The first show (Friday, October 21) drew a sold-out crowd to Shamrock Cinema. Word spread quickly about Donaldson\u2019s performance, and the Saturday show was suddenly the hottest ticket in town. Radio Montserrat had been playing Donaldson\u2019s songs on a steady rotation all week and the hype had reached a crescendo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Everyone was talking about going to the Saturday show,” said former Plymouth resident Hubert \u201cNed\u201d French, who now lives in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.montserratspotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/shamrock-cinema.jpg\")
TROUBLE IN PARADISE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the Friday night show, Donaldson returned to his room at the Letts guest house near the cinema. Police received a tip that a woman procured marijuana from nearby George Street and delivered it to Donaldson\u2019s room. An officer visited the home of Magistrate Godfrey Persaud late that night and obtained a search warrant. Donaldson\u2019s room was searched around 6 a.m. Saturday, and the marijuana was found. He was arrested and charged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reached on June 16, 2020, at his home in Kent Village in St. Catherine, Jamaica, Donaldson says he remembers the incident well. \u201cThey set me up,\u201d he says. \u201cThey deliberately set me up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Montserrat Mirror reported that Donaldson appeared in court later that Saturday morning without counsel. Attorney General John Stanley Weekes recommended to the Magistrate that Donaldson be fined EC $960, issued a deportation order and be declared a prohibited immigrant. \u201cPeople who come to our land must be prepared to respect our laws,\u201d Weekes declared, according to the Mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donaldson, who faced six months in jail if he didn\u2019t pay the fine, pleaded guilty but was somewhat defiant. \u201cI am a very religious man,\u201d he told the Court. \u201cI have a Bible, and I read that Bible every day. And that Bible tells me herb is good.\u201d Donaldson then referred the Magistrate to Psalm 104.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A large crowd gathered outside the courthouse as news of Donaldson\u2019s arrest spread. There was even fear of a riot. After the proceedings, Donaldson was escorted out the back of the courthouse. The Magistrate ordered that he be deported \u201con the first available plane.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, many on the island \u2013 especially in the country \u2013 were unaware of the arrest. So later that evening, busloads of fans arrived in town expecting to attend the show. Needless to say their disappointment was palpable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE AFTERMATH<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promoter ended up paying Donaldson\u2019s deportation order of EC $517. He stated many years later on social media that he lost about $16,000 total due to the cancellation of the second show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, many countries have decriminalized marijuana laws or legalized the drug altogether, but cannabis remains illegal in Montserrat. There is not even a provision for medicinal marijuana. In retrospect Donaldson\u2019s arrest seems like a severe overreaction, but it was normal for the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
French, who said Donaldson gave an excellent performance the Friday night, had planned to attend the Saturday show as well. But he sees a silver lining in the cancellation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe this was God\u2019s work,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause I don\u2019t know how [the venue] would have been able to hold all those people who were planning to attend that show Saturday night. Who knows, maybe something bad would have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no hard feelings. I was actually supposed to go back there before the volcano erupted. I would go back right now if they want me.\u201d<\/p>Eric Donaldson, on performing in Montserrat<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Donaldson is still performing at age 73. He says he recently had to cancel a show in St. Vincent because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But he says he would be willing to return to Montserrat in the future and perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no hard feelings,\u201d he said. \u201cI was actually supposed to go back there before the volcano erupted. I would go back right now if they want me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked if he is happy that many countries have legalized marijuana since his unfortunate experience in Montserrat, Donaldson said: \u201cWell, to tell you the truth it doesn\u2019t really matter. It was always legal to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n