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Spectators cheer on the eleven persons who held on to the car for 24 hours on July 20, 2013. (IWN photo)
Spectators cheer on the eleven persons who held on to the car for 24 hours on July 20, 2013. (IWN photo)
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The St. Vincent Brewery Ltd. has defended the finals of its Hairoun Hai Life Promotion amidst some criticisms that it was “abusive” and “slavery”.

The finals of the competition saw 11 persons holding on to a Mazda RX-8 for 24 hours, hoping to win the vehicle.

There were 20 finalists but nine had dropped out before the 24 hours elapsed at Heritage Square on Saturday.

Since more than one person was still holding on to the car at the end of the 24 hours, they had to draw keys in a lucky draw and Chester Cottage resident, Carlisle Burke picked the key that opened the door to the car and won the EC$67,000 vehicle.

But some spectators said that the fact that the finalists had to continuously hold on to the car with one hand for such a long period of time, while standing and with no shelter from the elements was “abusive”.

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Others said it was “slavery”.

In addition to the heat of the day, the contestants had to also endure a brief, light shower shortly before the competition ended Saturday morning.

However, Lamont Medica, marketing coordinator at the Brewery said the competition knew the rules and had a choice.

“I wouldn’t say it was abusive because everyone had a choice,” he told I-Witness News on Saturday shortly after the competition ended.

“You (participants) were told exactly what you were participating in and you chose whether or not you wanted to participate. We had 20 contestants; none of them complained.

“Funny enough, the only persons that said that were not participating, to actually hold on.

“… So it had nothing to do with slavery,” he further said.

During the competition, the Brewery had a medical team and an ambulance on standby.

Hundreds of persons turned out at Heritage Square for the climax of the event. (IWN photo)
Hundreds of persons turned out at Heritage Square for the climax of the event. (IWN photo)

Medica noted that during such events, people’s stress levels could increase.

‘Successful’ promotion

Medica said the promotion was successful.

“This place was ram packed yesterday, Friday, and this morning, with people coming out to show their support for the various participants,” Medica told I-Witness News.

The participation from consumers throughout SVG was “great”, he further said.

He said someone dropped out of the competition two hours after it began and others dropped out along the way because their hand got tired.

4 replies on “Brewery says ‘Hai Life’ promotion climax was ‘not abusive’”

  1. nesdon Charles says:

    I do not think Is was abusive nothing good come easy it have ppl do worse than in other games to get money I thing it need more of this in svg I say good job to brewery for that need more of these comptition

  2. What abuse?. Carnival just ended and persons were ‘abusive’ and maybe enslaved too, you will hear “boy a mek 3 ’round d clock'”, “storm?, storm could stop me”. Who’s complaining is who didn’t make the final 20. Congrats to the champ.

  3. Slavery is FORCED servitude. Nobody forced them to stand there. I wouldn’t do it, but that’s me; and I suppose the critics wouldn’t either. And nobody says I or they HAVE to do it. So where’s the slavery or abuse?

  4. I don’t think there was anything abusive about the competition. The competitors knew the rules before and choose to stay in the competition. Did any one who claim abuse, ask any of the competitors how they felt. I bet each of them thought they would out do the other and so drive home in the grand prize. A lot of those who are shouting abuse, wished they were lucky enough to have entered the competition

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