Greetings and Blessings Sistrens and Brethrens there is a problem that is brewing around the Rastafarian Community in my country Barbados due to the fact that a Rasta man (a white rasta man) Dr Ikael Tafari was giving the post of being director of the Commission for Pan African Affairs. Some of the rastafarian community are happy for him some are against him. Here are the articles from our local newspaper, I would like to received everyone opinon both old and young.

--Poetic_Princess
http://www.africaspeaks.com/reasoning/?board=International;action=display;num=1099961438

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Check the article below for a picture of the White Rasta.

--Ayinde

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Hail Tafari!

by Mike King
http://www.nationnews.com/StoryView.cfm?Record=55028&Section=LO&Current=2004%2D11%2D07%2000%3A00%3A00

DR. RAS IKAEL TAFARI, the new director of the Commission for Pan African Affairs, says he has waited his entire life for such a leadership role and there is no danger of him being muzzled.

Shortly after Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, John Williams, announced that Tafari would take over as the new director of the Commission, a delighted Tafari told a Press conference at Government Headquarters yesterday, he was happy and honoured to take over the day-to-day operations of the six-year-old Commission.

Fifty-four year-old Tafari, a former university lecturer in sociology, will have responsibility for operational matters, while George Belle, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Cave Hill Campus, takes over as chairman of the Board, which will outline the policy of the Commission.

“I consider it an honour at this time to be an invited to take up a leading role in the Commission and also an honour for the Rastafarian community of which I am a part,” Tafari said.

“I have waited a long time in my life for the opportunity to make this contribution and I don’t see any danger of me being muzzled, because I understand that politics is the art of the possible.”

Tafari who was previously deputy director, said the first task of the Commission was to take fresh guard and get the new staff in line “with the programmes that we want to push because we are bringing on some faces as well in the Secretariat.”

One of the new faces will be Derek Murray, formerly of the Pinelands Youth Development Council.

The former university lecturer in sociology, said his outlook will not change.

“I can’t be conservative. The Commission itself can’t be conservative. Just the very exisence of it, is a radical break with our history,” he said.

Tafari hinted he will set up a Pan African trade centre “which is a very important initiative” and would place much emphasis on culture and the documentation of history via film and the electronic media.

The new director also says he will be stressing cultural linkages.

“We will see an emphasis in the coming years that looks directly at the area of developing cultural industries and establishing cultural linkages between Ghana with their emancipation cermonies and our emancipation ceremonies in the season.

“South Africa is interested in coming here for example, to develop a carnival in their country, to learn from us, so we are going to be stressing the area of cultural industries and cultural and economic linkages,” he said.

Tafari saluted former director and chairman David Comissiong, who established the Commission in 1998.

“Comissiong has set high standards and a very solid foundation has been laid,” he said.

Tafari said he would like to see the Commission viewed in greater light in Barbados.

“In international circles, it is seen as a hope for the black race and for black people internationally. People are very impressed with the Commission in Nigeria, South Africa.

“This has high prestige in the United States among African Americans and in Britain among black people,” he said.

http://www.nationnews.com/StoryView.cfm?Record=55028&Section=LO&Current=2004%2D11%2D07%2000%3A00%3A00