Derrick Morgan’s honours questioned

Gender and civil society advocate Judith Wedderburn says she hopes that a government committee is considering whether to withdraw the awards given to veteran ska singer Derrick Morgan, following a serious allegation from his daughter Queen Ifrica.

"We don't know if she (Queen Ifrica) is going to press charges. She said it happened and until it goes to court and is proven, it is still an allegation. On what basis now would the committee that makes these awards withdraw the awards, if it is still an allegation? I would like to think that the committee is at least having a conversation about it. They need to be talking about it and not just for this case, but for other cases that may or may not come to public attention as to what is the correct thing to do," Wedderburn said.

There have been reports that Morgan is threatening to take legal action against Queen Ifrica for her comments. In 2001, Morgan was awarded the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government for his contribution to the distinct culture of the island. Last August, on Independence Day, he received a Reggae Icon Award at the National Stadium, and in 2019, the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association honoured him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

"A real conversation needs to be had about why the awards should or should not be taken away ... until a court ruling is made. We are not sure if she will ever report it, as maybe she has gone to the point where she has healed herself to say it and saying it is a part of the healing," Wedderburn added.

Last week, Queen Ifrica shocked listeners when she mentioned the allegation in an emotional Instagram live post. Wedderburn said that upon watching the video, "I don't have any reason to believe it is not true."

"I honestly feel that way because as old as Queen Ifrica is now, in the days when that happened, a young girl child would not dare report it. There is a culture of silence that says you dare not report it because it is your father," she said.

Wedderburn said persons may question why the singer has taken so long to publicly mention the incident but said there is much trauma associated with such allegations.

"It is deeply traumatic and emotional, and so I am not surprised it took her a long time to gather up the courage to say I am going to speak out, because she has to brace herself for people in society who are going to say why she waited this long," she said.