Christmas comes early as 77-y-o wins SUV

When 77-year-old Daphne Francis of Bonham Heights, St Ann, opened an account at Scotiabank, Ocho Rios, in 1978, no one could have envisaged her winning a motor vehicle from the bank over four decades later.

On Wednesday, Francis, accompanied by her daughter, Sharon Francis, went to the bank to pick up her 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander.

Francis, like so many other Scotiabank customers, entered the Scotiabank Mastercard Activation competition, by activating her Mastercard debit card and using it at a merchant.

"This is definitely special! Special! Special! Special! And I'm really grateful to the bank for it," an elated Francis told THE WEEKEND STAR after the vehicle was handed to her during a ceremony at the bank's Ocho Rios branch.

Francis said that the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander has come at a right time as her car, a 2002 Honda Accord, recently broke down and is in the garage.

"That is far beyond me to get a prize. I never knew this would have happened, especially now at my age. It's an asset and it means a more comfortable life for me on the road because the car that I have is now out of use. And the very day I was coming to complete the documents to receive this vehicle it broke down on me, and it's now at a garage under repairs," she explained.

Francis said the most significant change that the new vehicle will bring about is her experience on the road.

"I hardly think it will change anything in my life; the only change is that I'll feel comfortable on the road driving. Now that it's a new car and I know I don't have to spend money to repair it in the near future."

Her daughter, Sharon, expressed delight that her mom had won a vehicle and said it came on time and is a blessing.

"I'm so happy for her because what has been happening, she's been having car troubles for quite some time. When she was coming to sign the paper her car broke down so we had to take a taxi; so it's an on-time situation. We see it as a blessing really; it's good stuff," Sharon said.