No word from PM or AG about 5200 signatures
Only days before the coroner returns her verdict into the unnatural death of 23 year old Chemical Engineer I’Akobi Maloney, representatives of the Justice Committee are questioning the lack of attention given to a petition that was submitted to the Hon Prime Minister David Thompson and the Attorney General Fruendel Stuart.
The petition, submitted prior to the start of the actual inquest in November of 2008, was signed by 5200 Barbadians and called for a private and independent team of investigators to fully examine all of the evidence in the untimely death of the Barbados Exhibition winner. It was hoped that a team or approach in that manner would have the appropriate transparency necessary to adequately rule out any foul play.
From the many calls, letters to the media, and general public conversations it is very clear that there have been a number of questions consistently raised about the case, including some about the status and subsequent impact of the petition.
Ayesha Delpeche, member of the Justice Committee, voiced concern over the lack of communication surrounding the petition.
“Throughout the entire inquest, we have received no reply from either the Prime Minister or the Attorney General. The case of the tragic loss of I’Akobi Maloney has been in the media countless times, brought up in Parliament, and has gained the attention of law schools overseas, yet the petition has not been addressed at all.”
A Google search on the Internet illustrates the varied groups of people that the case has touched. A few of them are sited below;
dutchrasta.suddenlaunch.com/index.cgi?board=way&action=display&num=1217508454&start= - 25k –
icarbarbados.org/tacuma/tag/iakobi-resource-centre/ - 15k –
bajan.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/iakobi-tacuma-maloney-barbados/ - 298k –
www.nationnews.com/news/local/attorneys-submissions--Maloney-inquest-copy-for-web - 29k -
In fact, it has been noted by many individuals that the manner in which this case has progressed has raised flags, not only in Barbados, but internationally. Harvard Law School’s prestigious Global Voices program has an article, entitled, “Barbados: What happened to I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney?” that has prompted responses from people around the world who wonder if justice will prevail if the police are investigating the police. Or as Richard Goddard put it “it seems to me that we are asking a fox to explain why a fox should be guarding the chicken house.”
Over 5000 people signed a petition to indicate their support for a thorough and independent investigation. Many continue to believe that that has not yet occurred.
“Based on the controversial evidence that the coroner allowed to be presented, the denial of the right to an independent autopsy and investigation, and the fact that the police that are in question were never suspended, Barbadians are literally sitting on the edge of their seats, wanting to place all faith in the justice system of Barbados, but the proceedings are making that a much more difficult feat every day”, stated Delpeche.
As the inquest draws to a close many additional questions remain surrounding; the inconsistent statements published by the media; the corroboration or collusion of statements by the police; the questionable questioning and “evidence” entered by the coroner, and so on… and so we wait.
(AND/RG)
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Tags: Attorney-General, Ayesha Delpeche, Coroner, Global voices, Google, Harvard Law School, independent investigation, Justice Committee, petition, Prime Minister, Richard Goddard, verdict
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
HAIL ALL RASTAFARI PEOPLE & FRIENDS OF RASTAFARI PEOPLE!!!!
I N I UTTER!!
“IF YOU KNOW NOT LOVE YOU KNOW NOT GOD (JAH) FOR GOD ( SELASSIE I ) IS LOVE…” hAIL DI I.
JUSTICE, JUSTICE, JUSTICE!!! IS I N I CHANT…!!!!
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