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Rastas:
Start
with
sorry
Margarita Maloney admiring a portrait of her son, the late I'Akobi Maloney, painted by artist Justin Sealy-Thompson. (Picture by Sandy Pitt)
Published on: 5/15/2009.
by PHILLIPPE AIMEY
APOLOGISE!
That's what members of the Rastafarian community want the Royal Barbados Police Force to do before there is any meeting between the two bodies to discuss a long list of issues.
This was only one of the conditions outlined by the Justice Committee at a Press conference held at the I'Akobi Youth Resource Centre, Tweedside Road, St Michael, yesterday.
It was called to respond to Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin's invitation to meet and discuss the issue of "Rasta profiling".
Coroner Faith Marshall-Harris, while delivering the verdict last month of 'death by misadventure" at the inquest of I'Akobi Maloney, 23, suggested that more be done between the two groups to foster better relations.
Dottin agreed and extended an olive branch.
However, the Justice Committee said an apology was needed first.
"We have issues to discuss, but we cannot escape the reality that this young man died in the presence of police officers.
"They are the last ones who saw him alive and if we take their account that he escaped from their custody, it still clearly highlights neglect and poor work on their part to let someone escape from them, so an apology is in order," secretary Ras Kudosage I said.
Other conditions outlined by the committee included that the protocols "ignored" by the police following Maloney's death be discussed and that the discussion be a public one, open to the media.
Dottin said last month: "I want to state categorically that the police force does not enforce the law by targeting any groups. We carry out our duties without fear or favour and with sensitivity."
Dottin is out of the island, but when the WEEKEND NATION contacted acting Commissioner Bertie Hinds yesterday, he would only say:
"Those comments were made by Dottin, so it is best if he speaks to that matter. I won't be drawn into it."
Brother Ivar, better known as Observer the calypsonian, had been very vocal following the verdict, stating there was no hope for better relations between the two groups.
Yesterday, however, he said unless a genuine effort was made to improve relations, nothing would change, reiterating that other social groups had to strengthen their stance.
"It is not just the police. We hope the dialogue can be frank towards a better end but other people in this society have difficulty with Rasta, so it's across the board.
"Some families treat their children as outcasts when they profess this faith so it is the same profiling happening."
I'Akobi's brother Mandela Maloney wants a judicial review of the matter.
"The question of how my brother died is still to be answered. After the months of deliberation we are no closer than we were then . . . . [The coroner] refuted death by suicide and then said he ran over a cliff in fear; that amounts to the same thing in our opinion . . . ," he said.
8 comment found!
they believe in whiteness : 5/16/2009
until rasta profess to sever a jesus who is white or god who is white, they will always be the foot stools of the law and society because the coutry bases its values on the things they get from their oppressors...ie carribean society...
bigger joke : 5/16/2009
if you think that his comment was irresponsible what do you think of the nonsence the commissioner said after the verdict... "I want to state categorically that the police force does not enforce the law by targeting any groups. We carry out our duties without fear or favour and with sensitivity." it just shows that these people are serving bigger interest and are not on the same page as the general public...
Rastas : 5/16/2009
I have great respect for Rastas but why should the police say sorry? what about others who have suffered the lost of a love one in similar circumstances? The Police needs to foster good relationship with the entire population, why single out a particular group? are they different to anyone else? Cayman Islands
This is a turning point : 5/15/2009
It's rather unfortunate that as a people (knowing our own history) we continue to cast aspersions on the characters of others based on appearances. We are still suspicious of dreadlocks yet Bob Marley was recognized as one of the most important figures of the 20th century. The deeper issue here is that we have a serious problem with our Blackness and symbols of our Negritude. We have the silliest rules in workplaces and schools against our brothers and sisters with dreadlocks, yet it's perfectly ok for our Afro women to straighten their hair and our men must keep their hair low do be deemed decent while whites and indians in our own societies do not suffer the same level of discrimination. So yes, the starting point must be an apology from the Government to Maloney's family in spite of the Coroner's findings. One can only truly hope that I'Akobi's death will mark a true turning point in our history against discrimination. Then we will know that his life was not lost in vain.
rastas : 5/15/2009
that statement made by acting comissoner is a joke.he is in charge now that dottin is out of the island.
Rastas: Start with sorry : 5/15/2009
Two sides to any story unfortunately one side has been silenced. The truth to his brother's question will never be answered to his satisfaction.Nothing short of the police taking responsibility for I'Akobi's death will do for his or any family in the same position.We have to move on do not let I'Akobi's death be in vain we cannot forget we can forgive meet each other half way and build a better foundation for us all to stand on.
Rastafarians : 5/15/2009
Why can't we just live and let live? We are supposed to be a "free" society where people can express their "faith" as long as it does'nt infringe upon another's rights. Sometime the police are wrong and make mistakes. . . Why not apoligize? .. .nothing will bring I'Akobi back. No apology can heal his mother's heart. Rastafarians are people too. Until we can reconcile our differences with each other, we will not be able to significantly advance as a civilized people.
Irresponsible : 5/15/2009
That statement made by the acting commissioner is totally unacceptable coming from someone acting in such a capacity. I hope he is not tip to be our next commissioner.
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