“Coral Gardens 1963: A Legal Analysis and Implications for the Jamaican Justice System” is the title of the public lecture being delivered by Hugh Small, Q.C. and Consultant, Graham, Thompson & Company. The Lecture is hosted by the UWI, Mona through the Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) in collaboration with the Institute of Caribbean Studies on April 21, 2011 at 5 pm at the Neville Hall Lecture Theatre (N1), UWI, Mona. 

During his Lecture Small will recount aspects of the 1963 Coral Gardens incident and events leading up to it. He will more importantly relate how these events impacted subsequently on developments in the justice system. Also sharing on this occasion are members of the Rastafarian community who survived the tragedy.

The Coral Gardens incident saw several Rastafarians being killed and members of the security forces being injured resulting in a major government response to amend laws to address crime and policing. The event provides an opportunity for discussion about a major human rights event in Jamaican history and brings to the fore the challenges citizens still face in accessing justice.

The Lecture marks the anniversary of the Coral Gardens incident and is part of the series of events being hosted by the IGDS to recognize the UN declared International Year for People of African Descent. The Year focuses on redoubling efforts to fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that affect people of African descent everywhere.