He may have spent most of yesterday in a wrangle with the courts, but famed Jamaican reggae artiste Bounty Killer emerged at the end of his experience without any bitterness to the country, and plans to host a free concert later this year.
By Imran Ali with reporting by Sade Lee-Duprey and Shelly DolabailleSaying that he had "nothing but love" for the people of this country, the multi-platinum singer, whose name is Rodney Price, said the concert would be for the benefit of the thousands whom he had disappointed at last Saturday's Summer Fest concert.
Police arrested Price, 32, ten minutes into his performance at the concert, which also featured Jamaican dancehall artist Elephant Man and local performers Denise Belfon and Machel Montano, at the Queen's Park Savannah for allegedly using obscene language.
Price was taken to the Central Police Station, where PC Andre Forgenie charged him with using obscene language.
He appeared yesterday morning before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor in the Port of Spain Third Magistrate's Court to face the charge. He initially pleaded not guilty, but then admitted guilt-after consulting with his attorney, Devesh Maharaj.
The plea changed again after the police prosecutor read the alleged facts of the case. Maharaj told the magistrate that, while Price admitted to using an obscene word, he disagreed with certain aspects of the prosecution's case.
Magistrate Gafoor then entered a not-guilty plea, and as she adjourned the matter to November 1, she ordered that Price's $25,000 bail continue.
She also ordered that his passport, which had been confiscated on Sunday, remain in police custody-which meant that Price would have had to remain in Trinidad until the next hearing of the matter.
Price, who had remained quiet and composed while in court, was heard shouting while leaving the court house, complaining of unfair treatment.
His manager of five years, Julian John Griffith, later told the media that Price was due in Jamaica tonight to perform at a concert, and in New York on Saturday for another concert.
The complaint eventually reached the Port of Spain High Court where, in a special hearing to vary the bail conditions, Justice Prakash Moosai revoked the magistrate's order regarding the passport and ordered that the document be returned to Price forthwith.
Price was represented by attorneys Mario Merritt and Wayne Sturge.
State attorney Jennifer Martin did not object to the revocation of the condition after Price gave an undertaking to return to Trinidad on October 31, in time for the next hearing of the case against him.
Price, who appeared to be upset and refused to speak to the media before heading to court, was all smiles as he left the Port of Spain Hall of Justice around 4.30 p.m. yesterday.
"It's all good at this moment. The only problem I had earlier this morning was that I would have (had) to stay in the country until November 1," he said.
He said he did not mind being processed by the police, calling the procedure a "normal thing for the people".
He said he harboured no ill-will against the police because "they have to do their job".
"So I feel good how I got back my passport," he continued.
Price expressed apologies for the obscene language he used.
"They (the police) did their job. I only did want to do the concert, so that's the only regret I have: never getting to do the concert," he said.
Insisting that he would not turn his back to the patrons who had missed out on his performance, Price revealed that he will be meeting with Roy Maharaj, who promoted Summer Fest, "to try to work something to do back a concert for free".
"The people in Trinidad who paid (for Saturday's show) will get to come and see the concert for free and jam and feel nice," he said with a laugh.
