EVEN WHEN he has a sedition case pending before the courts and after spending six days in a prison cell, which he described as "hell," Canadian vlogger Christopher "Chris Must List" Hughes says he is ready to resume making videos in this country. He maintained he did nothing wrong and that he will not plead guilty to the sedition charge.
The 46-year-old travel vlogger was arrested and charged last week, after being in Trinidad and Tobago for several weeks documenting gang culture and violence. He also had general sightseeing and cultural vlogs but the views on those were significantly fewer.
He was released from the Besson Street police station in the night on June 3 after his court appearance earlier that day before Master Margaret Sookraj-Goswami.
His former attorney Criston J Williams withdrew from representing Hughes and opted to provide "hospitality" until June 6, when Hughes is set to return to court.
Hughes posted a photo of himself giving a thumbs-up on YouTube in the night on June 3 saying, "Freedom at last!!! I’m free on bail, thank you for all the love and support from my subscribers around the globe. I love you all! I appreciate you all!"
That post had over 3,000 likes and 700-plus comments.
One TT commenter said, "As a Trini, I am angry and embarrassed. Glad you are out and hope your court case is swift and just."
A Guyanese fan said, "This is exactly what the people who you interviewed was talking about. It's the same discrimination they face. You not only heard their cries you've now experienced it yourself. Hope your case is dismissed. Love from Guyana."
Hughes's family had been updating his fans on his YouTube channel before his release.
All of his Trinidad and Tobago videos, including non-gang-related ones, were made private on YouTube after his arrest. However, after his release, he re-publicised one of his videos, titled Port of Spain Peace Walk: 'A Mother's Cry' Demands End to Gang Violence. It had over 61,000 views.
There is also a change.org petition in support of Hughes titled Family’s plea to free Chris Must List from Trinidad.
Over 1,700 people have signed so far.
Trinidad and Tobago jail not nice
In an interview in the evening on June 4 at Newsday's Pembroke Street, Port of Spain newsroom, Hughes said while he felt "very good" at that moment, the past week had not been easy.
"I want to act like I'm a strong man, but no doubt, six days in confinement will definitely test your mental abilities."
He said he had only been in police custody once, about ten years ago, for flying a drone in Cuba, which he did not know was illegal. He was detained for 13 days for questioning in that incident, but was not charged.
On his prison experience in TT, he said while he had no complaints about the staff there, as they were all "extraordinarily kind," the cell was not well maintained.
"From a physical maintenance (perspective) it's hell...It's very hot and sweaty; it took a few days to get a shower for the first time."
He added that there was a strong stench of urine
