Trinidad and Tobago: Rastafarians and whether they would harm or pose a risk to someone
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 16 August 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TTO32607.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Trinidad and Tobago: Rastafarians and whether they would harm or pose a risk to someone, 16 August 1999, TTO32607.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad7c10.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific information on the Rastafarians could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, this general information was provided by the Editor-in-chief of the Trinidad Guardian during a telephone interview with the Research Directorate (13 Aug. 1999).
The Editor-in-chief stated that the Rastafarians are a religious and cultural group that originated in Jamaica. Though normally distinguished by dreadlocks, he emphasized that not everybody who wears dreadlocks in Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the Rastafarian movement. He stated that some Rastafarians live in distinct communes and are strictly vegetarian. The Rastafarians, he stated, have had a significant influence on Trinidad's popular culture including dress, art and music (ibid.). He also stated that the Rastafarians are well integrated into the Trinidian communities and among them are people who exercise respected professions, such as lawyers and two members of parliament. Rastafarians believe in being in harmony with nature, and in Trinidad, they are not associated with crime (ibid.). This information was corroborated by an editor of another Trinidad and Tobago daily, the Trinidad and Tobago Express in a separate interview with the Research Directorate (13 Aug. 1999). For additional information on the Rastafarians in the Caribbean, please consult Response ZZZ17234.E of 31 May 1994.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Trinidad Guardian [Port of Spain]. 13 August 1999. Telephone interview with Editor-in-Chief.
Trinidad & Tobago Express [Port of Spain]. 13 August 1999. Telephone interview with Editor.