Lotto winner takes home $80,750

In these haad times, when many people find themselves suffering from post-Christmas cash woes, a mother of four from Orange Walk Town is happy to have found a way out of the financial slump. She did it by hitting all five numbers in Wednesday night’s lotto draw; a hefty sum of ninety-five thousand dollars! Amalia Flores, who says she’s been trying her luck for a number of years now, has remained loyal to one set of numbers and last night they finally paid off. Flores has also proven that lightning can strike twice as she says she previously won four numbers, but was unable to collect it because she could not locate her ticket. This time, however, she did not repeat that mistake… and like most Lotto winners, Flores promises she will invest her new found funds wisely.

Amalia Flores, Lotto Winner
“It’s just a number that I pick on my own and I liked that number so I buy it all the time. I just buy that number; 16, 11, 20, 22, 27, that was my number.”

Marion Ali
“Any particular reason why you liked that number?”

Amalia Flores
“I don’t know; I just like that number and I continue to buy that number because I saw those numbers like lucky numbers.”

Marion Ali
“How long have you been buying that number?”

Amalia Flores
“From I start to buy lotto but sometimes I buy one quick pick or I would buy that like maybe bout the six, seven years that I am buying lotto I buy that number but I buy other quick pick with it too.”

Marion Ali
“Have you ever come close to winning before?”

Amalia Flores
“I won four numbers already and then I didn’t get a chance to collect it.”

Marion Ali
“How did that happen?”

Amalia Flores
“Because I went to do my laundry and I washed the ticket in there and I couldn’t collect because I lost the ticket.”

Marion Ali
“You’re doubling up now, you got all five.”

Amalia Flores
“So now I got all five and usually I would get like maybe three numbers, two numbers, just a free ticket.”

Marion Ali
“What did you do with the ticket this time in order not to lose it?”

Amalia Flores
“Well, I mek sure I put it somewhere safe until I reach yah.”

Marion Ali
“How did you find out about your winning?”

Amalia Flores
“Well, like I said, I have Alicia, my sister in law’s step father living with us and he always go to buy my lotto for me. So yesterday he came form work and he asked if I will buy my lotto. I tell him yes and give him the money to go and buy for me. So the morning when he come to have breakfast I sent the children to school and everything and before he went to work I asked him what number played in the lotto and what number played in the Boledo. And he told me he got the five numbers but he left it at home and so he would go and bring back the number.”

Marion Ali
“And you couldn’t believe it.”

Amalia Flores
“Well, he come and bring the number and he said E is the free ticket. So I said I think I get wah free ticket. So he gone and get all five numbers and he bring it back. And when he bring it back I tell he to go to the lotto agency and he did. He come back and bring all the number that he write and when he come back I send him to another place to check if it’s true and he went. When he come back he showed me yes it’s the same number and when he come back I tell he fi gone again. And when he come back, then afterwards I said oh I win. I tell ah I rich.”

Alicia Leslie, related to lotto winner
“I noh buy but she always buy soh.”

Marion Ali
“Yoh wah have wah lot ah celebrating to do now; it’s post Christmas yes but…”

Alicia Leslie
“Well, it’s her money and I want her to do the best stuff with it, buy a house she said. So I wish her the best.”

Amalia Flores
“I have four children of my own and I have three for my mother-in-law that I’m taking care of so I am longing to buy a little house and put some for education use and try to take care of the kids with the rest.”

Marion Ali
“Will you continue buying lotto?”

Amalia Flores
“Yes, maybe I got the luck again.”

After taxes, Flores took home eighty thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars.