Dancehall artiste Glendale Goshia Gordon, more popularly known as Busy Signal, said he was unaware that the promoter had not been refunded his money.

Busy Signal was arrested and brought before a court in Trinidad and Tobago at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night for failing to repay over US$37,000 (J$4,331,590) due to a local promoter since 2013.

In a release last night, Busy Signal’s management team, Turf Music Entertainment, said “Busy Signal was unaware of this financial debt because his former manager would have entered into business relations on his behalf as the agent which usually handles his financial affairs”, said the release.

“Apparently, a contractual agreement was made between Juke Boxx Productions and Peppers Entertainment limited for an event slated on May 31, 2013. The aforementioned advance payment of US$37,088 was not disclosed to the artiste. He had no material knowledge whatsoever of this apparent infraction, as he and his former manager had parted company for some time.

CLARITY

However, Peppers Entertainment had cancelled this event and Turf Music Entertainment made a partial refund to the promoter in May of 2013,” the release added.

The release said Turf Music Entertainment was requesting a copy of the contract and all transactions made to get more clarity on the matter.

The Sunday Express reports that Busy Signal was due to perform at Saturday’s ‘Together As One’ concert when he was arrested around 6.30 p.m. following an emergency hearing where Justice Rahim issued a warrant for Gordon’s arrest. He was taken to court around 10.30 p.m. the same day.

The promoter’s attorneys, Michael Rooplal and Carina Jailal, had filed an application for a fugae warrant pursuant to the Absconding Debtors Act.

Peppers Entertainment of St Ann’s and Gordon of Jamaica had agreed to postpone the concert with the money that was paid to Gordon going towards his performance fee for the rescheduled event. Documents said that Gordon did not deduct this sum from a future concert and also did not repay the money.

The promoters claimed for damages for breach of contract in the sum of US$37,088 (J$4,341,892.16) and for interests and costs.

Rahim ordered that court marshals immediately arrest Gordon and that he be released if he paid to the promoter the US$37,088 (J$4,341,892.16) or the equivalent in Trinidad and Tobago currency. If not, it was ordered that he appear before a judge in chamber, on Saturday night.

Gordon was taken into custody while at the hotel he was staying. At the court, around 10.30 p.m., he entered into a consent order to pay US$15,000 (J$1,756,050). The balance is to be paid in the next 30 days. Gordon, who was represented by attorney Fareed Ali, was released.

The ‘Together as One’ concert was held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.