Marguerite Jouaneau and Dominique Monthy are Seychelles’ newest millionaires |01 April 2021
The draw in full swing yesterday (Photo: Thomas Meriton)
Marguerite Jouaneau from La Misère and Dominique Monthy from Mont Fleuri have joined the list of millionaires in Seychelles after winning the major prizes in the 4th Mini Maz Millions lottery.
Mrs Jouaneau holding lucky ticket number 16039, won the star prize of R1.5 million while Mr Monthy won R1 million as first prize with his lucky ticket number 29564.
It was five blindfolded youths who picked their numbers from the barrel, during the draw held yesterday evening at the Maz Millions head office, Quadrant Building in Victoria.
Contacted by phone last night, Mrs Jouaneau, who three weeks ago bought two tickets from a vendor at Camion Hall, said it was one of her neighbours who had sent her daughter to break the news to her.
“She was followed after by my daughter in law but it was only after a lady at Maz Million called me that I was convinced I had won the prize,” Mrs Jouaneau added.
She said it was too early for her to decide what to do with the money, “but I am sure it will ease a lot of pressure off my shoulder in view of my economic situation this time around,” she said, adding that she was very happy.
Mr Monthy, who was relaxing in his bedroom, said that it was his brother who was cooking in the kitchen who rushed to tell him the news.
He said he bought two tickets at STC Hypermarket last Thursday for him and his mother.
“I am still in shock and digesting the news. But in all, I am very happy. I don’t have any clue as what to do with the money for the time being. Maybe later,” he said.
The second prize of R500,000 was won by T. Ernesta from La Digue with ticket number 20660 and the third prize of R250,000 went to Dianne Sicobo of POBox 284 with ticket number 19271.
In accordance with the law, the draw was held in the presence of officers from the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) and Seychelles Police Force.
In all there were twenty prizes in the lottery with other winners winning cash ranging from R150,000 to R1000. With regard to health restrictions in relation to Covid-19, the Mini Maz lottery draw was closed to the public but was streamed live via the Maz Millions Facebook page, Paradise FM and on Pure FM.
Marie France MacGregor of Maz Millions said that although faced with the pandemic, which slowed down the sales of tickets from January 2021 (when the lottery was launched) to early March, as they had to stop work with regard to health restrictions in place, the company is very satisfied with the response from the public after, which saw a rise in the sales of tickets, in the short period prior to the draw.
She thanked everybody who bought a ticket, making the lottery once again a success.
Mrs MacGregor noted that only 29,000 tickets were on sale for the draw of which the numbers started from 00001 to 29,000. Although not ready with the statistics, she estimates that 27,000 tickets might have been sold. The list of all the winners will be published in the press and via Maz Millions facebook page.
After the draw, Maz Millions Lottery launched its 5th Mini Maz Millions lottery, with the same ticket price of R250 and with the same winning prizes. The draw will take place on July 3, 2021.