Carib Owner Claims Intimidation
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN
Adebayo Olujobi (Bayo), the owner of the Carib de L’Afrique restaurant in the heart of Hastings town centre, has shared his experiences of ongoing harassment he and his staff have endured in the wake of a recent petition alleging noise at his restaurant. HIP reported the story Not Feeling the Vibes in issue 276.
Bayo claims that his restaurant has been the “target of a sustained campaign of harassment” since he began playing distinctive reggae and jazz music throughout the day. He says they have been “inundated with malicious and misleading reviews” intended to harm its reputation. In addition, his car has been repeatedly vandalised with a vile swear word scratched into the bonnet, the wing mirror completely torn off and a brick left on the windscreen.
He believes the attacks on his car and the spiteful online reviews are not random, but rather “a targeted effort to intimidate”. He remains defiant, however. To protect himself and his staff, he says he has installed CCTV and other security measures and reports every incident to the police.
Despite the recent unpleasantness, Bayo says he wants to focus on what truly matters – “community, resilience, and respect.” He says “we remain proud of Carib de L’Afrique. It is more than just a restaurant; it is a celebration of culture, heritage, and community spirit. We are a learning centre educating people on a variety of African foods as well as many different countries of this vast continent. We are committed to continuing our mission to offer warm hospitality, joyful energy, and delicious food to everyone who walks through our doors. We thank our loyal customers and neighbours who have stood by us. Hate has no place in Hastings, and we believe that kindness and unity will always prevail.”
The online Change.org petition Stop Excessive Noise Pollution from Carib De L’Afrique has so far gathered over 200 signatures. The petition author, self-styled as ‘Concerned Citizen’, believes the increased pressure it has created has resulted in “things being a lot quieter lately”, adding that “the response has been staggering and the council must take note, there is power in coming together with a shared goal, that is the essence of community.”
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply