The Rastafarian community in Barbados has all right to be upset about their exclusion from the recently formed Constitutional Reform Commission.The 10-member commission was named just over a week ago and has been entrusted with the arduous responsibility of reforming the island’s Constitution over the course of the next 18 months.Several facets of Barbados are represented on the commission including the church, youth, Muslims, trade unions, the judiciary, the disabled community and the private sector.It is impossible for there to be a representative from every community and sector on a 10-member commission. That is quite obvious.However, the omission of a member of the Rastafarian community is quite glaring.So too is a representative from the LGBTQ community.Speaking during the official launch of the commission last Friday, its chairman retired Justice Christopher Blackman announced that “significant institutions” such as the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister, the judiciary, the media, trade unions, business organisations, the religious community including the Rastafarian community, political parties, professional and charitable organisations and other NGOs would be afforded an opportunity to meet privately with the commission.
