that they are really complying, that they are indeed making biodegradable products. Secondly, Belize also needs to extend the enforcement of the Returnable Containers Act, because the Returnable Containers Act looks at glass and other beverage containers, and beverage containers are not only made of glass, they are made of plastic, they are made of metal. So if you want to minimize plastic, then the enforcement needs to be done on other companies and other distributors that are importing beverage containers that are producing plastic.”
Under current law, anyone caught importing restricted plastic products faces a hefty fine. They could be fined at least a thousand dollars or three times the value of the imported goods, but the penalty won’t exceed twenty thousand dollars. Marion Ali for News Five.
For years, Belizeans have casually remarked that the country’s fisherfolk were overfishing lobster. These opinions often stem from witnessing the mass sales of undersized lobsters. Now, the Belize Federation of Fishers (B.F.F.), a non-profit organization, has released data from the Belize Fisheries Project in 2024, confirming these concerns. The evidence shows that public sentiment is indeed accurate. Supporting the B.F.F.’s findings, their partner, Sea Around Us, has presented compelling evidence to the government, indicating that Belize’s lobster stocks are at risk due to irresponsible fishing practices and a lack of strict enforcement by authorities. The B.F.F. has even warned that without stringent measures, such as significantly reducing the number of fishing licenses, Belize’s lobster stocks could be depleted within three years! Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with Part One of a three-part report on the state of Belize’s lobster stocks.
Marion Ali, Reporting
On a random day, personnel from the Belize Fisheries Department, accompanied by the GI-3 Unit of the Belize Police Department scour the waters offshore the mainland to conduct searches and raids. They are looking for persons engaged in illegal fishing, and because the lobster season is open, particularly undersized lobster. The open lobster season means that some fishermen will wantonly extract legal as well as undersized lobster. On this Sunday, in August 2024, the patrol visited two fishing camps within a ten-mile distance from Belize City and stopped the only fishing vessel it came across in that two-hour patrol in that area that afternoon.
Hampton Gamboa, Compliance Unit Supervisor, Belize Fisheries Department
“Everybody got license?”
Fishermen
“Yeah.”
Hampton Gamboa
“Bout how much pound ah lobster unu have more or less total, estimated, in terms ah weight, pounds?
Fisherman
“like 3 – 350.”
The patrols are led by the Fisheries Department’s Conservation Compliance Unit Supervisor, Hampton Gamboa, who is responsible for enforcing fisheries regulations and compliance in the blue spaces across Belize. The patrols have become a major part of an improved enforcement system, he said, partly because of the dwindling lobster stocks in the region, and partly because of the research findings that non-government organizations like the Belize Federation of Fishers and the Sea Around Us have presented to the government. Dr Daniel Pauly is a Professor, Marine Biologist and lead researcher for The Sea Around Us.
Daniel Pauly
Dr. Daniel Pauly, Marine Biologist
“The point is to maintain the fishing effort – the number of fishers, the number of gear, the number of boats or whatever at a certain level, that’s called managing the stock and the stocks in Belize are not managed right. So, what is happening now is that the lobster population is down and cannot generate the catch that it generated before. And the only way you can overcome that problem is fishing less for a while. If you fish less for a while, the stock can recover and if it recovers, then it can generate again and a big catch.”
George Myvett
George Myvett, Technical Advisor, Belize Federation of Fishers
“If serious measures are not taken to reverse and or to essentially stop the status quo of allowing an open-access fishery to continue, then we’re looking at two to three years before the industry crashes. There has to be a cap on the amount of licenses. because obviously, the resources are not only finite, but they are really in decline.”
Dwight Neal is a marine biologist who worked for 20 years with the Belize Fisheries Department before departing the government service to work in the NGO community in protected areas management. He has a completely different position on the state of Belize’s lobster stocks, but he believes there needs to be proper management of our lobster stocks.
Dwight Neal
Dwight Neal, Marine Biologist
“I don’t necessarily want to project that kind of gloom and doom picture. I don’t think it’s as bad as that, but it definitely needs management. It needs urgent attention. What it requires is a combination of policy, management decisions and enforcement. And in most cases, we have the policy, and we have some of the management. Enforcement is a very expensive exercise, so while you can do policy and management primarily from a desk or from an office, enforcement, not so much. You need boats, you need bodies in boats, you need people to be out there.”
The Belize Federation of Fishers is headed by George Myvett, also a former Senior Fisheries Officer with the Belize Fisheries Department. He says the Federation relies on scientific research information provided by the Fisheries Project to form its position. The only viable way forward, he says, is for Belize to stick to its international commitments.
George Myvett
“We’re looking at the commitment that Belize has made to regional conservation efforts and one of those measures is to discontinue the harvesting of the four-ounce tails. This is so because the smaller size classes, the four-ounce tails (lobsters) have not had a chance to reproduce.”
Hampton Gamboa says the Fisheries Department has become more vigilant and has been enforcing the laws on its sea patrols, which sometimes include the Belize Coast Guard.
Hampton Gamboa
Hampton Gamboa
“Every tail that they have in their possession, lobster tail, has to exceed four ounces, and if it’s whole lobsters, then it has to exceed three inches in carapace length. So those are primarily what we look for as enforcement officers to ensure that the fishermen are in compliance with our laws and regulation.”
Myvett suggested that a two-year moratorium be implemented to give the lobster stock time to replenish itself.
In part two of this story, we’ll hear from two fishermen, who agree that there is overfishing of this valuable marine product.
This story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.
Tropic Air has just expanded its caravan fleet with a brand-new aircraft. This week, the airline unveiled its fifteenth caravan, promising a consistent passenger experience no matter when or where you fly with them. Tropic’s owner and C.E.O., Max Greif, shared with News Five that as Belize’s largest airline, they take great pride in their service, even flying to less profitable destinations. Max took over the company from his father, John Greif III, and his business partner, Steve Schulte. Now, he’s implementing upgrades to ensure Tropic Air remains top-notch for the next thirty years. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with the report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This brand-new V3-HJA single-engine caravan is now the latest aircraft in Belize. Tropic Air introduced this new addition to its fleet this week. Max Greif, the owner of Tropic Air, says this acquisition is part of a broader effort to make flying more reliable and enjoyable for passengers.
Max Greif
Max Greif, Owner/C.E.O., Tropic Air
“Our focus really for the past two years has been growth focusing on our core. What do we do well and making sure that we do more of it? And so we made the decision last year to become an all caravan fleet. Every time you fly Tropic, it’s on a grand caravan with air conditioning, with I.F.R. rating, which is instrument flight rating which allows our pilots to fly through weather. It allows us to anticipate difficult weather anomalies that could pop up, and at the end of the day, our value differentiator from our competitor is providing a premium experience. We’re the only airline in the country and really in the region that offers an all I.F.R. rated fleet, all caravan fleet, and all of our aircraft to have air conditioning.”
Greif purchased the company from his father, John Greif the Third, and his business partner, Steve Schulte, two years ago when COVID crippled the country’s economy and had a devastating effect on Tropic Air. Moving forward, Greif said that in the post-pandemic era, there is great potential for growth.
Max Greif
“There was a big jump after COVID, but we believe that there’s sustained level of growth for us to maintain. And really we saw the need for a 15th caravan. A lot of it comes from the fact that we have a very supportive government. All the work that’s been done by the Ministry of Tourism, as well as the prime ministers, the Ministry Minister of Civil Aviation. We see that we have a government that’s very supportive of growth and also ensuring that Belizean companies are protected. And so to the extent that that environment remains, we’re going to continue to acquire new aircraft. We’re expanding our cortisol terminal. We’re looking to break ground in Placencia. We have several aircraft that we expect to bring online next year.”
To keep their service top-notch across the country, Greif mentioned that Tropic Air even flies to less profitable areas. He highlighted how much the airline industry depends on tourism. In today’s world, where security is crucial for travel safety, Greif emphasized that Tropic Air prioritizes this aspect as well.
Max Greif
“We have four dedicated employees that are just for safety. We have an SMS program, a safety management system program. That is solely dedicated on ensuring that we provide the safest possible operations. Um, that recognizes our security apparatus. And it’s this healthy balance of ensuring that we provide the best possible experience, the best possible service, while maintaining a sense of safety and security. And we take the approach that the security level has to be commensurate with the threat. We have a zero tolerance policy of whether it’s through our cargo system, or whether it’s through any packages that are being carried by a passenger, and also we regularly have police inspections of our aircraft.”
Tonight, Ray Cattouse, who lives at Mile Fourteen on the Philip Goldson Highway, is once again speaking out to the media. He’s worried about the environment and frustrated with his neighbor’s actions. Despite years of complaints to the Department of the Environment, his neighbor has been allowed to continue waste management operations. Cattouse claims these activities have polluted the creek on his property and now caused severe flooding. We visited Cattouse’s home today to see the damage firsthand. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the report.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Across the country, hundreds of families are grappling with the severe flooding brought on by Tropical Storm Sara. However, Ray Cattouse, who lives at Mile Fourteen on the Philip Goldson Highway, believes there’s more to the story behind the water invading his property. He points the finger at his neighbor who owns a carbonated beverage and hazardous waste disposal facility. A canal links the properties of Cattouse, Canul, and their neighbor Teichroeb. Last year, Cattouse reported a fishkill, which he claims was caused by pollutants in the water.
Ray Cattouse
Ray Cattouse, Resident
“Because of that, I can’t give mister Teichroeb wrong for doing what mister Teichrob did. Mister Teichroeb block off the canal. So that the water pass through his place no more. I can’t give ah wrong. I woulda do the same thing. No, if the department of environment will tell you we can’t do nothing about that then you do what you could for yourself and due to that canal block off now, because this canal that flows through my property and mister Teichroeb property is the what you say the canal that the water used to pass through all the time on the natural canal, but now that is block, now the water have to find the way around.”
Cattouse explains that his neighbor blocked off access to the water on his property, which he understands since his neighbor also enjoys fishing in the nearby natural ponds. However, this has caused the water to change its course, leading to flooding on Cattouse’s land. While he acknowledges that the recent heavy rains might have made things worse, he insists he’s never seen flooding like this before.
Ray Cattouse
“We have a lot of water, but I’ve lived here since 2000. My parents have lived here since 79, and all the hurricanes and so we passed through. We never have this kind of flooding. This flooding just happened this year because the natural flow of the canal is black. And like I say again, I can’t beg mister Teichroeb to block out the water, make it go round, because the DOE say that they can’t do nothing about it. So he did something about his pond. And so with that now, like you see the whole area here is flooded because the two canals on either side of mister Teichroeb is too small to carry the water.”
The neighboring facility operates with the green light from the Department of the Environment, so it’s unlikely they’ll stop anytime soon. Cattouse mentioned that his property stretches at least half a mile, making it tough and costly to block access. He thinks the best fix would be to widen the culverts along the road to handle the increased water flow.
Ray Cattouse
“The resolution this time around is very simple, the culvert on either side of mister Teichroeb property. It’s too small to carry the water because the main flow of the water is block. No? But what the M.I.D. will have to do is to put two bigger culverts on each side of mister Teichroeb property. I’ll take you around there right now and show you the height of the water on both sides of mister Teichroeb property. Because the water can’t get through fast enough because the main stream going through mister Teichroeb land is blocked off”
In 2019, Cattouse took to the media to air his grievances about alleged air pollution emanating from Canul’s property. In 2023, Cattouse reported the alleged pollution of the creek. We reached out to the Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Mai for a comment. He told us that the Department of the Environment is not aware of the current complaint but will investigate the matter. Britney Gordon for News Five.
This week, a resident of Crooked Tree got the birthday surprise of a lifetime, winning twenty-five thousand dollars on a Scratch and Win ticket. Earlier today, he dropped by our office to share the excitement he felt when he realized he had won such a big prize on his birthday and to talk about his plans for the money.
Scratch & Win Winner
“I went da di shop by Crooked Tree and I decide fi buy two tickets. I bought one dalla and one five dollars. And when I scratch the last one weh da five dollars, I realize it seh cash right. So when I scratch the bottom number I see twenty-five. So I seh well, da mi wa good birthday cuz it’s my birthday to soh.”
Britney Gordon
“So you bought this ticket on your birthday and you won?”
Scratch & Win Winner
“Yes.”
Britney Gordon
“So what went through your head the moment you realized, oh I won this much money?”
Scratch & Win Winner
“Well you feel ah lee funny inna your body because you win this big prize.”
Britney Gordon
“What do you plan to do with cash like this?”
Scratch & Win Winner
“Well forst thing da my house. Because I mi start bout two years fi start with my house but I mi have some lee delay back soh. But now da di correct time I figure.”
Britney Gordon
“And I notice you came with all your family today, are they excited for you?”
Scratch & Win Winner
“Yes. That’s why they deh behind me.”
Britney Gordon
“What would you to other people that might want to buy Scratch?”
Scratch & Win Winner
“Mek ney keep di try ney luck because you neva know when da yo day. Everything da just try and keep and keep try. If yo noh buy, you noh win. You noh have hope that way.”
