Union Road

                                                                                                                          St.John's

                                                                                                                          Antigua

                                                                                                                          3rd November.2010

The Editor
The Daily Observer
Coolidge
St. John's
Antigua

Dear Editor,

                   I write out of sheer concern and horror by the residents of the village Orange Lane. In fact, I am compelled to write in an effort to voice my disappointment and ashamed of the way in which the society treats Rastafarian.

                 The crime that led to Brother man's beating by the citizens of Orange Lane was because of a rape of a young woman and the murder of a young man. It was reported that a young man and woman were both attacked and rubbed and the young man was killed and the young woman was raped and left by the sea side for dead. After reports were made, the attacker was described as being an unkempt rastafarian male. Residents of Orange Lane were full of fury and started to hate all rasta men because of this .

                 I refuse to remain a quiet bystander on this issue having witness this crime of the severe beaten of Brother Man. I watched as the a young of boy villagers involved in this attack shoutted "Down de old Ras Tafarite, murderers dem" and a young girl rolled in the dust laughing. As more villagers joined in the streets they shouted more more obscenities as he walked down the lane.  "Run man wi'dout beard, beard man after you" as Brother Man raised his arm to try to talk to the people a angry lady threw a brick aiming directly for Brother Man's head. Blood rushed from the wound on his head, I could tell that he was weak by the way he was staggering. One old lady also witnessed this attack and she ran and screamed shielding my neighbor with her body ,due to her efforts they also attacked her tearing her clothes and threw her roughly aside, kicked in her ribs and trampled her until she layed bleeding in the gutter.

                  On witnessing this crime against my fellow man i was disgusted and greatly sadden by what i saw. what if they killed him for a crime he didn't commit? would there be justice for him? Didn't think of all he had done for them? Didn't it cross their minds that he couldn't have such things?

                   I view Rastafarism as a way of life which someone has the right and free will to live how they choose without being judge of persecuted for their religion.I am reminding the people of Orange Lane, it is simply wrong treat people terribly because of their beliefs.I think that the people of Orange Lane should pay for their actions.

                     In conclusion, I can only hope and pray that this recent case of extreme cruelty to Brother Man and encourage our law enforcement officers to work to make sure justice is served. 

                                                                                                                       Irritate Citizen