When socialites stray

We were somewhat taken aback, we’ll admit, at the news, reported this morning in the Trinidad Guardian, that a Jamaican “socialite” was being questioned in connection with the death of former Pakistan cricket team coach, Bob Woolmer. Woolmer, as we’re sure you know, was found dead in his room at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, on March 18, 2007, following the Pakistan team’s defeat by Ireland in the Cricket World Cup.

Our sources in Jamaica are now telling us, though, that the woman being questioned is not a “socialite”, but a prostitute. The Guardian, in fact, reported that Woolmer had dinner with the woman, who then accompanied Woolmer back to his room. Not that some socialites wouldn’t do such a thing, of course.

Dog bites man

Nothing much to report from the last few days that hasn’t already been reported. Awaiting the dirt from the Plymouth Jazz Festival in Tobago. So far all we’ve heard is that Machel Montano was there, looking not at all like a man who only a few days before had been spat upon and had a shoe thrown at him (this according to the very credible and spin-free report issued on Machel’s behalf by an advertising agency) and that lots of the attendees were accompanied by people who weren’t their spouses or official partners.

We’re well aware that neither of these items qualifies as news in this town.

Has Machel skipped town?

The Trinidad Express is carrying two stories today about Machel Montano, one reporting that he was “to be questioned” about the incident that took place at Zen the other night, the other quoting his mother, Liz “Lady” Montano, saying how traumatised her poor baby was about the unfair accusations being levelled against him, and that he was considering leaving the country as a result.

There’s a rumour around town, however, that the soca superstar has already left the country for Barbados. Wonder if he’ll be stupid enough to attend tomorrow’s Cricket World Cup final? Knowing the character’s addiction to being in the limelight, we wouldn’t be surprised.

But if you’re in Barbados and happen to see Machel slinking around, we’re counting on you to give us a shout at trinisider at gmail dot com.

Zen nightclub: is a bush bath in order?

The news broke today that police are investigating the alleged assault of a young man. The assailants may include soca artists Machel Montano, Benjai and Kernal Roberts.

Apparently the young man and a friend were at the Zen nightclub in Port of Spain last night, when the friend spilled a drink on Machel (it is not clear whether this was deliberate or accidental). A fight then took place between Machel and the young man’s friend. Zen’s security officers then removed the young man and his friend from the club. According to an eyewitness who was at Zen last night, Zen security offers seized some patrons’ cell phone from patrons to minimize the likelihood of the incident being recorded.

Machel Montano, Benjai and Kernal Roberts apparently followed the young man and his friend when they left the club. A fight ensued, in which the young man was sustained what may be serious injuries from having his head bashed against the fender of a car. The young man is now hospitalised, in quite serious condition. Someone who has visited the young man in hospital has reported that, when questioned about the incident, the young man made statements that indicate that he has “been spoken to.”

This incident comes on the heels of the April 12 incident, which also took place at Zen, involving the hip-hop artist Akon and an underage girl, videos of which were widely circulated on the internet. According to reports in today’s newspaper, police searched the Zen premises yesterday looking for video recordings relating to the Akon incident, and also interviewed staff members about the incident. And just when you thought the thing couldn’t get murkier and uglier, the word around town is that the videotapes the police are searching for show Akon and the young woman engaging in sexual intercourse.

It will be interesting to see how the investigation of Machel, Benjai and Kernal is handled. And if the issue is raised more publicly that Machel’s stage act has also on occasion included the dry-humping of women. In other words, contrary to the many silly statements uttered by Junior National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds about the Akon incident, this isn’t the first time such antics have been seen at a mainstream venue.