“The Grenada National Lottery Authority (NLA) is run and staffed by honest transparent and accountable people who understand the seriousness of their responsibilities.”

General Manager of the NLA, Mrs. Cheri Cromwell, has no misgivings about the honesty of her staff, indicating that honesty is the culture of the NLA.

Not only is the NLA honest about its finances but also honest about how it approaches it role in nation building.

Over the years since its establishment the NLA has been making significant contribution to the development of sports and culture although according to the General Manager the main focus is on sports; culture to a lesser degree.

In fulfilling it commitment to the development of sports the NLA has been supporting basketball, track and field, tennis, boxing and several other sporting disciplines.

The NLA is responsible for a number of students presently abroad who have gotten full or partial scholarships to further their training and their studies.

These are students who have been outstanding in academics and sports and are initially given 2 year university places with the expectation that they would excel and move on to 4 year college programs.

These students are on scholarships in the areas track and field, tennis and football, in addition to receiving some assistance in basketball.

The NLA General Manager said the institution spends in the vicinity of EC$150,000.00 to assist students with scholarships.

The authority, with an eye to the future is in the process of putting policies in place to make sure that after these students have benefited from the program, they will come back and serve the country.

Cromwell said although they participate in regional and international games, and Grenada would be highlighted the NLA wants them on completion to come and do things like train other students because when this kind of money is invested one expects some kind of service for the country.

In addition to these significant contributions to sports the NLA regularly gets requests for assistance from various local organizations which it would respond to in the best possible way.

The annual sports of all primary and secondary schools that so request also benefit from the support of the NLA by way of prizes, medals and trophies.

Three years ago the NLA in an effort to revitalize road racing in Grenada sponsored an event and now holds an annual road race paying cash prizes to winners.

Every year the NLA contributes $300,000.00 to carnival, and from last year has become responsible for managing the ticketing sales and paying out of prizes for carnival.

In fact, the authority is now more deeply involved in the festival especially in the aspect of tickets and it answers to the auditors in terms of proceeds from carnival. This has been a success.

As far as the games of the NLA are concerned, the institution is constantly developing new and exciting games to attract the playing public.

Cromwell said games would be developed focusing on the season or whatever special period is being focused on, like Christmas or carnival or World Cup Cricket for example.

The NLA’s scratch games started at $1.00 per ticket and players had a chance to win a maximum of $2,000.00 in 2006 the price of the ticket was increased to $2.00 and there is a chance to win as much as $10,000.00.

Right now people are winning lots of money as their needs become bigger following hurricane Ivan. Gaming has increased.

The general managers say more Grenadians are supporting the games of the NLA so people are winning money and the NLA is a profitable organization.

This is good for the country because all of the profits that the organization realizes go back to the support of sports and culture in Grenada.

Cromwell joined NLA in February, 2000 and became manager in 2001. She has presided over the growth of the

organization in several ways.

Her present focus is on marketing, finding the best way to get the product out to the playing public and increasing the revenue of the institution.

The NLA falls under the Ministry of Sports and is managed by a seven member board of directors who set policies and ensure that they are implemented.

As general manager Cromwell is ably supported by an accountant, two administrators and other competent members of staff. The staff numbers 34 overall, up from 15 since recent expansion.

The expansion saw the establishment of a sub-office in the Town of Grenville and a sales office opposite the bus terminus in the Town of St. George.

As Grenada celebrates its 34th anniversary of Independence the NLA is playing its role in realizing true independence by promoting the development of sports and culture, giving young people a start so that they can become independent themselves.

The NLA presently boasts 50 terminal agents who sell the Lotto games in addition to many other instant game agents.

The authority is looking to increase its terminal agents to 100 and introduce a new faster and more efficient online system that will make it easier for people to win (and they will win) more money.

Cromwell’s message to Grenadians is “even if you don’t win you are supporting sports, culture and general nation building.”