JA Govt. to apologize to rastafarian community

A report on the 1963 Coral Gardens incident released by the Office of the Public Defender is recommending that the State apologises to the Rastafarian community.

Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry, on Thursday presented the report at a meeting of  the St James Parish council.

Harrison Henry explained the report looked at the events which led to the burning of  a gas station in Coral Gardens in St James and the subsequent arrest, trial and imprisonment of  Rastafarians.

The report found several human rights violations including denial of religious freedom.

The report recommended that a J$10 million  trust fund  be set up for survivors of  the victims of  the Coral Garden incident.The report also recommended that the State considers the granting of licenses to the Rastafarian community to grow marijuana for research.