Bob Marley helped make dreadlocks famous around the world

Their dreadlocks have been deemed "unacceptable" by Customs authorities, who insist that the rules and regulations as they apply back that position.

The two women have been cautioned. The letter they received on the matter made it clear that the authorities felt that wearing their braids and dreadlocks on the job is "unquestionably unacceptable".

The official line is that their jobs fall within the category of national security, and that there are various codes, including dress, that they are required to adhere to.

The two are seeking legal advice on the matter.

But their plight is one many rastafarians around the Caribbean can identify with.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

• Are dreadlocks an acceptable hairstyle in today's Caribbean?
• Should they be?
• Does the style represent a sense of identity?
• Have the customs authorities in Nassau over-reacted on the matter?
• Should the women simply adhere to the rules and resort to "more acceptable" hairstyles, or should they pursue the matter in court?

It is a sad day when black people are castigated for wearing their hair naturally in a country that has a large black population. When will we love our "nappy" hair, large noses and full lips? When will we adore our chocolate coloured skins and thank God that we do not have to spend hours in the sun to achieve it? There is nothing wrong with wearing locks to work if they are clean and tidy and I am appalled that in the year 2009 employers can be so narrow minded. Black people need to wake up, love themselves and be emancipated from mental slavery.
Kim
Bridgetown,
Barbados

When my wife locked her hair she created a stir at the secondary school she taught at. However, others have followed since then and it is a common trend in Jamaica now - but not accepted in certain professions.
That said, while understanding dress code restrictions this is one that we should have all outgrown considering our ethnicity and religious beliefs.
The question is: what makes dreadlocks unacceptable? The initial standard was set by a colonial mindset - we have since rejected these standards but clearly have a way to go before determining our own.
Would a Sikh be told to remove his turban or a Muslim be asked to shave his beard or remove her hijab?

1. Stop the discrimination

2. Get a clue about fashion
Craig Young
UK

This is nonsense. No one can tell you how to wear your hair regardless of the work you are doing. As long as the hair is neat and in order there shouldn't even be a debate. Ladies if I were you I would go to the Labour Department and make an example of that supervisor.
AK
Turks and Caicos Islands

Customs authorities need to get a grip on reality - this is a culture jibe. As long as it is tied back as so not to cause injury or get trapped (it should be fine).
They need to pay attention to the skills the individuals have as opposed to what they look like, as I can not see what difference this would make in being efficient within their job. It is ludicrous and (they) should be thankful decent human beings want to work within their authorities. . come-on !
Leah Berriman
England

I have no problem with anyone who carries dreadlocks. I think that the important thing is how one performs at the job. I know that one has to be attired neatly but if the dreadlocks of those women are combed neatly and (dreadlocks) don't pose any danger to their clients, I suggest that they should be left alone. There are more important things to worry about, such as the drug trafficking issue.
Joseph
St Georges,
Grenada

Gentle folks, to many rastas, dreadlocks is not a "hairstyle" but a conscious application of their faith. If the women are rastas, then they should sue, if not they then should comply.
Wayne
New York

As anything else I would expect order in employee turnout. By this I mean the way in which one would present themselves; neatly, sharply and properly. However, I don't think one's hair has anything to do with their ability to do the task. It's pure discrimination against a certain culture/custom in most cases, which I find totally unfair. Sadly, this is a major problem in Caribbean societies today due to the common stereotype of negative affiliations in the rastafarian community. As long as the dreadlocks are properly cared for and tucked up neatly into a ponytail, that should be fine. It has to look presentable because employers are looking to project a positive image of their business and what it represents. Dreadlocks have become a more popular hair style these days. Men and women have their part to play in adhering to guidelines as pertains to work dress codes. That's the bottom line.
M Harry
St Lucia/Canada

I think that they should not be fired. I thought that we were over all this discrimination, apparently not.
Eshia Bontiff
Roseau,
Dominica

Absolute nonsense. The provision to which the Customs Dept refer reads as follows: "Hairstyles must be neat & suitable for the job. Such hairstyles must allow for the proper wearing of caps. Braids and other hairstyles must not be worn while on duty."
Clearly the rule does not speak to dreadlocks. Now whether an interpretation of the section may include dreadlocks is another thing. If one really considers the purpose and intent of the rule, any person of colour should be ashamed to enforce such a rule.
I understand the two young ladies are extremely intelligent, very well groomed and are first rate citizens who have come forward to serve their country. The irony of thing whole thing is that everywhere you look in The Bahamas, especially in the Immigration Dept and Customs dept braids is the preferred hairstyle. In fact, the Bahamas Government constructed an entire complex for young Bahamian ladies to braid and dreadlock the tourists’ hair when in The Bahamas. Listen, we are in the year of our Lord 2009! With all of the social issues in The Bahamas, two independent, intelligent, very well gromed Afro Caribbean young ladies should not be the topic of discussion in this manner! They should be used as young shining example for many of our young ladies in The Bahamas. God Bless you sisters!
Elsworth Johnson
Nassau, The Bahamas

Gentle folks, to many rastas, dreadlocks is not a "hairstyle" but a conscious application of their faith. If the women are rastas, then they should sue, if not they then should comply.
Wayne
New York, USA

I have no problem with anyone who carries dreadlocks. I think that the important thing is how one performs at the job. I know that one has to be attired neatly, but if the dreadlocks of those women are combed neatly and (dreadlocks) don't pose any danger to their clients, I suggest that they should be left alone. They are more important things to worry about, such as the drug trafficking issue.
Joseph
St. George's, Grenada

Customs authorities need to get a grip on reality. This is a culture jibe. (It’s OK) as long as it is tied back as so not to cause injury or get trapped in the odd carousel.
They need to pay attention to the skills the individuals have as apposed to what they look like, as I can not see what difference this would make in been efficient within their job. It is ludicrous, and they should be thankful that decent human beings want to work within their authorities. Come-on!
Leah Berriman
Dewsbury, England

This is nonsense. No one can tell you how to wear your hair regardless of the work you are doing. They can tell you not to wear certain colours that might distract from the work you are doing but they can't tell you have to wear it. As long as the hair is neat and in order there shouldn't even be a debate.
AK
Provo, Turks and Caicos Island

When my wife locked her hair she created a stir at the secondary school she taught at. However, other have followed since then and it is a common trend in Jamaica now - but not accepted in certain professions.
That said, while understanding dress code restrictions this is one that we should have all outgrown considering our ethnicity and religious beliefs.
The question is: what makes dreadlocks unacceptable? The initial standard was set by a colonial mindset - we have since rejected these standards but clearly have a ways to go before determining our own.
Would a Sikh be told to remove his turban or a Muslim be asked to shave his beard or remove her hijab?
1. Stop the discrimination
2. Get a clue about fashion
Craig Young
Leamington Spa, UK

It is a sad day when black people are castigated for wearing their hair naturally in a country that has a large black population. When will we love our "nappy" hair, large noses and full lips? When will we adore our chocolate coloured skins and thank God that we do not have to spend hours in the sun to achieve it? There is nothing wrong with wearing locks to work if they are clean and tidy, and I am appalled that in the year 2009 employers can be so narrow minded. Black people need to wake up, love themselves and be emancipated from mental slavery.
Kim
Bridgetown, Barbados

I am a white tourist who frequently travels the Caribbean. What I see as important is the welcome given to guests and that staff are good and efficient at what they do. In my opinion these two women should be left alone with their hairstyles. Let get real here, THERE IS A GLOBAL CRISIS, tourism has gone down! The controller should turn his/her attention to the more important things like catching drug traffickers.
Sandra Micheal
London, UK

What an archaic and discriminatory code. How about banning painted nails and earrings while we are at it? Oh, and you better remove that cross pendant.
Nevod
St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles

It is about time we see people for who they are and not for the colour of their skin, hairstyle or what have you. I'm no rastafarian but I strongly represent many of the principles on which it stands for. This is the problem the world faces today, it is either that we don't know how to unite as a people or we don't wish to unite as a people, forgetting all race, creed, nationality and all those other things we use as an excuse to rationalize & victimize our people. So with little words of advise whether the dreadlocks were associated with your religion or just plain old fashion, continue to do the things which you regard as right because at the end of it all, you should be able to say I did what I know was right.
Live Up
Basseterre, St Kitts

This is no surprise. It is rampant all over the Caribbean. In fact, I am sure this discrimination is meted out to these individuals by fellow blacks. This is uniquely a Caribbean problem. For some reason or another it is this type of skepticism that holds up progress of the CSME, that make we feel we are better than African in the ACP, that make we feel we have to wear a suit in the tropics, and I can go on....who determines what an acceptable hairstyle is or should be. And, if it is an organizational rule, spell it out in the contract of employment, then check it against your discrimination laws if you have any. Even if it is policy as distinct from law, then make it clear. Caribbean identity is fading and while the developed nations who have more experience in dealing with the world and modernizing even cultural practices, we in the Caribbean are fighting to kill part of what we perceive is unacceptable to whom? Ourselves. Come one. We refuse MENTALLY to move beyond 1834.
Marlon
Georgetown, Guyana

These countries unfortunately are more colonial than the colonialists. This is what’s dividing the people and the counties in the Caribbean. I am Jamaican and if these custom officers wear the locks tidy and presentable, then what is the fuss.
Andrew
Brixton, UK

I am Jamaican and live and work in the BVI. This does not surprise me.
When I moved to the BVI … there was a "rasta law" -no rastas could enter the island. Jamaica is also very prejudiced, which is why Bob Marley wrote the song "War". All of this is very sad and very true.
Nan James
Tortola, BVI

I think dreadlocks do represent a sense of identity, those who wear them should be respected for their beliefs as long as they perform their duties accordingly.
Fazelah Ali
New York
USA

Absolute nonsense. The provision to which the Customs Department refers reads as follows: "Hairstyles must be neat and suitable for the job. Such hairstyles must allow for the proper wearing of caps. Braids and other hairstyles must not be worn while on duty."
Clearly the rule does not speak to dreadlocks. Now whether an interpretation of the section may include dreadlocks is another thing. If one really considers the purpose and intent of the rule, any person of colour should be ashamed to enforce such a rule.
I understand the the two young ladies are extremely intelligent, very well groomed and are first rate citizens who have come forward to serve their country. The irony of the whole thing is that everywhere you look in the Bahamas, especially in the Immigration Dept and Customs Dept braids are the preferred hairstyle. In fact the Bahamas Government constructed an entire complex for young Bahamian ladies to braid and dreadlock the tourists' hair when in The Bahamas. Listen, we are in the year of our Lord 2009! With all of the social issues in the Bahamas, two independent, intelligent, very well groomed afro Caribbean young ladies should not be the topic of discussion in this manner! They should be used as young shining examples for many of our young ladies. God Bless you sisters!
Elsworth Johnson
Nassau
Bahamas

These countries unfortunately are more colonial than the colonialists. This is what is dividing the people and the countries in the Caribbean. I am Jamaican and if these customs officers wear the locks tidy and presentable then what is the fuss.
Andrew
Brixton
UK

It is about time we see people for who they are and not for the colour of their skin, hairstyle or what have you. I'm no rastafarian but I strongly represent many of the principles which the rastafarian movement stands for. This is the problem the world faces today, it is either that we don't know how to unite as a people or we don't wish to unite as a people.
Whether the dreadlocks were associated with your religion or just plain old fashion, continue to do the things which you regard as right because at the end of it all, you should be able to say I did what I know was right.
Live Up
Basseterre
St Kitts/Nevis

What an archaic and discriminatory code. How about banning painted nails and earrings while we are at it? Oh and you better remove that cross pendant.
Nevod
St Eustatius

I am a white tourist who frequently travels the Caribbean. What I see as important is the welcome given to guests and that staff are good and efficient at what they do. In my opinion these two women should be left alone with their hairstyles. Let's get real here, THERE IS A GLOBAL CRISIS, tourism has gone down! The comptroller (of Customs)should turn his/her attention to the more important things like catching drugs traffickers.
Sandra
London
UK

Every time this issue comes up it gets my blood boiling and the reason is that the same public officials who seek to prevent these people from wearing their hair in dreadlocks are the same ones who have no problem employing persons of other ethnic and religious backgrounds… This to me demonstrates that in certain segments of our populace we may be free from the chains of slavery but are still mentally shackled to our colonial past. I live in the U.S and there is not a single public office these days in which some person (s) wearing their hair in a dreadlock style having no religious reason for doing so. However, in the Caribbean - the birth place of Rastafarianism - you risk losing you job for doing so. How ironic. When I was a youngster it was not unusual for Natty to get a beating from the cops just because of his crown.
Richard Dickson
New York

Are these ladies effective at their jobs? If yes, then obviously the hair is not a problem. Unless their hair is wild and is impeding the quality work they do, then leave them already.
Wendy Osbourne
Jamaica

First of all dreadlocks is not just acceptable in the Caribbean but worldwide among all peoples. It represents identity, plus to some it’s also religious. I think the customs have over-reacted. I also do think that this code is outdated and should be re-examined. There is also a hint of discrimination in this whole affair.
Byron
Montreal
Canada

For those persons who keep purporting here that every organisation has its rules, may I remind you that it was once a universal institutional rule that "Black people be disallowed from certain buses, schools, offices, playgrounds etc. etc . . . may I continue. As a rule in England it is unacceptable for a defendant to come before the court in head dress (hats, tams, berets, caps etc) but Rastas are allowed their head dress in court as a recognised religious wear. So there are rules and there are exceptions to and exemption from rules - and this is England in the 21st Century making this exception for Rastas. Now, did you just tell me that a Caribbean island is discriminating against someone with braided or locked hair holding a particular job and some folks are defending this as acceptable? Was this happening to Black people in America or Europe we would be screaming discrimination! "Black is beautiful" - do you know how many people have given up their lives and die so that we can live this expression "Black is beautiful?" Wake up Bahamas!
Gerald La Touche JP/Magistrate
England

Given that dreadlocks do not grow overnight, these women most likely would have had their hairstyles before they were employed. Even if they did not, if wearing dreadlocks was not set out as a no-no in their employment contracts then this is a case of discrimination. Perhaps, as we say in Guyana, there is more in the mortar besides the pestle. The women should pursue the matter.
Crystal
Georgetown
Guyana

My hair style is dreadlocks and I'm gainfully employed as a Registered Nurse with no problem.
Melissa
Hollywood
Florida

It is not only acceptable, but should be encouraged as a celebration of our identity and unique culture.
It relates to our identity as descendants of Africans-indeed in the continent this is not a new hairstyle!
The customs people definitely overreacted, and I can see the same thing happening in Barbados, where I'm from.
The women should pursue the matter, I'm sure they will win. This issue should be something we have a public discussion about.
Dreadlocks are simply a choice of hairstyle. For some it is religious, and if this was the case for the women, it would be religious discrimination.
The only unacceptable hairstyle is one that stops you from carrying out your job or causes a danger to others.
Harper
London
UK

Fitzgerald Hinds a former government minister in Trinidad also wore dreadlocks and it was not a problem. Hinds is also a lawyer maybe they should seek his advice on the matter.
Adesh Mahabir
Chaguanas
Trinidad

Rules are rules. Please obey.
Anthony Mahoney
Turks and Caicos

What do their hairstyles have to do with their behaviour and professionalism on the job? What hairstyle should they replace it with - straightened hair, which was developed to look more like that of whites? This sounds like discrimination against "blackness". I don't have dreadlocks, but my hair is natural and always plaited. I would never stand for anyone telling me to change my hairstyle because of the racist, colonial mentality, that what's natural for black people is somehow "unacceptable".
Elma
Leeds
UK

I have personally met both of the officers concerned who are my colleagues, and submit that there is too much fuss about nothing. In my opinion the hair styles are simple braids which could be considered either the "twist" or the "bud", but none of them can be rightfully considered "dread locks". What is most amazing is that the instruction given by the Comptroller of Customs is that officers should not wear any form of braid among which is the dreadlocks. If the instruction is to be adhered to then a very large majority of the female officers would be in violation of the Comptroller of Custom's instruction. If one really wants to see an officer wearing dreadlocks then they ought to pay a visit to the United States Customs pre-clearance area in Nassau, and observe one of their Afro American officers when he is on duty in full uniform sporting his dreadlocks.
Ralph Munroe
Nassau
Bahamas

This shows up the contradictions that continue to plague Caribbean peoples. How can you celebrate Bob Marley on the one hand and then have a discriminatory policy like that on the other hand.
Culture man
Trinidad

As a retired and trained customs officer, (I think) circumstances should determine their dismissal or retention. If the dress code was in place before these officers began wearing dreadlocks, they will have to bear the consequences. If not, they should continue serving the public, especially if they are responsible and accountable Officers.
Ormond Robertson
USA

How ridiculous! I suppose if they were wearing a weave - which Nina Simone once pertinently described as some "dead white person's hair on their head ... we are the only people in the world who don't love ourselves" - that would have been acceptable! This is a fine example of the backwardness and supine neo-colonised mentality of our ruling creole elites.
As Bob Marley so aptly said "emancipate yourself from mental slavery..."
Henry Horton
Suriname

Every organisation has its own rules and regulations. If it states in its dress code that dreadlocks are not allowed then one should abide by the rule. Now if that rule is not documented then that raises another issue. However if the dreadlocks/braids are neat, clean, and the women are competent in doing their jobs, I see no problem with the issue. Also who decides which hairstyle is "more acceptable"?
Maureen
Nassau
Bahamas

This appears to be a holdover from the "white" Colonisation era. Please can we all enter the 21st century on one accord...content of character is the only thing that matters.
Jack
St Thomas
VA

It is no strange news to me. The Caribbean is a region that seeks its identity from outside its borders. We are still in a period when it is an asset to have a foreign accent, caucasian skin colour and relaxed/straightened hair to be competitive.
When a dreadlocks doctor is featured on "House" or a dreadlocks detective is featured on "Miami PI" then dreadlocks will be acceptable in the region.
Clean, well kept dreadlocks should be acceptable in the work-place unless there is risk of it being a danger or hindrance to work performance.
Sometimes I think we are a pack of idiots.
Murray Wayne
St Vincent

It seems like some of the authorities need to get with the programme and realise that locks and braids are acceptable hair style. It makes me wonder what next they would be against. Thank God I now live in the UK where one is not judged by one's hair style.
Anthony Blake
UK

After spending most of my summers since birth in Jamaica I only recently came to realise just how prejudicial they are about appearance. By appearance I mean not just hair style, but also skin colour. For some "dreadlocks" or "locks" as I know them, are a political, religious and fashion statement.
The authorities are wrong for victimising these two workers.
Martin Baxter
UK

I think that as long as the locks are neat and pulled back away from the face it should be ok.
I have VP's in the US that wear their hair in that style.
Why are the locks and braids not "acceptable" and how does it affect how they conduct their jobs? Processed hair (perms, relaxers, etc.) is very damaging to the hair and expensive.
(It should be no problem)If the women conduct themselves professionally, are able to do their jobs efficiently and keep their hair and appearance neat.
Mikkie
US