On Wednesday morning, the Department of Permits & Licenses, Public Vending & Economic Control (V.O.S.E.C.) and Control, Inspection, and Security (C.I.B.), paid a visit to a lottery company to conduct a regular control. During the control the inspectors weighed the individual balls that are being used in the number games, bingo and other types of games.
These controls are done, according to Mr. Franklyn Cuffy, Section Head, VOSEC, so that the costumers can see that controls are being carried out and to determine that there is no cheating in the games of the lottery companies.
Also assisting in the control is Mr. Ronnie Cornelius, Section Head of the Weight & Measures, on the island of Curacao. The two Island Government Departments joined forces in this instance to carry out a more effective execution of control of the establishments.
"The controls are meant to see if the lottery houses are in accordance with the ruling body for the number game on the Island of St. Maarten," Mr. Cuffy said. "We are checking if the balls that are used have the same weight or the tolerance that is accepted. The drawing balls should have the same weight because you pay (the consumer) for the game and it has to be fair."
The policy states that the control exercise is carried out every six months, and to check only for the weight of the ball, if they comply. Mr. Cuffy said that no balls were found with any deficiencies.