Opposition Leader Mark Golding is calling on both the Government and the Accompong Maroons to “de-escalate the highly-charged situation that arose yesterday, through dialogue conducted with mutual respect and an honest desire for reconciliation.”

Golding, in a statement on Thursday (August 12), was referring to a war of words between Chief Richard Currie and the Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang, after an incident apparently involving the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) entering lands long claimed by the Maroons pursuant to their 1739 Treaty with the British.

After both Currie and Chang issued statements, each decrying the actions of the other party and defending their own positions, Golding suggested that each side needs to come to an understanding.

“Instead of back and forth recriminations in traditional and social media, both parties need to come to the table and develop an understanding with respect to the rights of the Maroon people in 21st-century Jamaica,” he said.

“The ministries of Culture, Justice and National Security should lead the effort in trying to arrive at a mutually agreed and settled position which can provide the basis for a modern, refreshed relationship with the Maroons. The absolute protection of Maroon lands from mining degradation, and an enlightened policy on ganja cultivation in keeping with the Maroons’ indigenous medical/therapeutic tradition, should be high on the list of issues to be accepted by the Government of Jamaica,” Golding added.

The Accompong Maroons have been mired in controversy this week after initially repelling what they claimed were rogue JCF operations trespassing on their lands.

Minister Chang, in response, lauded the work of the plan-clothes officers, adding that to his knowledge, there is ‘no such thing as Maroon land’.

Colonel Richard Currie, leader of the Accompong enclave, rebuked the statement my Chang and urged the Government of Jamaica to ‘leave his people in peace’ or as chief, he will do what is necessary to defend their ancestral birthright.

See related articles below:

• Armed extortion racket? | Colonel Richard Currie, Maroons raise alarm at ‘rogue JCF trespassers’
• ‘This land is ours’: Accompong’s Colonel Currie rebukes statement by Gov’t minister that ‘Maroon lands don’t exist’