Dear Editor,
We, the people of Pares Main Road who are members of the Bobo Shanti Worldwide organization, also known as E.A.B.I.C. (Ethiopian African Black International Congress), feel deeply disrespected by the way we have been described and addressed by both the Police and the Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA).
The Bobo Shanti is one of the oldest Rastafarian religious organizations in the world. We have churches throughout the world, with our headquarters in Jamaica, where our movement has long advocated for freedom, justice, and the upliftment of people who have suffered under colonial systems.
We wish to make it clear that when our members gathered recently, we were not protesting. We were simply waiting for our members who had been detained to be released. It was the Sabbath day, and as part of our religious tradition we wore white garments, played drums, sang, and worshipped. This was an expression of our faith and salvation, not a public demonstration.
According to our members, the situation surrounding the cannabis charges has been unfair. We believe there should have been greater efforts to engage with and educate the Rastafarian community so that misunderstandings could be avoided.
What concerns us most is that public statements were issued only after arrests had already taken place. We ask why there was not more dialogue beforehand. Why was there not greater effort to help the Rastafarian community understand exactly what was required under the law before people’s freedom was put at risk?
We believe that dialogue, understanding, and education should come before confrontation. The Rastafarian community has historically faced discrimination and misunderstanding. We are asking for respect, communication, and fairness.
Many ordinary Rastafarians and working-class people feel excluded from systems that can be difficult to navigate. We ask whether enough consideration has been given to the concerns of those who have limited financial resources but sincerely wish to practice their faith and contribute positively to society.
We call on the authorities to engage with the Rastafarian community in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding. We are not seeking conflict. We are seeking fairness, recognition, and meaningful dialogue.
Respectfully,
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THAT IF YOUR NOT AT THE TABLE, YOU’RE PART OF THE MENU.
Continue to lobby for political, social and FINANCIAL INCLUSION.
Right to Freedom of religion violated? You may be entitled to compensation.
This letter is not clear as to Inclusive in which dialog? Where? When? What was the occasion or was there an incident with who,??
For public understanding please specify clearly.
Members detained for what? Planting thousands of illegal Marijuana plants? Detained for hundreds of pounds of cannabis ? You need the police to engage you? Begging for mercy?
While I can sympathize with the writer I wonder if they too could not have engaged the authorities regarding the new marijuana laws? Communication works both ways and one cannot just sit and wait for someone to come to you. It speaks of a level of entitlement.
Yes the government should have invited all major stakeholders to the table so it would be interested to find out if they were not included OR if the chose not to engage.
That being said…whether you were engaged or not….the law is the law and ignorance of the law is no excuse. You went ahead and cultivated an illegal quantity of plants and now must suffer the consequences.
They are writing the new legislation on Marijuana, and the Rasta community requests a seat at the table – that’s one of the translations.
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