Turning off Data Services While Roaming

ALL,

I would like your assistance. When considering roaming i checked out the price to 'roam data' as well, for a particular country it is $8.00 per MB. As a result i am only willing to roam the phone services in that country.
My pearl 8100 in Options Menu, Mobile Netowrk has an option to turn off 'DATA SERVICES', does this mean i will not be bombarded with any mail?
The reason I seem to be asking such an elementary question is because i called my service provider and he adamantly said it COULD NOT BE DONE FROM THE PHONE!!!, even after asking him if he was actually familiar with it. So i need to know for sure, if when I turn it off that it will go off.

Thanks
VaughnQ

That's the way it is supposed to work. Who is your carrier by the way?

Digicel Jamaica

Ok. Well unfortunately I know nothing about them. However, you may want to look and see if they have any kind of BB International Plan. Most US carriers do, and that may help you out.