Boost lottery again by distributing tickets through independent agents

I understand that there are still pubs who will not sell lottery tickets because the aggravation and regulations imposed makes selling them not worth the effort in some people’s eyes.

So, what is the solution? It is amazingly simple, stop the cumbersome and expensive Guernsey Post distributing the tickets and go back to the tried and tested distribution through independent lottery agents. No wages, no sick pay, no vehicle costs, no pension and no holiday pay. A proactive sales force who work hard for their money at zero cost to the taxpayer. You really do not need to be a rocket scientist to see that is the way forward. The lottery people should listen to the agents, they have constant feedback from retailers, not some off-island experts who don’t properly understand the Channel Islands.

We saw Jersey sack their lottery agents and their sales went through the floor, but did anyone in the Guernsey lottery not learn by the mistakes of our Jersey cousins? Did they heck, they blindly followed the Jersey example and we all see what has happened. By the way, I am led to believe that the distribution would be put up for tender after some time, but it seems Guernsey Post have a long-term contract. Can someone enlighten us all?

TREVOR HOCKEY

Boley Smillie, chief executive of Guernsey Post, responds:

The assertions made about Guernsey Post are simply incorrect. The lottery report and accounts, published by the States of Guernsey, clearly shows that the relative cost of distribution has fallen by more than £200,000 per annum since Guernsey Post successfully tendered for the business. There has been no decline in the number of retailers selling tickets and we regularly receive positive feedback about our lottery team from our resellers.