Coney Island and circus prices too high for Berbicians

Ok, so maybe this doesn't actually have anything to do with New York's Coney Island, but still, I found reading it rather compelling.

From www.stabroeknews.com

Dear Editor,

As a little boy I was always excited by the now classic Disney Channel series for children 'Dumbo's Circus' which featured persons in costumes portraying animals who move from place to place giving circus shows. There was also the 'The Bozo Super Sunday Show' on what was then, WGN-TV, which was a must-see every Sunday after attending church some years ago.

A circus provides an atmosphere of gaiety, fun, excitement, frolic and thrills for all. In a world where stress and worries are the mainstays of one's day, we all need to let loose once in a while. And what way better to do so, especially since we had the Coney Island which visited Guyana some months ago and now the Suarez Brothers Circus from Mexico? I could also remember when the Grand International Circus visited some time in 1993 or 1994.

However, it seems that one has to be financially obese to afford an audience with such events. The Suarez Circus is currently in New Amsterdam and the prices to be a part of the fun at this circus are too expensive! Why are these Mexicans exploiting Guyanese? On the same par I can ask also how come the Brazilians of the Tom and Jerry Coney Island (which came and went) exploited Guyanese also?

Mr Editor let me clarify my premise. Tickets for the circus cost in the range of thousands. The most expensive (front seat) ticket costs nearly $3,000.

The Coney Island exploited Berbicians because they began charging a flat $1,000 fee for entrance and any amount of rides some months ago after they moved to Georgetown, whereas Berbicians had to pay an entrance fee plus buy tickets for each and every ride. Guyanese are not rich people. At the same time, it is understood that they incur expenses while moving from place to place and country to country, but still, every family should be afforded to opportunity to visit these fun events at very reasonable cost. I am sure there are excited children out there who are ecstatic about the circus, through all the ads on TV, newspapers and the loud speakers on the roads in East Berbice, but whose parents cannot afford thousands of dollars just for a ticket - and snacks inside the big top.

Here's the other part of the story. They, like any other international circus, do not allow food and drink to be brought in. However, they charge over 100% more for their food than what people would usually purchase in stores and shops. A serving of popcorn costs $500; snow-cones cost $300; 20 oz. Coca Cola costs $400, and get this, a serving of nachos costs $500! Are you kidding me?! Yes, $500 for a couple of chips with melted cheese. Banks DIH is the distributor of Coca Cola, so why didn't they have a say in the recommended price for the drink in the circus? It's ridiculous! It also costs $1,000 to take a picture under the big tent with the animals!

It is also interesting that this circus seems to have hit numerous snags with animal rights organizations in the past. If one were to look at http://www.circuses.com/fact-suarez.asp you would see the dates and nature of offences concerning the circus and some polar bears. It's certainly information the local animal rights group would be interested in seeing. There are other archived news reports of animal negligence (most of which had to do with polar bears), etc, by TV and newspaper by 'Googling' the circus' name online.

Although their time in New Amsterdam is nearing an end (and Georgetown would be next), could there be some redress (perhaps for the future)?

Yours faithfully,

Leon Jameson Suseran