I’Akobi death protest on Emancipation Day
by PCA (www.nationnews.com)
DESPITE the police’s promise of a thorough investigation, a lobby group will be pressing ahead with further demonstrations today to protest the death of I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney.
The Justice Committee, which comprises a number of Rastafarian groups, plans to publicly highlight its concerns during today’s Emancipation Day activities.
The committee will be joining the rest of the nation on the official march from Independence Square to Bay Street, following which the committee’s members will also make their statement during celebrations organised by the Clement Payne Centre at Bayley’s Plantation in St Philip.
In a statement released yesterday, the committee said: “We are very disappointed and distressed with the recent police reports related to the I’Akobi Maloney case. As a result, we are taking this to the streets in an effort to raise public awareness about this matter as we seek justice.”
The statement further stated: “We demand a fair investigation and trial and we also demand elimination of the scourge of Rastafari profiling and victimisation.”
Maloney reportedly jumped to his death in the presence of police on June 17 and since then, questions have been raised continuously about the circumstances surrounding the alleged suicide.
The Justice Committee and the People’s Empowerment Party both called for paid suspension of the officers who were on the scene where the incident took place.
The committee’s members first marched on Saturday, July 5, from Temple Yard, The City, to Queen’s Park and also launched a website with information on the life of Maloney.
More than 3 000 Barbadians have signed a petition asking for justice and an independent investigation into the death of the 23-year-old engineer.
Tags: alleged suicide, demonstration, Emancipation Day, invest, investigation, jumped, Justice Committee, PEP, petition, protest, Rastafari profiling, suspension, victimisation, website