March for Justice
by PCA (www.nationnews.com)
“THIS IS MY SON. I bore him in my womb for ten months and they took him from me. I just want justice.”
These were the words of Maggie Maloney, the mother of the late I’Akobi Maloney, yesterday as she took part in a protest march yesterday during the official Emancipation Day celebrations which marched from Independence Square to Bay Street.
Maloney wept openly in front of Prime Minister David Thompson and other Government officials yesterday morning and repeatedly said those words.
After the celebrations the Prime Minister talked to Maloney and other members of the Rastafarian community about the matter and he also spoke to Maloney’s brother Mandela about the petition being signed by members of the public. The petition will be going to the Prime Ministers Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the High Court and to the Commissioner Of Police.
The protest changed the atmosphere of the celebrations, positively for some and quite the opposite for others, but, regardless, the presence of the protesters was felt and it was evident in the expressions on the faces of parliamentarians Chris Sinckler, George Hutson, Patrick Todd and John Boyce, who watched as Maloney’s mother vented her pain.
Held banners
The protesters chanted and held placards and banners high in the air, some reading: “Tacuma Lives” and “Afrika Cry Blood”.
A truck with four speakers drove slowly with the marchers and the protesters as soca artiste Bobo led the chant: “We want justice”.
Close to 100 supporters followed the Justice Committee, a grouping of various Rastafarian groups that organised the protest. Some onlookers stood in awe at the number of flags and placards. Such was the impact that they even lined up to sign the petition questioning the circumstances surrounding the death of Maloney on June 17 at Cove Bay, St Lucy.
Speaking to the SATURDAY SUN after the celebrations, Maloney’s mother said: “We are seeking 5 000 signatures for this petition and we got much closer this morning. I thank everyone for their support in trying to clear the name of my son and seeking true justice.”
Police released a report in yesterday’s DAILY NATION, again denying any foul play in the death of the Barbados Exibition winner, and also denying that they reported he jumped with a haversack.
This came after Maloney’s mother queried the state of the bag and its contents in last week’s SATURDAY SUN.
Jumped Over
Assistant Commissioner of Police Seymour Cumberbatch said in the July 5 edition of this paper: “Maloney, on request of the police, put back on his clothing and placed his haversack on his back and started to accompany officers away from the cliff.” It was during this period, Cumberbatch said, the young man darted away and jumped over the cliff.”
Maloney’s mother continued: “I do not expect any logical reasoning at this point… My son’s body was moved without me identifying him. I was never present at the autopsy; they denied me an independent autopsy, and the body I saw in the morgue was wounded severely. All these inconsistencies seem strange for what they call a suicide and it hurts me more and more each day when I read their account of the event.”
A resource centre was opened last Sunday in memory of Maloney at Tweedside Road, and co-ordinator Ayesha Delpeche said she was counting on the newly-elected Government to ease the tension soon.
The petition now needs just under 1 500 more signatures.
Tags: Attorney-General, banners, Bay Street, Bobo, Commissioner of Police, David Thompson, Emancipation Day, flags, haversack, I'Akobi Resource Centre, Justice Committee, Margaret Maloney, parliamentarians, petition, Prime Minister, protest
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 pm
KEEP UP THE FIGHT!!!
August 4th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Before I saw anything let me say RIP I’Akobi Maloney.
I never knew the guy so I can not speak to his character but I do have one major concern. To me it seems like the rastafarian community is blowing this out of proportion. From reading all the news and other information given it appears to me that this particular community feels victimised because one of their own has died due to “peculiar” circumstances. Well to me it doesn’t seem peculiar at all. Maybe he killed himself because he had something to hide, after all he was at a scene of a possible drug transaction. Just because he was a “rising star” as some put it doesn’t mean he was not involved in some illegal activity. Sometimes the quietest and most moral seeming persons in society have plenty secrets and skeletons in their closet.
What if the police are innocent and poor Mr. Maloney did kill himself then what? Get the facts straight before you cry down our police force. Thank You.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Rastafari Profiling - “A Thing of the Past”
22 yrs, as a fellow blogger I must admit that you are entitled to your opinion. However, your allegations are baseless and unjustified. How dare you say, “Maybe he killed himself because he had something to hide…”
Before I lambaste your comment [on behalf of Rastafari], I’N'I give thanks for you entertaining the blog.
22 yrs ago Rastafari were harassed much more than today and even scorned as an outcast of society. Today Rastafari collectively represents an innovative vehicle for post-emancipation culture and an ancient Afrikan-centred value system in its growth cycle.
22 yrs ago Rastafari children were denied admission into some Barbadian schools. A couple “blows out of proportion” by some adamant Rastafari parents, Rastafari children can now enjoy the right to education just like any other child.
22 yrs ago Rastafari prisoners were subjected to mandatory shaving of their crowns - a gross mutilation of the Rastafari identity and irreparable damage to the Rastafari conscience.
At this time I will refrain from highlighting the copious cases of discriminatory searches, unlawful arrests and police abuse inflicted upon Rastafari daily, without proper rule of law and administrative justice.
Rastafari cannot sit forever, you know…
Since 22 yrs, times have changed and Rastafari now comes demanding that this Ras Tacuma case must be urgently dealt with in an independent, transparent and fair manner, and that fundamental justice reforms must occur within the establishment for Barbados to move forward into the 21st century as a democratic and “high-ranking” nation.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I must add my “two cents” to this blogger’s comments for my own peace of mind, because lately, I find the ignorance of Barbadians to be baffling. “Blowing it out of proportion”: I am not sure if you, 22yrs, are a parent, but I know if your child died under suspicious circumstances you would desire more than anything else in this world, THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. And that is all we seek- TRUTH! You see, the GREATEST thing about being in a community such as ours, especially in times like these, is that we are IMPENETRATABLE to vile and malicious comments about a man, (as you so rightly said), you never had the PLEASURE to meet. Your opinions shall fall on deaf ears, but know, that Jah sees and hears all - he knows the hearts of the wicked, as well as the just, and I pray that you shall never have to experience the kind of pain and distress that our community continually faces. I thank Jah for wisdom; it is indeed a pity to be a fool.
RASTAFARI LIVETH FOR-IVER!
Blessed Love!
August 9th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
In reading this email and subsequent post I now regret that I did not mail the letter I wrote to the press when I first heard of I’Akobi’s passing ( I have attached the letter below). It is so very easy to make this tragedy an issue of Rastafari vs. Babylon. It is not. I am not Rastafarian, but I can empathize. No parent should have to bury their child, and certainly there will be questions that need to be answered in order for that death to make any sense at all. None of us can say for certain what transpired, but the information provided in the press leads one to believe that the approach to this matter was dismissive. “Just another dead Rasta” seems to be the message being sent. There were too many inconsistencies reported in the press which only leads one to question the integrity of the information provided through that source. It is therefore reasonable in my opinion to request an independent inquiry into this matter. Not only would it shed light into this matter but it would also bring a degree of closure to the family. It is just as important for the Royal Barbados Police Force to see this matter re-investigated as the perception of a negative bias by them towards any segment of our society does reflect well on their image.
Sincerely,
Wayne Quintyne
June 20th, 2008
The I’Akobi Maloney I knew
I cannot speak to the events immediately preceding the death of I’Akobi Maloney. Only those who were present at that time can say for certain what circumstances led to his unfortunate and disturbing demise. What I can say is that a life full of promise and potential has been lost to us - both as a community and as a people. Personally, I am still coming to grips with the news of I’Akobi’s passing and I am sure the same can be said for other students of the Unified Martial Art Academy to which I’Akobi just recently became a member.
As anyone visiting our Academy is aware, all prospective members undergo an interview process where we seek to establish the goals and motivations of the client and then marry them to the most suitable program for accomplishing those goals. What we do not tell the prospective candidate is that the interview also serves as a “weeding out” process, as not all prospects make a “good fit” for our institution.
I first met I’Akobi several years ago when he was a student of the Christ Church Foundation School. He was a member of the Shaolin & Samurai Techniques martial arts program which was being offered at the school and he was keen on participating in the upcoming 1999 Caribbean Martial Arts Olympics. Not only did he participate, but he was captain of his team and was trained to be an official for the event. He demonstrated at that young age discipline, leadership skills and a respect for authority that I admired.
It would be several years later that I would once again encounter this impressionable young man, when he called and inquired about enrollment to our Academy. He was still attending the Foundation School at the time and though he qualified for membership, financial constraints prevented him from enrolling. I would see him from time to time on the street and he would continually express an interest in getting back into martial arts training.
On March 14th 2008 I’Akobi called and scheduled an appointment to be re-interviewed. He said that he was now in a position to enroll at the Academy. I conducted the interview with him on March 22nd, 2008. During the interview I could not help but to be impressed with the character, honesty and intelligence of this young man. During this process I uncovered that the he recently returned from Trinidad where he had completed a degree in chemical engineering. He told me that he was currently working in St. Lucy which presented some challenges for him attending but he was nevertheless committed to resuming his martial arts training.
His focus was on holistic development as he wanted to regain the level of fitness he previously enjoyed at school while achieving mental and spiritual harmony. His time frame for achieving this goal was two years. He opted for our Capoeira program as it provided the cultural, physical and spiritual blend that he sought and emphasized self-development over competition or fighting skill. Because of its African origin he also found that it meshed well with his religious beliefs.
During his short time with us I witnessed an enthusiastic, light-hearted and determined individual. Respectful, disciplined and focused. No different in character than he was when I first met him ten or so years ago. Others may remember him differently, but that is the I’Akobi I will always remember. On behalf of the Unified Martial Art Academy, I wish to express condolences to his family and friends. Axé A’Ikobi Maloney – Gone Too Soon.
Unified Martial Art Academy
_____________________________________
Wayne Quintyne
Director/Head Instructor
August 11th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
As a mother of an only son a few years older than this lost Angel, InI am turned inside out like the wrenching heart of his beloved Mama. May all the mercies of Jah soothe her soul, mind and heart, in this time of suffering. May his life and the oustanding example of manhood that he became in his short time here on Earth realm be a living timeless light of hope and Fiyah to his peers and loved ones.
Blessed Love!