Call for new Maloney probe
THE JUSTICE COMMITTEE has reiterated its call for an independent investigation into the death of 23-year-old chemical engineer Ras I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney on June 17, 2008.
Coroner Faith Marshall-Harris ruled that his death was due to misadventure, that there was no evidence to suggest Maloney had been unlawfully killed by police nor that he had committed suicide.
Maloney is alleged to have jumped off a 50-foot cliff at Landlock, St Lucy, as he was about to be escorted to Holetown Police Station by police.
Last Sunday night, the Justice Committee staged the launch of a DVD chronicling the events of the coroner’s inquest, and a reflection of the former Barbados Exhibitioner’s life as outlined by his mother, Maggie, and brother, Mandela.
The DVD also contained excerpts from attorney David Comissiong, one of his former teachers, and head of the committee, Ras Kudos Sage I.
Host of the event, Ras Heru, explained that Sunday night was “the launch of the hard work that we have been working on for the past year, that is putting together the documentary to share with the public some of the personal issues that the family would know, and the people that are working with the Justice Committee would know about, but the general public would not know about.”
“Our hope is for it to reach households across Barbados and across the world. The intention is that somebody would come forward and speak out about what they might have seen that day, because we are still hoping that someone saw something that could be useful enough that can be utilised to help us to solve some of the issues surrounding the mysterious death of I’Akobi.
“Ultimately that is what we are looking for, for people to see the documentary, follow the emotional aspect of it so they can understand what really is taking place, and with that, hopefully, they will join the fight for justice so that they can have a better understanding as to why and what happened to I A’kobi that day at the cliff at Landlock,” Ras Heru explained.
“The next step is to have the DVD distributed and a second DVD produced, which is the independent investigation of ‘The I A’kobi conspiracy’, so we have our own people who are putting pins and needles together to see what could have possibly happened that was not shed light upon.”
Maloney’s mother, Maggie, said she was thankful for the support given to the launch, which was attended by close to 150 members of the Rastafari community.
“Those who came out are those whom the ancestors needed and spirited to be here, so I give thanks that the ancestors brought them. I give thanks for all the cosmic help. Who are here were recorded to be here. It was our destiny to be here tonight; so I give thanks that we regrouped.”
She added: “This inquiry has to be reopened most definitely.”
“There were burn marks . . . they never said that my son’s body was burned. What you saw tonight is even worse for me, because I have that graphic impression in me from on the morgue table,” Maggie Maloney stated. (PW)
Tags: Brother Heru, burn marks, conspiracy, David Comissiong, DVD, Faith Marshall-Harris, Holetown Police Station, independent investigation, Justice Committee, Landlock, morgue table, Ras KudosSage I