Gov’t establishing $12-m Rastafarian Trust Fund
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has transferred a total of $12 million to the Administrator General as Trustee to establish a Rastafarian Trust Fund.
Portfolio Minister Olivia Grange made the disclosure during her contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 3.
“We are committed to transfer $30 million annually over the next three years to ensure the sustainability of the Fund,” she said.
The trust fund is being established for the benefit of survivors of the 1963 Coral Gardens incident which resulted from an altercation between Rastafarians and the State following the shooting of a Rastafarian by a property owner in a dispute over lands.
It triggered the burning of a petrol station in St James in retaliation by some Rastas, leading to a massive, violent crackdown on Rastafarians by the police.
“Since the prime minister’s apology on behalf of the Government of Jamaica in 2017, we have built a positive working relationship with the Rastafari community. We are committed to national support for the 21 elders so far identified by the Office of the Public Defender,” Grange said.
She stated that there will be discussions with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to create three annual scholarships at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels to provide benefits to the wider Rastafari community.
Grange also said a mechanism is warranted to more effectively manage communication with the Rastafari community.
