Up to the UN
THE JUSTICE COMMITTEE, a lobby group fighting the cause of the late I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney, plans to take its case to the United Nations.
This was revealed Saturday night on the anniversary of the death of the 23-year-old Rastafarian of Hutson’s Alley, Reed Street, St Michael. Maloney died on June 17, 2008, at Land Lock in St Lucy.
The circumstances of his death were investigated by Coroner Faith Marshall-Harris who returned a verdict of misadventure.
Attorney at law David Comissiong, in his presentation at the anniversary celebrations at the Israel Lovell Foundation, My Lord’s Hill, St Michael, lauded the Justice Committee for its stance.
“The Justice Committee is an inspiring example. Their work sets an example for the rest of us – a group of people coming together to identify wrong, fight and seek to overcome it. If we want progress, we have to engage in the process.
“Why is it that in a 95 per cent black country [with a] 99 per cent black Government and a 100 per cent black Police Force, a man who stands up and talks for black people is seen as dangerous?” he asked.
“This nonsense has to stop. We are taking this case to the United Nations. They’re not stopping within the parameters of Barbados. It’s going international,” Comissiong said.
The DVD The I’Akobi Conspiracies has been produced in which mother Maggie Maloney and others give their version of the tragic events.
The Justice Committee held the Saturday night concert to highlight its cause at the Israel Lovell Foundation after police had rejected its request to hold an open-air event in Jubilee Gardens, The City.
Comissiong also spoke to the issue of profiling Rastafarians, which he said ran contrary to basic human rights.
“We say there is in Barbados the real situation of profiling Rastas. This is the core issue which we will see through to its bitter end.”
Supporters of Maloney, who was a Barbados Exhibition winner and then became an engineer, have pledged to continue their fight for justice. (UR)
Tags: Coroner, David Comissiong, DVD, Faith Marshall-Harris, Healing of the Nation, I'Akobi Conspiracies, Israel Lovell Foundation, Jubilee Gardens, Justice Committee, Maggie Maloney, Rastafari profiling, verdict
June 21st, 2010 at 9:45 am
Healing the Nation
Brothers and Sisters I fully support the idea and plan of actions to take the matter of the case to the international community. I would ask that you consider linking the case to at least one or two other cases so as to make the point of what David Comissiong is saying.
June 21st, 2010 at 10:31 am
Point accepted… Maggie Maloney’s presentation dealt with that specifically. She filled in the gaps and clearly stated that the issue was now larger than I’Akobi and had far-reaching consequences for the Rastafarian and Pan-Afrikan communities. David’s parallel on this line can be seen in the “dangerous black advocates” comment. The basket will be well-knit when proposed, trust me.
June 21st, 2010 at 11:18 am
What a terrible injustice in a country that is wont to boast about its democratic traditions. If the people of this country cannot get permission to use a public square, then we might as well been living behind the old iron curtain.
I don’t think this kind of thing even happens there anymore.
There is a core of conservative colonials who have gained nothing from the past six decades of democratisation in the Caribbean. These people believe themselves to be the guardians of our society and are resolutely set against anything that does not align itself with their backward ideologies.
They can be found in the Police Force, the Church, and the political establishment. We must expose these people each and everytime they try to take us back into the 1930’s; and I hope the Justice Committee will not take this sitting down.
Our political leaders also need to be told that they cannot sit on the fence and watch while injustices like that committed against the organisers of this rally take place.
June 21st, 2010 at 11:46 am
“Our political leaders also need to be told that they cannot sit on the fence and watch while injustices like that committed against the organisers of this rally take place.”
This comment is impressive!
However, consider that the petition was treated with absolute contempt by the said political leaders who have ignored the growing public dissent without even interviewing the Justice Committee or the Maloney family to inquire into the matter.
The Commissioner of Police is very much responsible for the extent to which his subordinates deviate from democratic actions. He is the accountable executive with the immediate power to mend this situation. He is also the one that will have to reform the policy that promotes Rastafari profiling and answer for all the injustices that his force has committed.
Back to the impressive quote, any PM, AG and Cabinet leading a responsible government must ensure that democratic values are upheld - the current DLP administration has not (to date)!
Is there hope? Is there enough time? Is there adequate political will (within the grass-roots) to expose the RBPF and bring about real change in the “society” of Barbados? No doubt that such change will have an economic impact on the country also