“Please Purchase This DVD and Support Our Cause For Justice”
On June 17th 2008, IAkobi Maloney, a young man with a remarkable character lost his life after coming in contact with the Royal Barbados Police Force. The police alleged that IAkobi without provocation jumped off a cliff to his death at Land Lock, an area north of the small island. The family of IAkobi was given several versions of what actually took place on the cliff. You decide!!!
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. (more…)
The question of how I’Akobi met his death has still been left unanswered after approximately 10 months of deliberations both inside and out of court. Although the coroner had dismissed the idea of I’Akobi going to the cliff with the intention of taking his own life, the verdict of misadventure is still debatable.
In her context it was defined as the act of running from the police which inadvertently resulted in his death. Our family vehemently refutes the coroner’s claim in this regard; as the act of running towards what the police perceived to be a 60 ft. drop head first with hands outstretched in this ‘mad’ dash for freedom quintessentially describes the act of suicide.
Although the coroner removed the police’s postulations of why he had taken his life that being (depression, homosexuality, madness and drug association), she inadvertently or intentionally accepted the single report submitted by Headley and Walkes as the irrevocable truth. (more…)
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.” (more…)
At their request, Opposition Leader Mia Mottley, Q.C., M.P., met with a delegation from the Rastafarian Community of Barbados at her Bridgetown Office earlier today to discuss a number of matters, including the inquest into the death of Ras I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney.
After discussions and after reviewing the preamble of the petition through which they are seeking justice, as regards the death of Ras I’Akobi and at the invitation of the delegation, Miss Mottley issues the following statement:
“While we know that there is the Coroner’s Inquest, we believe that the request for an “independent investigation” was a reasonable one that ought to have been entertained, especially since it will not prejudice the outcome one way or the other but merely seeks to ensure that there is fairness.
“The social fabric of our society will not benefit from an environment of doubt prevailing in this matter,” she added.
Miss Mia A. Mottley, Q.C., M.P.,
Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition
This was the plea yesterday at the I’Akobi Youth Resource Centre in Tweedside Road as the Justice Committee formed to promote, protect and defend the late Ras Tacuma I’Akobi Maloney’s case, met with various media houses to publicise the status of Maloney’s case.
Tacuma, whose demise at Landlock, St. Lucy on June 17th was met with much controversy, was represented by Committee members KudosSage I (Secretary of the Justice Committee), Brother Heru (Director of I’Akobi Youth Resource Centre and member of the Justice Committee) as well as Ras Lumumba (Priest of Church of Haile Selassie I), and Tacuma’s brother Mandela Maloney. Also present was the mother of I’Akobi and other Rastafari Elders. (more…)
MERE DAYS before the Coroner’s inquest into the death of former Barbados Exhibition winner I’Akobi Maloney , the Justice Committee has upped the ante in its fight to get an independent investigation.
Clearly stating it was not questioning the office of the Coroner, members of the committee said they specifically believed the information that would be analysed during the November 10 inquest should come from an independent body outside of the Royal Barbados Police Force.
Speaking during a Press conference at the I’Akobi Youth Resource Centre, Tweedside Road, St Michael, secretary of the Justice Committee, Ras KudosSage I, said 5200 signatures had been submitted to both the office of Prime Minister David Thompson and Attorney-General Freundel Stuart on Wednesday, citing the independent investigation as critical if justice was to be achieved. (more…)
Secretary of the Justice Committee, Ras KudosSage I, called for an independent investigation to be conducted into the death of former Barbados Exhibition winner and Engineer, I’Akobi Maloney.
He lauded the late Rastafarian as a man of exemplary character and moral standing. He says the Committee will resist any attempt to vilify Maloney’s character and his adherence to standards of excellence.
He made the call at a news conference at the I’Akobi Youth Resource Centre at Carrington Village in St. Michael. (more…)
“Dissatisfied and disgruntled; disappointed and distressed, this is how we feel about all recent police reports related to the I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney case.” Such was the general sentiment of community members who raised their deep concerns once again at a Town Hall meeting on Monday night, June 28, 2008, only a couple days after police returned Tacuma’s haversack and its contents to mother, Margaret Maloney.
The community has agreed to take their demonstration to the streets. There will be an unannounced march in protest of the current investigation being conducted (by the local police) on the unusual death of Ras Tacuma. The demonstrators will seek to raise public awareness and express collective dissent with the current standard of justice being served. We demand a fair investigation and trial. We demand elimination of the scourge of Rastafari profiling, stereotyping and victimisation. We demand equal rights and justice.
On Friday, August 1, 2008 the community will canvas the public with brochures, flags, badges and other memorabilia while collecting petition signatures from diverse supporters. The time has come for real change. Click here for more details on the emancipation activities.
In pursuit of social justice and the elimination of further Rastafari profiling, we, the Rastafari Community of Barbados, clearly publish the following demands and collective interests: (more…)
If love was a thing that money can buy.
The rich man would live and the poor man will die.
Nothing in the name of transparency explains the most mysterious and trivialised death of the Late Tacuma Maloney. Contrary or otherwise to official records which relate of a report to local law authorities regarding a person suspected as a drug smuggler. This report was based on error.
Consistent to records in the print and electronic media, Ras Tacuma was consequently apprehended by peace officers of the state based on an invalid premise, (more…)
by Ras Simba (Public Relations Officer, ICAR Barbados)
Born into the folds of Rastafari, I’Akobi was an attribute of significance to the movement of Rastafari. Upon his crossover I’Akobi was a student member of the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (B.A.P.E).
In 2001, I’Akobi, who was voted by peers as the most likely to succeed from the Christ Church Foundation School, graduated as valedictory speaker and “Best All Round Male”. The year prior, the Ministry of Social Transformation sent I’Akobi as their Youth Delegate at the 5th Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy in the Americas. At the tertiary level l’Akobi was the recipient of the Scholarship for Academic Merit, Barbados Government Exhibition (2003) and recently was elected as president of the Barbados Association of Students at UWI (St. Augustine). (more…)
