By MICHELLE McDONALD in Jamaica

 

While waiting on my Media Pass at the Accreditation Centre last Thursday, someone I knew said she had heard that parking at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium cost J$500.00, and you had to shell out J$150.00 for a cup of water. No bottles allowed, remember, so you cannot stock up at the

supermarket before the game, to reduce costs.

 

I don't live in Jamaica now, but I recalled occasionally buying bottles of water from guys at the traffic light, and I was sure I had paid J$50.00 each time. Maybe I was mistaken. Maybe she was mistaken, and in my mind, I passed it off as hearsay.
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The teefing is regional and structured.

They concoct "security measures" to make it very difficult or impossible for people to bring their food and drinks to the venue, then charge rapacious prices for those commodities inside the venue.

I have no doubt that those "security measures" are for the specific purpose of facilitating the rip-off of cricket fans who do not have the will to do like me and say "f**k off" to the rapists by staying away from the venues.

There is nothing so attractive and irresistible that could entice me to present myself to be shafted by those greedy terrorists.

Yes...terrorists...they are the terrorists...not the imaginary ones they say they have to guard against.

Who is guarding us from the real terrorists...the mercenary ones?

Excellent article as usual Michelle!!!

What i fond strange is that the more people in the car is the more you pay. To me it would make sense to encourage people to car pool to cut down on traffic hence offer some sort of rebate to folks traveling with a full car load.

As i read I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. I usually walk around with a bottle of water to sip on throughout the day to keep hydrated. this is madness!! Who planned the refreshments part of this thing?

In reply to redbaron I'm sure i read that the prices in TT were also outrageous

In reply to redbaron

I could understand them making a something on the food...but holy crap!!! Water? I man could go all day without eating as long as i drink water, you restricting that too?!?!?!?1

In reply to Yammie
Thanks for the reporting but:
1. People have a choice (to go or not to go) - I would like to meet that lawyer girl who takes rape so lightly (or is it that she felt that strongly about the gouging?)
2. Too many people have champagne taste to go with their beer budget

Welcome to the world of "MONEY RUN TINGS" (otherwise called capitalism).

In reply to HumbleCalf

So you saying once people go to the games they should just put up with anything?

So wa we muddies go do. Can we afford such high prices

In reply to HumbleCalf

Huh? What does this have to do with gouging once people get there?

_r

Dam sure that it is the ICC fees that they charge the vendors..

In reply to Admin
Well if you are already there then my heart goes out to you. :lol:
Seems to me though, that Yammie ignored the warning signs.
And, people travelling from the US should have NO quarrel as this happens at (substantially) all sporting events in the US. I am sure you have been to some NBA or baseball game - even major league soccer and the prices are sky high. God forbid it's a championship game!!

In reply to Larr Pullo
See my reply to Admin. Again, if you are unsuspecting then I sympathize but most people who can afford to attend are NOT unsuspecting. You certainly are NOT.

In reply to scotchandwater

Commodity.........Normal price....Rip-off price (TT $)

Peanuts.............$2..................$6

Carib Beer...........$6..................$18

Guinness.............$10.................$36

Doubles..............$2...................$6

Rip-off prices general 3+ times normal prices, plus some vendors asking for US $....like KFC, for instance.

But Trinis are getting around most of the rip-off tactics with tactics of their own.

In reply to redbaron Wait them allow carib to sell in the ground. Thought Red Stripe is the offical beer

In reply to Larr Pullo

They deem plastic bottles holding water to be "missiles", so they make people either drink the water before entering or dump bottles of watter in convenient bin...over which they have control, of course.

It's all carefully...if very crudely....crafted to rip-off the very cricket-loving fans who support them by buying tickets.

It's all very cynical behaviour by those who run this mafia operation.

In reply to bugz

Despite their "security measures", there was a picture in the newspaper of people drinking Carib beer and other beverages from bottles inside the venue during the first warm-up game at UWI SPEC.

So much for "security measures"...and "missiles".

Imagine they forcing we to buy stuff at the ground. Can we take in plastic bags with water

In reply to bugz

No....they not forcing anyone to buy...well, not with gun at head.

Coerce would be better word....using "security measures" shyte as cover.

And yes, Trinis using Ziploc bags to carry in their food/drinks, plus smuggling tactics to get past security with some prohibited items.

One group has advertised its intention to smuggle in drums and other noise-making implements that are typical in WI cricket grounds. I wouldn't put it past them to succeed in doing so, but, of course, if they make a note "security" will eject them from the ground.

Michelle said she felt like she had ben raped??

Fat chance, I say.

Regards!

In reply to redbaron

How yall gwine smuggle in them tassa drums man? Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh... :lol:

In reply to ganga_fan
dem new ones come in parts... :lol:

Check this;

CWC fans have their way

Imangine is so deperate we turn smuling drinks in bags and drums

In reply to DAVE400

I don't know . Must be those RB talking about. Yo trini get nuff big belly men so u can possibly hide it under the shelf. :D :D

In reply to ganga_fan

I dunno...but they sound confident of their ability to do it, and I not doubting them.

But fuss tassa roll - man and tassa out the gate...

In reply to SpudsMcKenzie

Banner, yuh understand what you read - they did not teach reading and comprehension at QC? The lawyer said she felt like she got raped - not Yammie. Was it hot in August?

Roll it bai :lol:

In reply to redbaron

RB, carib in zip locker bag. Allyuh bad boy. I sure in Guyana them man will do it in paper bag. Trust me. :lol: :lol:

In reply to redbaron

It is more than cynical to restrict the supply of potable water to only that which is on sale at an event held over an entire day, with many of the patrons sitting in the sun.

I don't have a problem with the sale of branded water inside the ground, but I do think that it borders on the criminally negligent to not have a FREE and readily available supply of water to drink. This is especially so given that I'm sure there are restrictions, if not prohibitions, on re-entry once leaving the venue.

Given that there are likely to be people with vulnerable health attending these matches (children, the elderly and infirm, and many with a variety of medical conditions including self-induced inebriation) it would be unfortunate to have to deal with the avoidable effects of dehydration and heatstroke.

I would imagine that drinkable water is probably available free somewhere within the venue, but it is simply that the organisers have not made this readily known to attendees. If not, there is still time for the LOCs to change that situation before the real thing starts.

Wait you cant even carry pepsi in ground

In reply to bugz

Haven't we been well conditioned for years by our so-called governments and so-called public services to expect to be treated like that and believe that it's normal and OK?

How many of us would boycott these matches in protest? How many of us are prepared to tell the ICC HTMCs by staying away?

Here's an easier question - how many of us rush to buy highly overpriced tickets and subject selves to humiliating process to get tickets we paid for in advance, sight unseen, months ago?

The answers to those questions hold the explanation of what going on and why.

I have no sympathy sorry......anybody dat expected different is just a jackass....I will enjoy da horror stories from da comfort of my living room...but BIM welcomes da idiots dat purchased tickets and are flying in for da event.....I gine find a way tuh get my hustle on as well

In reply to HumbleCalf
Go easy on de old banner nuh...De info in dat particular paragraph could be difficult to comprehend....why you eh tell Yammie to write simple so everybody could understand.. :lol: :lol:

In reply to MICHELLE McDONALD
2 things
Dunno why you surprised, I pointed out price gouging since day 1.

2. You should have have US$ equivalents in that article. I'ts hard to gauge how high the prices are if you're not jamaican or in jamaica

$150 for water at the Trelawny ent so bad if you compare to $100 which it was being sold for at the TT vs JA KFC Cup match. If yuh going to a major sporting event, it is foolhardy to expect the prices to be the same as what obtains normally. The vendors have additional overhead costs which they must pass on.

Yammie,
I 'd like to suggest that you have not been a major sporting event in a long time hence your shock. Next time you're at Sabina leave teh comfort of teh medi abox and go mingle with the ordinary ppl and see what obtains. Hopefully that will inform your writing.

In reply to jamgirl

Zactly, Yammie might have paid 50 dollars for Water on the road,but it's never 50 dollars for it at cricket.

I am surprised that Michelle is surprised!!!!!!!!!!!

It was obvious from long ago that prices would be exhorbitant.The ICC was always going to make money but the people of the Caribbean would lose heavily.
The massive debts that the Governments have accrued in building new stadia and infrastructure necessities is going to be felt by the people for decades.That fancy hotel in Guyana has been heavily financed by the Government and hence the people of Guyana.

Well as they say it will be the Best WC eva 8). And we getting the best prices

In reply to zimzimma

Americans buy water in bottle, so West indians have to do same to prove that they developed and affluent.

The same West Indians who grow up on tap and river water, they need bottled water now. American fools make many West Indian fools.

If people could afford to buy pipe or river water in bottle, they could pay exorbitant price for it...no problem...is not water they paying for...is their stupidity.

The general idea is that if you foolish enough to buy water in bottle, you foolish enough to pay pound and crown for it.

I'm working on a plan to bottle air and sell it to them West Indian people who buying bottled water. Of course, I have to wait until the americans do it first so my people will know to do it too.

Yes, this information should be established.



Is the tap water in Caribbean toilets generally drinkable, umm, potable? I'm sure the medical facility would also provide suitable refreshment for anyone claiming the effects of dehydration. Just don't turn up there more than 5 times in the day.

In reply to redbaron Hear man we na have to prove nothing to anybody we is West Indian we will improvise.

In reply to redbaron

People gotta be out and about more RB so there is a bigger market for bottled water. Plus if you're at cricket, what yu goh do...go to bathroom and drink the water? :?

In reply to zimzimma Gues they want we do that go drink water in wash rooms.

Link


It's incredible how bottles of water have become a fashion accessory. The only people who actually need to rehydrate every 20 minutes are triathletes.

In reply to bugz

Yuck!

In reply to zimzimma

The English do it all the time here. :wink:

In reply to WMD

It really has. But hey, it's not a bad accessory! So much better than a cigarette!

In reply to ganga_fan

The English in general are nasty people who don't even take bathing as a priority. They think "washing up" in the kitchen sink will suffice!

In reply to jamgirl

1. The media box at Sabina was not comfortable.
2. I always walk around, as you can see from the type of articles I write
3. I purchase food and drink at Test matches and ODIs

I'd be happy to pay $100 for water. 3 times the price for a necessary commodity does seem a bit excessive from anywhere that you sit.

In reply to redbaron

There was an article recently in the US papers detailing how bottled water is one of the biggest modern day scams. They ran some tests and found out that for the most part, tap water is more pure than the bottled variety with the designer labels.

Of course YMMV with regards to the purity of tap water in the caribbean.... I know I cannot drink tap water in Antigua...shit gets me sick instantly.

In reply to Zikdaman

But we never needed no article to tell us that. Listen I will go further and say it isn't just one of the biggest scams, it is THE biggest scam!

In reply to WMD

Here in T&T, it is. It's the same water that's piped to homes, businesses, etc.

Not that I'm saying drink water there at cricket games - that's not a practical thing to do, of course, since it will require leaving your seat and missing some play.

The local brands and some imported brands of bottled water were tested here in T&T. All were found to contain more e coli than the water supplied by the Water and Sewerage Authority. In other words, they weren't worth shit as far as "health conscious" concerend.

The manufacturers know that. They simply capitalise on people wanting to be uppity by saying they drinking bottled water only.

I know that...I never believed that bottled water held any advantage over tap water, and I'm yet to be proven wrong.

Here at home, we boil the water that we put in the refrigerator for drinking, but that's not essential. We can drink it straight out of the tap if we wanted to.

It's not the same everywhere in the region, but here in T&T, the majority of people do not have to drink bottled water.

They do so because they think it's fashionable and because fools and their money are soon parted.

A lot of bottled water isn't marketed as mineral water though. One brand proudly admits to being tap water. The main problem with bottled water is the level of bacteria if the bottle isn't properly washed. Doesn't constitute a real health hazard though, as even urine can be safely imbibed.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

its the same all over the world anywhere u go.

a beer is $1 on the street and $8 at yankee stadium

In reply to Zikdaman I wonder if any michelle been to a concert, pop or to the cinema? At a pop concert for just programme is around 5 pounds and ten pounds, and there is the drinks and or your burger and pop corn which cost a fortune.Then she should stop complaining.I only fear for the ones who cannot afford it.Over here at the moment dont even think of taking your family to a football match, if you dont have over a hundred pounds dont even think about it.

In reply to zimzimma

And it will be until I start my bottled air scam. Although I publicly announce it as a scam, once the americans start using bottled air, my foolish West Indian people will make me immensely rich making 100% profit selling bottled air at obscene prices.

And knowing my people, the higher I price it, the more they will buy to show that they rich enough to afford it.

If you place a large order now, I'll give you a discount for being smart enough to buy cat in bag.

:lol: :lol:

In reply to cricketmygame

Exactly. When I go to a tennis match, just a Masters event, not even a grand slam, I gotta pay an arm and a leg for stuff as well.

In reply to zimzimma

The difference is that I can take a bottle of water into Yankee Stadium. I know this because I do it all the time.

_ryan

yall ever realize it's called the World CUP and not the Caribbean CUP? when the WC done then locals will afford to go watch a game..locals just dont make enough money to compete with the "market" prices that the WC committe has set to match what the WORLD pays...

a heineken at yankee stadium is $11 dollars

a heineken at the store is $1.25 single

allyuh aint got it so bad.

In reply to Admin Yeah, I think the fact that you cannot carry your own water in (unless you use extra-ordinary measures) is the real fcuked up thing.

In reply to zimzimma
you see its the first time most ppl in the caribbean have been exposed to such a big event so they dont know how stadiums work.

they r taking advantage of knowing that you have to buy from them

yall ever realize it's called the World CUP and not the Caribbean CUP? when the WC done then locals will afford to go watch a game..locals just dont make enough money to compete with the "market" prices that the WC committe has set to match what the WORLD pays...

a heineken at yankee stadium is $11 dollars

a heineken at the store is $1.25 single

allyuh aint got it so bad.

Thread title should be changed to ' Damn set of price discriminators '.

In reply to redbaron

Well I am filling up several plastic cups with coconut water. We have to learn to outsmart dem.

I understand that any rainwater that falls within the grounds will be the property of ICC. So no licking the seats.

In reply to redbaron

Couldn't say it better - one big rip off.

Listen peeps put your water or coconut water in plastic cups with covers and no one can tell yuh dat yuh have missiles.

In reply to Chrissy

Would you open the cup to some sweaty soldiers for checks? :lol: :lol:

In reply to londoner

Rubbish - you going to cricket for a minimum eight hours in the hot sun. You can do without water at a concert. You must have liquids at cricket.

This is why I decided from early 2k6 that I would head for a bar to watch the games!.

How are you going to tell a grown ass man/woman after spending his/her hard earned cash, what you can't or cannot drink, among other things??

These stadiums will have to be filled after WC 2k7.......................I hope the relevant peeps remember that

In reply to Admin

EXACTLY!!!

I could understand the higher food prices etc.....but at least the water they don't need to make a fuss about

ok the prices are high

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

michelle, u are very brave to go watch the WC with this nonsense going on. stay home watch it on your tv with some good jerk chicken adn a red stripe.

In reply to jcveletta stay home :lol:

In reply to jcveletta

Man I'm so glad I only bought tickets for the WI matches and the semis. I caan tek confusion and inconvenience.

look in this discussion those who say that the prices are acceptable because thats the way its done elsewhere have a point but at the same time there is a measurable difference between going to a professional sporting event like basketball in the US and going to cricket in the caribbean. That being time spent at the stadium. You can go to a basketball, baseball, hockey or football game and be in and out in under 4 hrs so even if you cant bring anything into the arena you dont have to buy water or anything from the concession if you really dont want to.

When ya go to cricket you there from morning til evening, (unless is west indies getting bowl out for 85 and then ya will be home by lunch time), so you have to at least buy a bottle or two of water and or food. You're being basically held hostage in the damn ground.

so the man that say them is terrorists i might have to agree wid him

In reply to WMD

Interesting comment, are you a scientist or medical doctor or maybe a connoisseur? Check the abstract of the original study cited by RB at Study on bottled water in Trinidad :wink:

In reply to defeyeant

Leff dem. If they tru this crap aftr the world cup, the grounds will be more empty.

In reply to cricketmygame

I have been to the Olympics, WC Football, Madison Square Gardens, Miami Heat -yuh want more. This is crap.

In reply to Chrissy

Gwaaaaaaaaan Chrissy! The water/drinks bizniz ent cool fi real. Maybe dem think peeps goh put white rum in de water bottles or wah?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Bush rum mo white

In reply to ganga_fan people using all sorts of tricks to smuggle in hey stuff.


The ICC rules are BS and teh poor cricket lovers will not be denied.

In reply to anandgb

Once is local policemen at the gate then stuff passing in. I know that for sure or is big war.Watch and see. Liquor of all sorts must get in for the show later. :lol:

In reply to jaydee

There are about 4 or 5 brands of bottled water bottled in T&T.

How they come up with 344 samples?

That 5% figure for the "unfit for drinking" category is incorrect. It's much higher than that...closer to 95%, I believe.

In reply to jcveletta

I don't eat meat or poultry. Do they do jerk fish or tofu? :wink:

In reply to zimzimma

Some a dese men tink dem likkle one way discount ticket to foreign means only dem attend global sport. Stewwwwwwwwwwps.

In reply to redbaron
They cite an unpublished 1999 Cariri study of 17 brands (28 bottles)which raised the inital alarm in the press. So their purpose was to develop a more comprehensive study. They eventually tested 8 domestic and 5 foreign brands in their study - They used plenty bottles in order to increase the precision of the study and randomly chose locations all over the country.

A fraid to tell you that only the domestic brands had the little beasties in them, the foreign brands had none, none, none :D Anyway here is what they write -

Anyway sorry for taking up so much space . . . and happy drinking :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Very interesting piece, Michelle..Thanks much for the first hand account..
Better you than poor Sid Vidyanathan or Mukul Kesavan, for this MB to realize!

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
Should come to Negril and watch everything on big screen tv, right on the beach. Red Stripe $100J & Water $60J ... plenty seats & you doh have to get up for nothing.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com[/