And while the top cops spoke to us at the Police Training Academy today, there were plenty of new faces around since the new 200-plus recruits moved in over the weekend.
All but one, that is. Zalika Garbut took to Facebook to announce her disappointment when she was turned away at the training academy for having dread-locks. She noted in her post that she had dreads when she took the entrance exam, and even during the interview.
And with the recent court case that was won by "dread locked" female officers, to be able to wear their hair in that style, Garbutt did not expect such discrimination.
And the Minister of Home Affairs agrees with her. He stated he recently learnt about the incident and hopes to reform the academy so that other officers don't face a similar situation. He also added that they are working things out with Garbutt.
Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I was informed about the situation this morning when I went to Belmopan and I could tell you that I was one who absolutely celebrated the judgement coming out of the supreme court, because it doesn't matter what type of hair style you have a police officer, it is how effectively you do your job. That is at the end of the day what is most important to me and to so many. The world is changing and so your hair style really should not matter, so when I inquired about it this morning I was advised that a commander did ask the young lady to leave, but she is supposed to be having a meeting with them tomorrow. I do understand the argument that she is not a member of the police department as yet, it is as though she is going to school, so you know how I believe it was Nazarene had an issue the other day where they sent home a bunch of young men because they didn't have a well-cut look and so while it is that I could understand that argument I would hope that at the end of the day we could look past all of that and that we could see her potential regardless of what type of hairstyle she has. That's just my personal view. I know the training academy has certain policies we would have to look at that policy to revisit it, because in my personal opinion the supreme court was right when it comes to members of the police department. I would hate for it to have to take one of these schools going back to the supreme court just over an issue of hairstyle. I think we can apply that across the board and so that is something I hope can be resolved tomorrow when they meet with her."
