The authorities of the Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia (LNB) of Panama held a meeting this week, chaired by Director Gloriela Del Rio with a group of vendors, to discuss the future of the lottery during the pandemic.
According to an official statement, the vendors raised different questions about the relationship with the institution and the sale of lottery tickets. In addition, they suggested initiatives such as expediting the refund and cancellation of chances and tickets.
The LNB authorities answered vendors’ questions and received a number of proposals to analyze them. Del Rio asked them to choose a representative to participate in the elaboration of a manual of procedures for vendors that is currently being drafted by the lottery authority.
“It is worth noting that these meetings have been taking place at a national level to receive vendors’ feedback, with the goal of guaranteeing the health and best interests of this group, as well as the buyers of chances and tickets, of the entity and its officials, according to biosecurity protocols established by the Ministry of Health,” said the LNB.
The Lotería Nacional, which was suspended on March 22, still has no official return date.
Earlier this month, the Panamanian Vendors Union made a public request to modernise the processes of the LNB, and also demanded more transparent communication and information regarding the reopening of services.
Fernando Gonzáles from the union said that the LNB needs to invest in modernizing lottery processes: “It cannot be something improvised, the lottery needs to be modernised in terms of equipment, the processes that are carried out, such as the cash out, and the transactions that vendors carry out are done expeditiously. Because we cannot go back to big crowds, which is the reason why lotteries were forced to close.”
