Two women head to Chicago to collect from Oprah

We cannot say with absolute certainty that they are the only ones who will be rewarded for the capture of U.S. fugitive Niles Scott, but today two alert Belizean women took off on their dream trip to Chicago where they will receive their accolades–and cheques. News Five’s Jacqueline Woods reports from the P.G.I.A.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
One day after Thelma Palacio and Patricia Waight were officially informed by Harpo Productions, the producer of the Oprah Winfrey show that both women would be sharing the award money of one hundred thousand U.S. dollars for assistance in the capture and arrest of U.S. fugitive Niles Scott, the lucky ladies boarded a flight this afternoon for the United States where they will be special guests on the hugely popular talk show. We managed to locate the women at the Philip Goldson International Airport where they were waiting to check in and board a Continental Airlines flight to Houston. Palacio and Waight were in the company of a chaperone who was specifically sent to the country to travel back with the women… and protect them from the media.

Jacqueline Woods
?Good morning, just want to know if we can do a quick interview with you both. Exactly how are you feeling at this time??

Patricia Waight
?I am feeling very good at this time, at this moment.?

Jacqueline Woods
?What about you Thelma? How are you feeling about now??

Thelma Palacio
?I am excited, quite excited.?

The women contend that it was never about the cash reward, but because both are mothers of two young daughters they felt compelled to report on the fugitive sex offender. News Five understands that an investigator was in the country over the weekend to interview Cecil Gill, Waight, and Palacio the three individuals who made reports to the local authorities. It was based on that investigation the decision was made.

Patricia Waight
?I am not nervous because I know that I didn?t do something bad. The police did their job, they had a thorough investigation, and this is what the investigation lead to, to me and Thelma, so I guess it is just for us.?

Jacqueline Woods
?What about you Thelma??

Thelma Palacio
?I am not nervous. I think that the police that they did their job and the result came out that me and Patricia are supposed to be rewarded, so then I am just excited to go.?

Both Palacio and Waight say they are just glad that it is all over and hopefully they will soon able to return to their normal lives. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.

The reward was claimed by at least two other Belizeans who turned in Scott: Cecil Gill and Carol Wade, but it appears that based on information provided by Belize police and Oprah’s own investigators, the hundred thousand U.S. dollar reward will be split between Palacio and Waight.