freeco

n. a service, item, or performance taken without payment (although something may be expected in return); a freebie; a handout; a comp. Subjects: English, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago

Editorial Note: Given the constant and common cultural exchange between Caribbean nations, this term may also be in use on other Anglophone West Indian islands.

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Citations: 1992 [John Ashley Sammerson] Usenet: soc.culture.caribbean (Feb. 20) “Trini words for the WEEK”: Freeco—A free event. As impoverished struggling students, I know this is usually our first question when going somewhere. eg. T&T;) IS AH FREECO FETE OR WHAT? NO, DEN WHAT IS DE DAMAGE? QE) Is there a cover charge for the party? No, well then how much? 1992 [Chico Khan] Usenet: soc.culture.caribbean (Feb. 25) “Re: Mother’s Day Concert”: “Where we getting de free co tic.” “This reminds me of the Tradewinds song ‘It’s Traditional.’ ‘…And if somebody put on a dance, or a big show or a movie, West Indians believe they have a duty, to try and get in free They gon scale the walls, bruise up they hand and knee, Oh yes, it’s traditional.’—Dave Martin.” 1996 [Iain Adams] Usenet: soc.culture.caribbean (Mar. 20) “Calling Guyanese on the Net”: It’s all a FREECO (yuh know how Guyanese like freeness). 2001 Terry Joseph Trinicenter.com (Trinidad & Tobago) (June 20) “Land of the free”: Now, no one asks a neurosurgeon for a “freeco” or even a discount, perhaps out of respect for that particular type of profession, or concern that the doctor might perform a job precisely equal to the amount tendered. 2002 Sadiq Baksh (Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Hansard Debates) (Trinidad & Tobago) (Dec. 10) “Rent Restriction (Re-Enactment And Validation) Bill” p. 548: In 1981, as an election gimmick—part of its “freeco” for the 1981 election—the Rent Restriction Act came into being in a refined way. What it did was freeze rents for some people from then until now. What it seeks to do is to continue to provide those people with “freeco.” Do you know why? We saw why on television last night. That is why. Before the election the PNM gave “freeco” to all its supporters; those that promised to vote and those they expected to vote for them. 2003 Trinidiary (Trinidad & Tobago) (Oct. 28) “Tantie Talk”: Now dat ent to say yuh cyant have a big bram concert, but dat bong to mus’ be a one time/grand finale ting even a open air lie dong on de grass all day picnic kinda ting dat could be a freeco, because yuh done make yuh money wid de small sessions. 2004 Kevin Baldeosingh Kevin Baldeosingh—Caribbean Writer, Author, Journalist, Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad & Tobago) (Jan. 9) “Female facts”: As an adult, thanks mostly to my being a writer, I’ve had the opportunity to travel freeco to India, Ghana, Germany, America and, within the Caribbean, Jamaica and Barbados. 2004 Stephen Kangal @ Caroni Trinidad Guardian (Nov. 14) “Manning’s integration for small island votes”: Since I cannot quantify the scope of the “freeco” that the Caricom Santa Claus dispensed at the November feeding frenzy, our Parliament must be engaged because too many politically-partisan decisions have been made in giving away unconditionally part of our crown jewels. 2005 [Queen Macoomeh] Commess University (Jan. 1) “Caribbean book reviews!”: All all yuh fowl teef who feel de internet is a free-co have some respeck. 2005 Terry Josephs Trinidad & Tobago Express (Jan. 21) “The gathering stormers”: So entrenched has the attitude become, we have developed a special Lexicon for begging. At first it was a “freeco,” then a request to “run something.” Lately there has been an adoption of the Americanism “free stuff,” as a way of softening the exchange, replacing “comps” which, by reduction to the level of pet-name, already made asking for complimentary admission more target-friendly.

Posted 24 Jan 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend