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Previously I posted a news story on the unbelievably poor reception shown when the teams arrived in Trinidad. As we can see from the following story, taken from this morning's Observer newspaper, nothing whatsoever has changed in Trinidad! Now, don't you just love our gracious, kind, sensitive, accommodating Trinidadian hosts? 
'The place stinks'
J'can U-17 Boyz sent to smelly guest house in T'dad
KARYL WALKER in Trinidad & Tobago
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
St James, Trinidad - As the 50 Jamaicans who travelled to Trinidad and Tobago to represent their country in the just concluded Caribbean Football Union (CFU) youth tournament await word on when they will be able to return to their homeland and reconnect with their loved ones, the Under-17 Boyz delegation are now faced with accommodation woes.
The team is expected to be removed from the Ambassador Hotel in St James and taken to the Halyconia Inn, a guest house that is situated beside a gully at First Avenue in an area known as Cascade.
Last night when the Observer visited the premises, the stench from the gully was unbearable. The Jamaican representatives, led by head of delegation, Carlton 'Spanner' Dennis, were barred entry to the property and informed that they had to come back this morning to view the living conditions.
Dennis was clearly not satisfied with the move.
"I was sent here to do a job and my first responsibility is to the members of the team and this is unacceptable. The place stinks. We are not satisfied with this arrangement," Dennis told a representative of the Jamaican High Commission to Trinidad, who had also come to view the guest house.
The Jamaicans were originally informed that they would be housed at a facility where the Haitian team was staying, but were told by representatives of the CFU at the 11th hour that the arrangement had been changed.
"We are not asking to be put up at the Ritz, but we need suitable living conditions. The place is in the middle of nowhere and it is clearly not suitable," Dennis told the Observer.
Yesterday, the mood was pensive in the Boyz camp as the players, all 16 years or younger, wandered about idly and expressed the desire to return home. The boys have been on the road since June 29 and have been idle since the team lost to Trinidad on Friday.
The Cubans, who played in the final on Sunday and won the tournament, have already left the country.
"Why is this happening to us? It is not fair. We want to go home where we are wanted," one player agonised.
"My mother is so worried she called me and asked me if I was all right. I told her yes because I don't want her to fret," another player told the Observer.
The girls' Under-15 delegation was yesterday moved from the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus and is now housed at a guest house.
At press time there was still no word on when the Jamaicans will be able to return home.
'The place stinks'
J'can U-17 Boyz sent to smelly guest house in T'dad
KARYL WALKER in Trinidad & Tobago
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
St James, Trinidad - As the 50 Jamaicans who travelled to Trinidad and Tobago to represent their country in the just concluded Caribbean Football Union (CFU) youth tournament await word on when they will be able to return to their homeland and reconnect with their loved ones, the Under-17 Boyz delegation are now faced with accommodation woes.
The team is expected to be removed from the Ambassador Hotel in St James and taken to the Halyconia Inn, a guest house that is situated beside a gully at First Avenue in an area known as Cascade.
Last night when the Observer visited the premises, the stench from the gully was unbearable. The Jamaican representatives, led by head of delegation, Carlton 'Spanner' Dennis, were barred entry to the property and informed that they had to come back this morning to view the living conditions.
Dennis was clearly not satisfied with the move.
"I was sent here to do a job and my first responsibility is to the members of the team and this is unacceptable. The place stinks. We are not satisfied with this arrangement," Dennis told a representative of the Jamaican High Commission to Trinidad, who had also come to view the guest house.
The Jamaicans were originally informed that they would be housed at a facility where the Haitian team was staying, but were told by representatives of the CFU at the 11th hour that the arrangement had been changed.
"We are not asking to be put up at the Ritz, but we need suitable living conditions. The place is in the middle of nowhere and it is clearly not suitable," Dennis told the Observer.
Yesterday, the mood was pensive in the Boyz camp as the players, all 16 years or younger, wandered about idly and expressed the desire to return home. The boys have been on the road since June 29 and have been idle since the team lost to Trinidad on Friday.
The Cubans, who played in the final on Sunday and won the tournament, have already left the country.
"Why is this happening to us? It is not fair. We want to go home where we are wanted," one player agonised.
"My mother is so worried she called me and asked me if I was all right. I told her yes because I don't want her to fret," another player told the Observer.
The girls' Under-15 delegation was yesterday moved from the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus and is now housed at a guest house.
At press time there was still no word on when the Jamaicans will be able to return home.
Just my upbringing.
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