In a deeply personal and historic tribute at the King George V Grounds, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne honored the late Rastafari leader King Osagyefo, revealing their lifelong connection and shared advocacy for social justice. The December 12th address unveiled the Prime Minister’s own formative experiences within the Rastafari community, which significantly influenced his political trajectory and policy decisions.
Prime Minister Browne recounted their shared origins on Parliament Street in Grays Farm, where as an impoverished youth, he received sustenance from Rastafari elders operating an Ital shop on Bishopgate Street. This early exposure to Rastafari compassion shaped his worldview and eventual governance approach.
The memorial service served as a platform to highlight groundbreaking policy achievements collaboratively pursued with King Osagyefo. Notably, the Browne administration successfully decriminalized cannabis possession up to 15 grams for personal use and permitted cultivation of four plants on private property. In a significant move toward reparatory justice, the government waived licensing fees and allocated 25% shares in the state-owned Grow Antigua initiative to the Rastafari community, acknowledging historical persecution and discrimination.
Further reparatory measures included the establishment of the first Niabingi Rastafari School at Creek Side, complemented by government-leased agricultural land and heavy equipment provision to support food security initiatives within the community.
Prime Browne shared a profound personal revelation: at age nine, Ras Kenya—King Osagyefo’s brother-in-law—saved his life by cutting a live electrical wire that had entrapped him. This life-saving intervention fundamentally influenced his commitment to public service. The Prime Minister also disclosed his Rastafari name ‘Gassy Dread,’ bestowed by King Osagyefo himself, symbolizing his unwavering embrace of Rastafari values.
Key milestones of their partnership included the Prime Minister’s formal state apology to the Rastafari community for historical discrimination and the nomination of late King Franki Tafari to address the Organization of American States (OAS).
Despite their strong alliance, Browne acknowledged King Osagyefo’s independent stance, particularly his vigorous opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, demonstrating the Rastafari leader’s principled consistency.
The tribute concluded with heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and wider Rastafari community, emphasizing resilience through the phrase ‘Soldier on’—a sentiment shared with King Osagyefo during his final days at Sir Lester Bird Medical Center.