Even if you don't follow Jamaican Dancehall music, you probably know the name Vybz Kartel. Despite being locked up for the last 13 years on a murder conviction, he has remained the most dominant force in dancehall music.
And that's why his fans all over the world celebrated today when The Jamaica Court of Appeal ordered Vybz Kartel and his three co defendants to be freed. In a unanimous decision Wednesday, the court decided against a retrial noting that due to his illness, it would not be in the interest of justice because there was sufficient evidence to suggest that Kartel would not be able to complete a potentially longer sentence.
So he is now a free man and back on the streets of Kingston.
No one is happier than his close personal friend Michael Peyrefitte. Yes, the UDP Chairman and Kartel are close friends dating back to his years at Norman Manley Law school in Jamaica decades ago. We asked Peyrefitte for his reaction and what advice he would give his friend:
Mike Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"I think it was the right decision by the Jamaica Court of Appeal and I felt good, I felt good for him that he will see freedom again, get to sleep in his own bed."
Jules Vasquez
"Have you reached out to him or do you have any means of reaching out to him now that he's free?"
Mike Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"Well I won't say whether or not I've spoken to him recently or how I've spoken to him. I've been in contact and we have our way of being in contact, but the truth is when he was freed today, I think everybody should just try to give him some space."
"You know you're locked up for so long, you for so long you didn't know if you would ever see the light of day again in terms of being free and I think it's time for him to spend quality time with his family, get healthy again."
"I would advise him to just take the year off."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you look forward to speaking with him? Are you planning to to go to Jamaica?"
Mike Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"No, certainly I will speak to him fairly soon and then at that point we will decide whether I should go there and he should come to Belize, so we don't know."
"I just want to give him the space but we will speak, we will speak very soon and I know for a fact he can't wait to get back on that stage. He has a lot on his plate. I know he has to decide whether or not he wants to remain in Jamaica at all."
"That's a decision that he doesn't want to face but I think it's one that's very important for him to make a decision on."
Jules Vasquez
"Would you urge him to move here or invite him to move here?"
Mike Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"I only have a commitment for us to go to the split and try some lizard juice. That's as far as it goes. In terms of moving to Belize, sure why not? He's the Caricom professional. Come on down. We could sure liven up these summer fest that they put off every year, but it shouldn't be any rush."
"I know there is a burning, burning appetite for his services, but he's also a human being."
Jules Vasquez
"Finally, if you could just speak about the genesis of your relationship with Vybz Kartel."
Mike Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"Neutral friend, Peter Dean Rickards. He was a photojournalist. We went to UWI together, and then Peter Dean Rickards said, listen, I have a meeting with Vybz Kartel later on. Of course, he was an hour late because he's always late, but we met up, and we just hit it off."
"From day one, we just hit it off. We have the same happy-go-lucky attitude about life, very free and no stress, and so the friendship just grew from there."
