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On April 4th Jamaica’s JLP Prime Minister Andrew Holness apologised “without equivocation” for the “grave injustice” meted out by the state against the Rastafari community in an April 1963 incident that has come to be known as the “Coral Gardens Massacre” or “Bad Friday”. (1)
In addition to the apology, the government resolved to:
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Through the office of the Public Defender, work with the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society to locate survivors of the massacre.
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Assist the Coral Gardens Benevolent Society in accessing resources for its members
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Set up a trust fund of no less than J$10M for the benefit of survivors of the Coral Gardens Incident.
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Declare six lots at the property at Pinnacle in St Catherine as a protected heritage site to be developed as a Rastafari Heritage and Cultural Centre. (2) | (Read Full Apology HERE)
For those unaware of the incident that sparked the apology, a brief re-telling of the Coral Gardens Massacre is necessary.
An altercation between the police and some Rasta Brethren, precipitated on the state’s attempt to restrict the movement of Rastas in the area, resulted in the death of a police officer and the burning of a petrol station. The reprisals were swift. All the Brethren involved were apprehended and killed. But Prime Minister Alexander Bustmante went further and gave the order: “Bring in all Rastas, dead or alive”:
“The spaces of the Rastafari ransacked and desecrated… the police and army eagerly invaded all working class neighborhoods and arrested and detained all those who were Rastas. The lock up jail at Barnett Street was so full that they were held in the yard just as the enslaved had been and from time to time hosed down with water. The police and military raided all camps and then proceeded to cut the locks of the Rastafari in all parts of Western Jamaica.” (3)
It’s also worth noting that the mention of Pinnacle by the Prime Minister was in relation to the community established on land bought by “the first Rasta” Leonard Percival Howell. (4) Set up in 1940, Pinnacle was a self-sufficient community of around 2000 Rasta faithful that suffered continual harassment from the authorities until its destruction by the police in 1954. (5)
A more immediate basis for Holness’ apology was a December 2015 report by the Office Of The Public Defender (OPD) entitled An investigation into the April 1963 incident at Coral Gardens. In addition to the events of April 1963, the report provides an indication of the repression of Rastafari in general since its inception in 1930s Jamaica. (6)
It also refers to a 1960 report by that University of West Indies that urged that “the freedom of speech and freedom of Movement of the Ras Tafari should be respected” and even that “the Minister of Education should prohibit teachers from cutting the hair of children without their parent’s permission.” (7)
The OPD report also tellingly includes excerpts from the 1962 Jamaican Constitution extolling the right to personal liberty, freedom of movement and protection from inhuman treatment. (8)
Yet were it not for the persistent fight waged by Rastafari since the massacre up to and including the present (9), the whole Coral Gardens incident may well have been forgotten, as few outside the Rasta community seem to be aware of it let alone discuss it. (10)
Consequently, the government has apologised but affirmed that the apology is for the events at Coral Gardens and Coral Gardens only.
Legal advisor to the Coral Gardens Benevolent Society, Miguel Lorne described the apology as unsatisfactory:
“The apology falls short. While we accept the apology, because it’s a start, it is not enough. You must apologise to the Rastafari community worldwide.“ (11)
Interestingly, the Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry’s report could be used as a basis for widening the scope of the government’s response seeing that it is an official document detailing scores of state sanctioned abuses against Rastafari.
But even if the focus were just restricted to Coral Gardens alone questions of adequacy could still be asked. With the 21 families that have been identified as being victims of the assault by agents of the state, the J$10M equates to approximately $78,000 in total or $3,700 (£2,900) per family. Moreover, given that Pinnacle, regarded as ‘cradle of Rastafarian culture’, was a 500 acre site, the allocation just 6 lots may seem inadequate (it could also be seen as a contradiction that if the issue is strictly about Coral Gardens then why do the measures include Pinnacle). (12)
Nevertheless the apology has been acknowledged as a “start” and it’s a start very few governments are willing to countenance. However, according to the United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to A Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, an apology is regarded as one of several aspects of reparations. (13)
So it seems clear that Rastafari will push for more substantial righting of wrongs inflicted “worldwide” and Jamaica will be an essential test case not only for Rastafari but arguably the Reparations Movement as a whole.
(1) Jamaica Observer (04/04/17) Gov’t to set up $10-m trust for survivors of 1963 Coral Gardens incident.http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Gov-t-to-set-up–10-m-trust-for-survivors-of-1963-Coral-Gardens-incident(2) Ibid.(3) Horace Campbell (12/04/13) Coral Gardens 1963: The Rastafari and Jamaican Independence. http://www.horacecampbell.net/2013/04/coral-gardens-1963-rastafari-and.html(4) Karyl Walker (02/02/14) Leonard Howell and the struggles that he fought. Leonard Howell and the struggles that he fought.(5) Leonard E Barrett (1988) The Rastafarians. Beacon Press. p. 86-7.(6) The Office Of The Public Defender (09/12/15) An investigation into the April 1963 incident at Coral Gardens. http://www.opd.gov.jm/images/articles/pdf/special_reports//Investigation%20Into%20The%20April%201963%20Incident%20at%20Coral%20Gardens.pdf(7) The Office Of The Public Defender. p. 24(8) The Office Of The Public Defender. p. 57-61(9) Jason Cross (05/04/17) We are sorry – Gov’t apologises to Rastas for Coral Gardens incident. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20170405/we-are-sorry-govt-apologises-rastas-coral-gardens-incident(10) Deborah A. Thomas & John L. Jackson, Jr. & Junior “Gabu” Wedderburn (2011) Bad Friday: Rastafari After Coral Gardens. Oxumgirl Productions(11) Loop News (06/04/17) ‘DISRESPECTFUL!’ Rastas dissatisfied with apology, $10-m trust for Coral Gardens Massacre.http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/disrespectful-rastas-dissatisfied-govt%E2%80%99s-apology-10-m-trust-coral-gardens-massacre(12) Jacqui Goddard, (15/06/14) Bob Marley’s granddaughter in fight to protect Jamaica’s ‘cradle of Rastafarian culture’. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/jamaica/10900412/Bob-Marleys-granddaughter-in-fight-to-protect-Jamaicas-cradle-of-Rastafarian-culture.html(13) Esther Stanford-Xosei & Kofi Mawuli Klu (03/06/13) UK All-Party Parliamentary Commission
So we ask the question:
Jamaican Government apology – Justice for Rastafari?
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Does the apology really “fall short”?
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Given it’s been more than 50 years, shouldn’t the survivors just be satisfied with the apology and related measures?
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Why did it take more than two years between report and apology?
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Should Bustmante now be removed as a Jamaican National Hero?
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Should the whole of Pinnacle have been returned to the Rastafari community?
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What has been Rastafari’s contribution to the reparations movement as a whole?
Our very special guest:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Guide To Excellence.
Ras Miguel Lorne: is an internationally renowned Rastafari Elder, activist, reparations campaigner, broadcaster, publisher and attorney at law based in Jamaica. Ras Miguel is currently legal advisor to the Coral Gardens Benevolent Society. He was previously both President and General Secretary of the Marcus Garvey Peoples Political Party and a broadcaster on Irie F.M. He presents the Bitter Sugar radio show every Wednesday 6pm-10pm on BESS FM. Ras Miguel is also the founder and owner of the Headstart book store and Headstart Printing and Publishing Companies that have published more than 100 titles. In 2005 ne brought claim for reparations against the Queen of England and the British Government.
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What A day what A day, Ra’staman, R,H, The Blessed Honourable Rasta! “Leonard Pericvale Howell” The”RAS with the vesion for “PINNACLE ,
Live on and on and on with the Great Love you and the Right Honourable Marcus Messiah GARVEY,gave InI! It is all coming to pass,Jah Ra’stafari guid and protect You for ever and ever,Amen!!!