THE MONA campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) was ablaze with colour yesterday, as Ras Tafari Global Reasoning 2003 opened at the undercroft under the theme 'Ras Tafari family united for progress and development'.
It took the form of discussions among Rastafarians with the hope of putting in place an action plan for development and progress.
"Rastafari has stretched far beyond the borders of Jamaica; it is now a global community that needs organisation and leadership to achieve our goals, main goal being repatriation with reparation," said Barbara Blake-Hannah, citing issues to be addressed. "Other issues such as our care of our elders, foundations, economic foundations, the issues to do with people exploiting our symbols, colours and icons" would be dealt with, she said.
"All discussions will culminate in one final document," she added.
The opening ceremony was well attended, with an attentive audience of Rastafarians from many different races coming from all over the world. In greeting them, Professor Rex Nettleford, Vice Chancellor of the UWI,
commended Rastafarians for using non-violence in achieving their goals.
Rastas from the Caribbean, the United States, Europe and Africa are attending the week-long meeting at the UWI, to discuss their faith, repatriation to Africa and an end to global conflict.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson declined an invitation to speak at the conference because of a scheduling conflict, his office said. He was represented by Senator Burchell Whiteman, the Information Minister, who told the meeting that Rastas have created "a unique psychological space for people in the Caribbean struggling under colonialism."
High on the agenda of the conference is repatriation to Africa, a key tenet of Rastafarianism.
The opening ceremony ended with chanting and drumming.
REASONING FROM JULY 16-24
The 'reasoning' is slated to run from July 16 to 24 and among the topics that will be explored during eight days of panel discussions are, the 'Ivinity of Haile Selassie I', 'Herb as a holy sacrament', 'Reparations, repatriation and the threat to Africa's survival', 'Restoration of the Solomonic dynasty', 'Finding solutions to the injustices facing the Rastafari', and 'Rastafari and the global political situation'.
After a final working plenary on July 22, there will be a closing ceremony at the UWI's undercroft, at which Professor Richard Green will be the guest speaker.
A Nyahbingi at Scott's Pass follows a press conference on the reasoning's eighth day and the event concludes with visits to Rastafarian historical sites such as Pinnacle, Back-a-Wall, Bobo Hill, the Trench Town Cultural Yard and the Haile Selassie I School on July 24.
commended Rastafarians for using non-violence in achieving their goals.
Rastas from the Caribbean, the United States, Europe and Africa are attending the week-long meeting at the UWI, to discuss their faith, repatriation to Africa and an end to global conflict.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson declined an invitation to speak at the conference because of a scheduling conflict, his office said. He was represented by Senator Burchell Whiteman, the Information Minister, who told the meeting that Rastas have created "a unique psychological space for people in the Caribbean struggling under colonialism."
High on the agenda of the conference is repatriation to Africa, a key tenet of Rastafarianism.
The opening ceremony ended with chanting and drumming.
REASONING FROM JULY 16-24
The 'reasoning' is slated to run from July 16 to 24 and among the topics that will be explored during eight days of panel discussions are, the 'Ivinity of Haile Selassie I', 'Herb as a holy sacrament', 'Reparations, repatriation and the threat to Africa's survival', 'Restoration of the Solomonic dynasty', 'Finding solutions to the injustices facing the Rastafari', and 'Rastafari and the global political situation'.
After a final working plenary on July 22, there will be a closing ceremony at the UWI's undercroft, at which Professor Richard Green will be the guest speaker.
A Nyahbingi at Scott's Pass follows a press conference on the reasoning's eighth day and the event concludes with visits to Rastafarian historical sites such as Pinnacle, Back-a-Wall, Bobo Hill, the Trench Town Cultural Yard and the Haile Selassie I School on July 24.
commended Rastafarians for using non-violence in achieving their goals.
Rastas from the Caribbean, the United States, Europe and Africa are attending the week-long meeting at the UWI, to discuss their faith, repatriation to Africa and an end to global conflict.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson declined an invitation to speak at the conference because of a scheduling conflict, his office said. He was represented by Senator Burchell Whiteman, the Information Minister, who told the meeting that Rastas have created "a unique psychological space for people in the Caribbean struggling under colonialism."
High on the agenda of the conference is repatriation to Africa, a key tenet of Rastafarianism.
The opening ceremony ended with chanting and drumming.
REASONING FROM JULY 16-24
The 'reasoning' is slated to run from July 16 to 24 and among the topics that will be explored during eight days of panel discussions are, the 'Ivinity of Haile Selassie I', 'Herb as a holy sacrament', 'Reparations, repatriation and the threat to Africa's survival', 'Restoration of the Solomonic dynasty', 'Finding solutions to the injustices facing the Rastafari', and 'Rastafari and the global political situation'.
After a final working plenary on July 22, there will be a closing ceremony at the UWI's undercroft, at which Professor Richard Green will be the guest speaker.
A Nyahbingi at Scott's Pass follows a press conference on the reasoning's eighth day and the event concludes with visits to Rastafarian historical sites such as Pinnacle, Back-a-Wall, Bobo Hill, the Trench Town Cultural Yard and the Haile Selassie I School on July 24.
