A 25-year-old Clarendon man is $20,000 richer today after swallowing his fears and two ****roaches.

The man, Marvin Nelson, of Mineral Heights in the parish, was paid for his seemingly 'strong' stomach after a bet with a group of friends last week.

The incident is said to have happened a few days after the group was playing a game of dominoes which was interrupted by one of the flying insects.

While many would have probably quivered at the thought of just seeing the insect, Nelson instead accepted a bet from his friend that he would eat the insects in a sandwich.

"Well, of course, a something mi did haffi think bout real hard. Mi did a think seh it might mek mi get sick and ting but when mi check it, in a some part of di world dem thing deh is a delicacy and it nuh do dem nuttin when dem eat it, so mi just deal wid it," Nelson told THE WEEKEND STAR when he was contacted via cellular phone yesterday.

the money came in handy

Nelson, a painter by profession, said he is currently out of a job and admitted the money came in handy and even said he has no regrets.

"A painting work mi do eno but nuttin naw gwaan rite now so da 20 grand yah ago do whole heap fi mi. Rite now mi have some business fi deal wid plus mi daughter did need some likkle things so mi just ago sort har out," he explained.

"Mi naw go rob or shoot nobody or sell miself so fi eat two roach a simple thing. Mi nuh regret it," Nelson also said.

THE WEEKEND STAR heard of the incident through a police source from the Clarendon division.

The corporal said the act has since become a hot topic on the lips of residents from the community and surrounding areas.

One of Nelson's friends, 32-year-old Andre Hutchinson, said he along with the other men were quite surprised when the adventurous man agreed to take up the bet as it was initially meant to be a joke.

"A some domino we a play one night and one flying ****roach come een pon we and wi haffi rush him. Afta wi kill di roach out a di blue a next man jump up a seh him woulda pay a man fi eat a ****roach," he said.

He further said; "Afta dat Marvin ask how much money him woulda get fi eat one and wi seh 10 grand and then him seh him woulda eat two suh we tell him if him serious wi ago pay him 20 grand and him agree."

The domino game was last week and Nelson was said to have ate the roaches on Monday. He told THE WEEKEND STARthat it was after much research and thinking over the weekend that he did so.

Asked about the taste of the insect, Nelson claimed it was not as bad as persons would think. He said he was given the opportunity to eat the insect by whatever means he chose, and as such he decided to make two sandwiches.

"Mi just mek two sandwich wid dem ... drop dem between two slices a bread and butter and wash dem dung wid one soda," Nelson said before adding, "it nuh taste like nuttin else wah me know, it have it own taste."

Hutchinson said they thought Nelson would have pulled out of the deal but they were proven wrong. He was paid the money immediately after eating the 'tasty' ****roaches.

'Well, of course, a something mi did haffi think bout real hard. Mi did a think seh it might mek mi get sick and ting but when mi check it, in a some part of di world dem thing deh is a delicacy and it nuh do dem nuttin when dem eat it, so mi just deal wid it.'