Jamaican reggae artiste Anthony B was arrested after his performance at a concert in Port-of-Spain early yesterday but subsequently released after he agreed to paid a local promoter part of an outstanding debt.The artiste, also known as Keith Anthony Blair, said yesterday the incident arose from a "simple contractual matter" which had since been ironed out.
The promoter, Barry Lewis, went to the High Court on Saturday, hours before the Redemption: The Concert at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, and obtained an order for the performer's arrest. Police and court marshall arrived during his performance and they along his Lewis and his agents had a discussion back stage and he was arrested after his performance and taken to the High Court.
Lewis claimed he was owed $78,126 for failure of the artiste to perform at the Good Life concert at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in August 2013. Blair failed to attend the concert as he had been charged for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Georgia, USA, and could not leave the country.
Represented by Fitzgerald Hinds, Blair of Trelawney, Jamaica, was released around 4.15 am yesterday and ordered to pay Lewis US$7000 forthwith and the balance of $27,976 and legal costs of $5,000 by June 30.Blair said yesterday he spoke to the promoter and was "prepared to give him back his money, but he didn't want the money, he wanted the show."
Earlier in the day Lewis' attorneys Michael Rooplal and Carina Jailal filed an application in the Hall of Justice pursuant to Section 3 of the Absconding Debtors Act.