Paris Hilton checked herself into prison on Sunday evening, two days before the scheduled date, finally proving to everyone who had enough of the young, rich and seemingly entitled clique that as a “celebrity” she was not immune to the rules of law. Though far removed from anything remotely Trini I cannot help but compare Ms. Hilton to Mr. Montano, Machel that is, because as Trinidad’s number one soca artiste he too could not escape the charges leading out of the fracas at Zen nightclub. Yesterday Machel Montano was slapped with five charges and released on a $50,000.00 bail. The charges are:
- It is alleged that Machel Montano, Kernel Roberts and Joel Fezeck on April 26 at Keate Street, Port-of-Spain, assaulted Brandis Brown, occasioning actual bodily harm.
- It is also alleged that on April 26, all three and Rodney Le Blanc assaulted Russell Pollonais outside Zen nightclub, occasioning actual bodily harm.
- Montano has been charged with unlawfully assaulting Jenelle Le Chee and Gerard Bowrin at the nightclub.
- He has also been charged with using obscene language outside Zen.
I have to admit it came as a surprise to learn that Machel was actually charged for this incident. We often hear rumors about celebrities behaving badly, but then it appears that they never suffer any repercussions for these alleged actions as no one ever comes forward to separate fact from fiction. The thoroughness of the police in investigating the Zen incident has me wondering if they too got fed up of hearing all the rumours and decided to seek “the truth” or if coming on the heels of the Danah Alleyene and Akon drama that the police were forced by public scrutiny to look past the fame and treat Machel as they would any other citizen accused of such wrongdoings.
As this case plays out in the next few weeks it would be interesting to see just how much like John Public Mr. Monatno will be treated. Evidence of his fame having influence was apparent; he appeared at court sans handcuffs and was transported in a “special” vehicle reserved for high profile figures. For his sake I hope the legal system metes him some speedy treatment or the case might be tied up in the courts for months, if not years, like all the many cases that become entwined in the loopholes of Trinidad’s justice system. If the case does reach to the high court, here is hoping Mr Montano has a very, very good lawyer because if fate deals him the same verdict as Paris Hilton what a sobering Carnival 2008 will be…no stage and no Machel? Perish the thought!
As this case plays out in the next few weeks it would be interesting to see just how much like John Public Mr. Monatno will be treated. Evidence of his fame having influence was apparent; he appeared at court sans handcuffs and was transported in a “special” vehicle reserved for high profile figures. For his sake I hope the legal system metes him some speedy treatment or the case might be tied up in the courts for months, if not years, like all the many cases that become entwined in the loopholes of Trinidad’s justice system. If the case does reach to the high court, here is hoping Mr Montano has a very, very good lawyer because if fate deals him the same verdict as Paris Hilton what a sobering Carnival 2008 will be…no stage and no Machel? Perish the thought!
23 comments:
This may be harsh and I might get chastised for this, but if he did the crime, he has to do the time...wire bend story end...my two cents......
Anyone who know me well know that I am a huge Montano fan....but Carnival is soo much bigger than Machel Montano
Amen, to that Marc. I'm not mad at you. I get so fed up of hearing repetitive stories about his bad behavior. It never seems to stop, fact or fiction. And I must really suck as a Trini b/c I'm rhelly NOT a fan of his. I'm not like most, so Carnival without Machel won't make one difference to me. He has to be taught that his actions and persona aren't always bullet proof.
Saucy, you tell nothing but the truth. I guess we'll be listening to "Jumbie" again next year!
I can handle Carnival with no Machel if we had a stage.. but can you imagine no stage and no hot song to hype up the crowd? We will have to look for Destra and Sherwayne to fill the gap and I personally don't think they are able but will put forth a good effort. Then again I could be totally wrong and if Machel is not around for 2008 other artistes may finally get a chance to shine.
Machel have time to do yes, but will he?
C'mon Saucy, if there is no Machel there will be other hot songs.....tings aint that grim in T&T. This year was a good year for music, so was 2005.
And we well know its a popularity contest and who the DJs play that makes it a top song.
So if Machel is there great, if he aint..so be it...with all the music that does get release all cahn be rubbish. Every year I does hear some good tunes on toronto-lime that never make it to the road.
Trust me Sauce....you will have a blast none the less
C'mon Sarce,
Shurwayne cannot fill in the gap? What about 2k6's "Don't Stop" and "I Can't Wait"? I KNOW Shurwayne is ready. I did not even care for those "Scandalous" and "Band of the Year" songs, so watch them pelt meh eh!
I would be happy for the other artists to come forth and test their mettle in a year sans stage and Machel. Other folks might just have their opportunity to shine. (Even though I believe true talent shines anyway.) Artists such as:
Fireball
Rikki Jai
Bunji
KMC
Maximus
Somebody singing along w/ Mr Vegas, as that has become de rigeur for TNT Carnival. (Rolls eyes.)
Shal Marshall
Nadia Batson
Patrice
Even a veteran to come with a wicked tune would be a nice surprise, etc.etc.etc.
Sheesh artists can even do team-ups, we won't discriminate!
I guess this must be like those R&B artists who are waiting for Beyonce to retire, LOL. I absolutely will NOT comment on Destra.
I guess I must not be the bestedest Trini b/c I always hated waiting to cross the Stage and correctly predicted that Carnival in the streets would be the BESS. I too LOVED chipping dong de the Foreshore!
Chip and wine, chip and wine, chip and winnnne! :p
I doh like Sherwayne at all... :S
I am sure if there is no Machel Carnival will go on and yeah I will have a good time BUT I do look forward to his releases every year. I may not like him as a person but the music for Carnival just gets you higher than high :D
I need to hear machel for carnival de man brings the hits. Shurwayne and Destra have it but just not like Machel...When I was dead out @ las lap "Jumbie" make me get back into the spirit (lol)
1st things 1st, there better be Machel in Toronto on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!
'Kay Sarce,
I hope the next Carnival has some new Machel just FOR YOU! I didn't care for "Jumbie", but "Down the Road"? OMG!
-And-
YOU TELL 'EM KARA! LOL.....
the man name is feveck eh. And i eh even finish my rant on this matter lol.
Kara I wish you luck but as far as I know once you are on bail you cannot leave the country. Jumbie I am waiting for your take on the Machel saga.
No Machel = no Carnival for me at least.
I sorry I pick my AI(all inclusive) fetes based on where Mr. Montano will be.
Karabana, I found this blog site for Luminato gossip where Machel is scheduled to perform - dunno if they will put anything about him on it, but I have posted the question to them to see if he is still performing
http://luminatocreativity.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/now-the-luminato-blog-takes-phone-calls/
Machel is a great artiste - no question about that at all.. but we have had years when Machel hasn't been the top man and everyone has still had a ball both at Carnival and Caribana. He has to stop being the "Paris Hilton" of T'dad. No-one is above the law and I hope that there won't be a white-wash of these charges in court 'cause how will that look to the out of control young people in T'dad?? It will just confirm what they are already thinking..."get big anyway you can and yuh cud get away with anything."
I am looking forward to hearing Machel on Sunday but if he can't show - well - as Marc says - "he did the crime so do de time!!"
I called the harbourfront centre where he is supposed to perform on Sunday and that was the first the lady had heard about his legal problems.
She said give her a call Sunday morning. She also said if Winnie Mandela can't get into Canada with a criminal record......
Scamp, you been to Saldenah's yet, I got the pics up on my blog...
Kara...I'm going on Saturday night to check things out personally!!! I am going to suss out which sections selling out and which aren't. I will let you know on your blog later.
Hah, Machel got out, jus like Paris!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!
the question you'll have to ask is why is it machel don't have a right to defend himself against these people that get agreesive with him. did he instigate this? shame on you so call fans. yes you are a fan even if you don't want to say it. it could of been a gun pointing to his head instead of a drink. would you feel the same way?
HI my name is Janice Dick from England London, I’m emailing in regards to the above incident that took place on the Morning of 26/4/2007. I was one of the English ladies that came to Trinidad for my mother’s wedding, the in laws of the family decided to take me and the 2 other English ladies that I travelled with to have a night out in one of the tops clubs in Trinidad which was Zen…
When we arrived at the club we were all having a nice time when Machel and his entourage entered the building and made themselves noticed to be honest I didn’t quite know who he was till one of my in laws Melissa told me that he was Machel Mantano and he sang a song I was familiar with I think its called “one last wine”, from that I knew who he was.
Anyway we was still continuing to enjoy the evening and I even took a photo with Machel and ended up talking with one of his bodyguards by the name of Jason who later on gave me his telephone number.
I wasn’t feeling too well so I started to sit on the steps as I hadn’t been feeling good all evening. I then rose when I started to see a little crowd gathering together, as I stood up I saw Machel slap my step-brother jerry in the face at this point I never knew what had occurred I then ran down to the middle bar to get my step- brother out of the mix up, by the time I reached the Zen bodyguards was already surrounding the people I was with.
They then proceeded to push them out of the club at this point all I wanted to do was ask Machel why he had slapped Jerry. I approached him and he told me that “he had spilled a drink on his companion” I then told him “that we apologised and there’s was no need for this argument” he didn’t really want to hear what I was saying and continued to swear and be offensive to me he then stated that if id didn’t move he would “Go and get a gun and shoot me and then spray everyone outside” when he said this to me I was then very shocked and frightened as I didn’t think a celebrity of his status would be behaving this way especially when we were all enjoying ourselves moments before It was then I realised how drunk he was . I then went outside and spoke to the owner of the club who was quite nice and he said that he didn’t want to put us out but he wanted to calm the trouble.
I then went to speak to the other 13 people I came with as I was one of the oldest I kind of felt responsible for my new in laws even though I am not from Trinidad. As we were we all calming down outside the club Machel came out and went straight pass me on the stairs and went straight into the crowd were my family was and began fighting again I then ran down the stairs and pulled Jerry out as he is only 18yrs and I assumed Machel and he’s crew were big men an I didn’t want them to attack him again. I then pulled Jerry to one side and then shouted to my other companions from England to come with me as I knew all the others girls were trying to get everyone out.
I then went along side the street of Zen Nightclub with Jerry and Selina my sister and Sam my best friend who also travelled with me. I kept turning around and stopping as I wanted to make sure everyone was coming I then saw Russell one of the guys who I went with which he is one of my in-laws boyfriend he was waving to others to come down the same road we was waiting on which was away form the all the trouble, within moments I saw mob crowd go towards Russell and surround him. Moments later one of Jerry’s Friend then came and told us that Russell was unconscious I then ran up to see if I could help, to then find Russell in the back of the ambulance being taken to hospital.
The reason for emailing is that that I think people over there have forgotten that there was English Victims in all this and as I cannot speak for others I felt very let down by the soca star and the authority service over there and felt that my holiday was ruined as it just began due to this I had to spend the early hours in the morning of the 26/4/07 in the hospital with my in laws and then the next day I spent the whole day at the Belmont police Station which was quite distressing as not only did I have to give a lengthy statement but also feared being snapped by the newspapers.
After that we no longer went out in the evening to another club and also people would stop us and ask us if we were the English lot that got into a confrontation with Machel which wasn’t nice because you didn’t know if people would like us or hate us as I am sure he has loyal fans. I have now returned to England but still that night haunts all of us and brings back terrible memories. I hope this matter will be sorted out as soon as possible and I am willing to help in any way I can to assist in this matter
Many thanks for hearing my side of the story even though I have shortened it as that night seemed to go on forever.
As far as the english girl if that is indeed true then i feel where ya comin from. as far as carnival without machel.. come on his road marches beat out the other road marches by what 300 plays ??? its not popularity its just machel songs better yet the whole xtatik songs just are better. for all you non machel fans. let machel compete for soca monarch and see if he wont win. shurwayne won in 2k6 but his road march ain eem compare to machels. jumbie in whole was great. the feel the energy even the video. down de road is good but jumbie breaks the chains of soca. puts it on a whole different level. im sure jumbie could win next year roadmarch.
now.. i didnt know machel was like that as i now livin in the states but if he was indeed drunk it might be misdemeanor charges. like a hit and run is a felony but if you are under the influence the hit and run is a misdemeanor. so if the english girl said he was drunk then charges might be lighter
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