A young Dominican has embarked on a project of documenting the now controversial “Dread Act” and is seeking interested people who are interested in contributing to it.
Founder of Spark Ventures Inc, a company based in Dominica, Dafar Armour-Shillingford, is of the view that the Act is a topic worthy of informed discussion.
He told Dominica News Online that his goals for this project are to paint a complete picture of of the Act by sourcing a wide range of perspectives and experiences of its time, “and also to see what ramifications of this era linger on through our society currently.”
“To get people aware of it, in turn I want people to be aware of Dominica,” he said. “Because of these kinds of stories on culture, heritage, these kinds of things will get people more interested to write what is really Dominica.”
He noted that the project is in its initial stages and presently he is on a drive to make people aware of it.
“I mainly want people to be aware that I am starting this project, it’s in the initial phases and anybody within Dominica or the Diaspora who wants to contribute in some way can contact me and get in touch with me,” he noted.
Shillingford also revealed that he has been researching the Act and its era and people have actually started contributing to the project.
“I have done a lot of facts findings but people who have already started documentaries have been sending me some of their videos and interviews,” he stated. “I don’t really want it to be too much dictated by necessarily me, I want it to be a collection of a lot of different points of view.”
He believes the project is quite significant to Dominica “because of the principle of it.”
Persons who wishes to share information concerning the Dread Act can contact Amour-Shillingford at telephone number 1(767)315-2675, E-mail address [email protected] or via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DreadAct
On November 19, 1974 the Patrick John-led Labour Party, with the support of the opposition Dominica Freedom Party, unanimously passed the Prohibited and Unlawful Societies and Associations Act popularly called the ‘Dread Act’.
This after a group of young men broke away from mainstream Rastafarianism and began living in the forest while raiding isolated farms and communities. Some were responsible for the death of a number of people.
However many have described the Act as one of the most draconian pieces of legislation ever passed in Dominica.
The Act made the murder of ‘dreads’ (Rastas) lawful since they were identified as the only ‘unlawful society’ in it. It has been reported that between 21 to 25 young Dominicans were killed as a result of the Act, many because of the knotted hair (dreadlocks).
The ‘Dread Act’ was eventually repealed and replaced by the Terrorist Act and by 1982 it was essentially over.
I am a white man from Boston who, at the age of 16 in 1975 was a bit unhinged. My parents could not stand me and I was sent to live outside of Delices. There were no roads around the island, no electricity nothing except the good will of locals. We all worked at farming. Yes there were attacks by dreads. Homes were burned and people eaten. They were very different people from rastas and whites. Three times I was alone with dreads. While we could not speak it was clear to me we were both unhinged. When one looks into the eyes of a mad man there’s no doubt . We coexisted. I was allowed to shoot anyone with locks. Dreads were not same as rastas with locks !. Everyone knew that. It was anti-hippie times too. Were the dread indians wiped out ? I am so sorry the problem was handled in that way. I never wanted a gun. They were the indigenous people of Dominica. It was said that they were crazy as a result of eating human brain. Their religion, to take the spirit of their kill.
the real facts you more often than not come across an an imbecile to me eh boss with your stupid and negative comments talking about white haters and two white people murdered but you not talking about the amount of innocent men that was murdered for just wearing dread locks. and talking about who is who father.what does that have to do with anything
Important vibes….
Good Day All,
Thanks for all your words and point of view. I may use some of it within the project.
But note well that my intention is not to create any hostility, I am of the belief that I am an individual of peace and it is with this intention I commence this body of work.
I have never been someone particular interested in fiction and with a desire to tell stories of life, I thought this topic was a good place to start. I seek not to cast judgement or give approval for any actions that are not mine, I merely seek to put forth the experiences and opinions of others from that era in the history of Dominica with the hope that lessons can be learnt from all fronts.
Thanks and Blessings to all.
Is Henry Shillingford his father? No doubt he is coerced by him. My advice to you is, for the sake of peace, live and let live.
Those days were extremely sad and unhappy ones which put fear in Dominicans, the law-abiding ones. As far as I know, two people were murdered by the dreads.
I did hear a white woman was also murdered on her farm. Correct me if I erred.
These people were white-colored haters. Just imagine probably all the dreads had white ancestors since D/ca had white settlers in the days of slavery. Why do you hate white people so much? What had (have) they done to you?
Do not stir up any trouble in D/ca. This is bringing back something which D/cans would like to forget and put behind them once and for all.
The government then had a right to institute it for the protection of nationals.
I for one am not interested in knowing about this or reading about it when you complete writing it. I would not waste my God-given time and money to purchase it.
I can tell you it was the most scariest time of my life and family I was a teenager in those days, especially living in the remote area where we were, at the time no more than 20 persons live there and we had to get water from a goutier or spit bamboo pipe, and also they were no ride going through our area especially at nights and we had to walk, God how afraid I was then. It’s almost 40 years and I can remember it like yesterday. The ever present thought of Dreads coming to your home at nights on occasions trying to get something to eat, I am not sure if the Two guys from the Glanvillia Boxing Plant in the Tumba saga are still alive, they would be quite old in their nineties at least, they were old men when I last saw them in the ’80’s.
Really? The Dread Act was repealed?
This topic came in just in time I must say….my son at the State College did a research paper on the Dread Act presenting it as a form of political terrorism. In his ipaper, he compared the Act to the recent stint of political terrorism as was seen by the present administration on the people of Salisbury…while helping him, I was shocked to have realized the atrocities metted out by the Act targetting one group….the Dreads. We went to the Document Centre and got old newspaper articles from The Star Dominica, The New Chronicle and The Dread newspapers which chronicled the cause and aftermath of the Act. It was a rewarding but threatening read….It was then I lost all respect for the former Premir, who chose murdering people on sight to solve a social problem….Additionally, the events leading up to the passing of the Act and the ultimate rejection of Patrick John 5 years later paralleled events of this administration and their bend on flexing their powers to intimidate citizens..
seriously,you are compareing the dread act with the latest scenario in bawi,you are politically sick,did you experience the seriousness of the dread act when it was being executed,by both the labour and freedom party governing,mister,eustace bellot was a personal friend of mine,his body has not been found unto to this day,the police at that time had no prisoners policy,shoot on site,buried on site,who knows what went down,he went missing in the river clear area,this close to town,and guess what,the most notorious of the police bandits,hails from Salisbury.
What about the murder of Mr Ted Honychurch? They hated white people and took the man from his home, tortured him and murdered him.
Some of you people call this Act a draconian one. You appear to have forgotten that Dominicans were scared stiff of the dreads and their goings on in those days.
The Act was instituted to quell this civil unrest which commenced with the dreads and to prevent them from murdering other people.
Just found an interesting read “Commonwealth Caribbean Law and Legal Systems” (Rose-Marie Belle Antoine) and “Fundamental Rights and Democratic Governance: Essays of the Caribbean Jurisprudence” (Simeon C.R. Mcintosh) where mention is made of the infamous Dread Act… but more interestingly the importance of Constitutional Redress as we move forward. A number of interesting cases are sighted. In Hinds versus AG and Superintendent of Glendairy Prison, Appeal No 28. 2000 (Barbados) the law is essentially saying Rastafari belief has to be considered legitimate and in the eyes of the law must be protected. So even for the unfortunate charge for possession of ganja (Forsythe versus DPP and AG of Jamaica, 1997 34 J.L.R 512) which could lead to incarceration, by notifying the prison authorities of our belief in Rastafari we can seek Constitutional Redress when actions of cutting of locks comes into play. The legal fraternity have a lot to answer for and quick to stop that nonsense…
The rastafarians and the dreads appear to be one and the same. These people represent lawlessness. They are against all that is good in society. They have no respect for those who oppose their manner of thinking. This is an understatement of what they represent.
Go down to St. Joe, and speak to the elderly Rastas…the images are still in my mind!
DNO would it be possible to get a copy of the act so that we could appreciatively read its content. Would be interesting to see the sort of language that was used to justify such Draconian behaviour.
The murder of innocent people by the dreads should be sufficient for you to know why the Act was instituted. Have you forgotten them? Their aim was to take over Dominica as if to rule it.
Great job sir, I think its time the real story been told………… you have my support and I will be one of the diaspora that will make a contribution…..
The Dread Act is not only now controversial. It has always been. This young man is bringing it back to the forefront as it has never been repealed and is still Law in Dominica. People who were a live in those times still have harsh stigmas and prejudices against people with locks or who consume cannabis simply based on the events of those times. Cudos to you young Dafar Shillingford. Jah guide
Sorry it has been repealed..and replaced.
Have you heard these words, “History (can) repeat itself?” Think beyond.
“On November 19, 1974 the Patrick John-led Labour Party, with the support of the opposition Dominica Freedom Party, unanimously passed the Prohibited and Unlawful Societies and Associations Act popularly called the ‘Dread Act’._”
This part is very informative for all those who continue to place all the blame on PJ. All the best in your search for the truth, things will eventually fall into place albeit very slowly.
great work dafar, keep it up…..i know you can count one some prestigious person in the Harlem community…