An overseas-based calypsonian is singing the blues after being charged with threatening to kill Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and his entire family, and using seditious words.
But the attorney for Paul Scrubb is adamant it’s a witch hunt and an attempt to intimidate critics in the Diaspora.
Scrubb, whose stage name is I-Madd, was released on EC$25,000 bail yesterday on charges that between December 9 and 31 last year, he maliciously sent or uttered the threat, ‘Ralph Gonsalves should be assassinated, also his whole damn family period; blessed love”; and that he uttered seditious words – the same words in the threat.
His court appearance came three days after his arrest at the E.T Joshua Airport last Friday, as he was leaving the island at the end of a five-week holiday in his homeland.
As a condition of his bail, Scrubb was required to surrender his travel documents. He will not be allowed to leave the country without the court’s permission, and will have to report to the police station twice a week. A preliminary inquiry has been set for October 31.
His Defence attorney says not only are the charges trumped up, but forcing Scrubb to remain in St Vincent and the Grenadines for at least the next three months puts his job in jeopardy.
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