While the country’s latest lotto millionaire may forever remain a mystery, 53-year-old Ronald Rampersad, the Carapichaima agent whose machine sold the winning ticket says he feels equally as lucky.
Rampersad, who was born and raised in Orange Field, and lives in a neighbourhood surrounded by family, owns Ronald’s lotto outlet, the booth which sold the $31 million ticket on Tuesday.
Two days before, Rampersad was being discharged from the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he was warded for a month to treat a nerve issue which made him unable to walk.
Lounging in his living room yesterday evening, Rampersad, who has been a lotto retailer for four years, said he felt really good. “I was coming home from the hospital on Monday and I told my sister that is a big lotto you know. I told her I don’t want to win it, I want to sell the ticket.”
The retailer who sells the winning lotto ticket receives an undisclosed fixed percentage of the winnings from the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB).
“I was thinking long-term because whoever sells the winning ticket, their outlet is viewed as a lucky outlet and more people go to buy there,” he said.
Rampersad said he received a call from G Tech, the technology provider for the NLCB, around 7 am yesterday.
“The girl asked my name and I told her. She asked me to confirm some other information and then she said I had sold the winning ticket.”
Rampersad doesn’t know much about the lucky millionaire who bought the ticket. The two women who work at the outlet also have no idea.
Ramdai Ramroop, one of the operators said it was very exciting to know that the winning ticket came from the booth where she worked.
“A lot of people pass and they stop and buy tickets. People sometimes play the same numbers over and over. Some buy $500 worth of tickets. All we know is that it was a quick pick,” Ramroop said.
Wednesday's winning numbers were 8, 12, 19, 26, 33 and the power ball 8.
“The way the place is situated a lot of people, stop, play and go. They don’t hang around. People sometimes stand up and wait but I know today will be slow.”
The outlet can be easily missed by commuters on the Orange Field Road, the only significant marker, a huge pothole on the opposite side of the road.
Rampersad said he would get a sign for the business tomorrow so people would know where it was. His commission will be saved for a rainy day. He said: “I am sick so I am glad I have this money as a security in case something happens.
“I don’t expect it to change my life in any big way. I like my life simple. I don’t like too much changes.
“For the while, the whole community will be excited and people will be curious. I sold the big jackpot but they will forget about that soon.”
The breakdown by the NLCB revealed that five people successfully chose five numbers without the power ball to win $20,022.89 each.
Ninety-nine people selected four numbers with the power ball to win $746, while 811 people won $176 each after they successfully chose four numbers without the power ball.
Approximately 2,441 people each won $18.32 after choosing three numbers with the power ball, while 20,235 each won a free quick pick after choosing three numbers without the power ball.