ICAR Hosts 7th AGM

The Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari will be hosting its 7th annual AGM on Sunday January 27 at the Entrepot Human Resource Development Centre from 11 a.m.
The AGM is coming against the background of 30 years of existence as an organized body which was then known as the IYANOLA RASTAFARI IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (IRIA).
IRIA continued to provide representation on behalf of the Rastafari community until the late 1980’s, and was responsible for getting Rastafari youths admitted into main stream schools; easing the tension which existed between the society and the pioneers of the faith as well as educating the nation as to who / what Rastafari is all about.
There was a lull in the activities and operations of IRIA in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s. Then in 1997 there was a re-emergence of interest and a meeting was organized at La Tille Falls in Micoud on 1st May 1997, from which, like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, The Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari (ICAR Inc) emerged to continue the work started by IRIA.

Since then ICAR Inc has been registered as an NGO with the registry of companies.
Maintaining the effectiveness of ICAR Inc has been a challenge for what ever executive is put in place at our AGM. Some of the toughest challenges include Mobilization of our membership, harnessing and maintaining the interest of our membership in the events/activities of the organization and getting committed officers to carry on the work of the organization.
Notwithstanding the challenges, ICAR has made strides during the last year including the provision of a capacity building seminar for its membership, providing governmental representation for the community, representing the community at regional/international meetings and seminars and providing Afro-centric knowledge/information to the community.
At the AGM on Sunday 27th January 2008, ICAR Inc will be all members; and prospective members are invited to be part of the historic gathering that will determine the future for the Rastafari community and the nation. All well wishers and conscious persons male and female, young and old are invited to participate and register as members.