Rastafarians from the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress participate in their annual road march to King's House yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

APPROXIMATELY 150 Rastafarians yesterday marched to the gates of King's House in Kingston, seeking audience with Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall, to ask him to lobby the Queen of England on their behalf for their repatriation to Africa.

The march, which was organised by members of the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress, began in downtown Kingston. The Rastafarians - who were dressed mostly in white head wraps, and white shirts and pants as well as long, black capes - marched around Parade, downtown Kingston, seven times before they travelled to King's House on Hope Road.

"It's something we do every year. It's on this day, Emancipation Day, that they took the shackles off our feet. And emancipation really means to send us home, so we trod to King's House to ask the governor general to deliver a letter from us to the Queen," a Rastafarian, who identified himself as His Honourable Priest Earl, told the Observer yesterday.
"It's an every year thing, but we really wouldn't like to come back again next year," he added.

Earl admitted, however, that the march did not yield the kind of response the contingent desired.

"What they are telling us is nothing new, but we have to come and try still," Earl said.

Though the march prompted the calling of the police to the scene, no incidence of violence was reported.