Producer calls out Rasta community for lack of support - Dale Virgo fights to keep daughter in school

Noted producer, engineer, and songwriter Dale Virgo has voiced concerns about the level of support he and his family have been receiving as the fight continues for their daughter, who was last year refused entry to school because of her dreadlocked hairstyle.

The producer's wife, Sherine, filed a claim last year asserting that the action of Kensington Primary School against her daughter breached several of her rights guaranteed under the constitution.

The couple has spent the last four days in the Supreme Court fighting for their daughter, who was permitted to attend the school last September after an injunction was granted in August 2018.

"There are persons overseas shocked to hear that this is happening in our country, and while I am getting moral support from persons living across the globe, including entertainers via social media, I am not seeing much from the Rasta community," he said.

He said that he would have liked this fight for constitutional rights to have a following as loud as the 'No Music No Vote' campaign, which was motivated by the dancehall struggles with the Noise Abatement Act.

MOVE PASS THIS

"I have wondered if the Rastas are discouraged because them quiet, or maybe they feel like nothing is going to change. I believe we can move pass this and evolve. Look in the society, there are lawyers and other professions who wear locks," he said. "So why at the primary level of education excuses are being made that individuals with locks have lice and should not wear it? That is an untrue and unfair statement."

Aside from being troubled by the lack of vocal support, the producer-father says it has been stressful and he is constantly worried about the outcome.

The verdict should be made by January 17, 2020.

"At first, we were worried that our daughter would be bullied or treated unfairly at the school but we have been very much involved in her school life. While our views are constantly under the microscope, we did not want that to affect our daughter's education, and at no time did we want to discredit the school. We are all about effecting change in Jamaica and in the way the bureaucracies are being practised as it relates to the no locks situation," he said.