Rastafarians protest court ruling against student with dreadlocks

10:25 pm, Tue August 11, 2020

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Carol Narcisse and another protestor, along with Education Minister Karl Samuda

Several Rastafarians on Tuesday morning demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Education at National Heroes Circle to protest the recent Supreme Court ruling involving the Kensington Primary School student with dreadlocked hairstyle.

The protesters called for the Ministry to issue a clear policy directive to schools to prevent discriminatory rules against children with locs and other natural hairstyles.

One of the protestors, Carol Narcisse, told Radio Jamaica News the issue is a "matter for the ministry accepting that it is untenable for September morning to come and a school has a rule that excludes and discriminates against a (group) of children, who happen to have their hair in lock - not for Rastafarian reasons but for other reasons - or have their hair in natural hairstyles."

She argued that it would be unacceptable for the ministry to be hesitant or delay when it "has the power to issue a directive to schools."

Another protestor said the issue has been a long standing one, hence the need for the policy. She recalled her experience when she was aked what she would do with her child's locks after she had passed her Common Entrance.

"And I had to stood (sic) my ground until she go through to high school, prep school, university and in the system working.... I remember at one time deh seh that dem had lice and I said my children don't have no lice. The teacher dem you nuh. And I had to carry her to the doctor and show dem seh dem don't have no lice. We go through this over and over and it just a happen, 40-odd years!" she lamented.

Minister of Education Karl Samuda, who addressed the protesters, said their concerns will be addressed shortly.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the child's constitutional rights were not breached by Kensington Primary based on the case that was presented.

Following the ruling, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said it was time to review and amend the Education Act as it relates to grooming.