Maroon defunding may boost sovereignty claim

Caribbean political philosophy expert Professor Clinton Hutton has warned the Holness administration that its policy directive not to engage with separatist Maroons lends credence to the claim of sovereignty in the western Jamaica territory of Accompong.

Hutton said that the withholding of government support, apparently to target Accompong and Richard Currie, its chief, was “playing into the claim of sovereignty by cutting off aid to a foreign state it wished to bring back in line”.

The retired University of the West Indies professor insisted that the Accompong Maroons were Jamaican citizens with inalienable rights, adding that if those citizens broke the law, they should face the appropriate sanctions.

Hutton has also urged Currie, who has promulgated a secessionist agenda since his election in February 2021, not to force the Government’s hand as it would undermine efforts for infrastructural investment and sustainable development of the Cockpit Country.

“Principals at Accompong must not allow their actions to be used as an excuse by political and state actors (who previously come to court their votes) to thwart what is good in their deliberations for their community and nation.

“Thus, the assertion of sovereignty should not be used to violate COVID protocols. And they and all citizens must constantly point out their hypocrisy in the application of the protocols which undermine their effectiveness,” Hutton said on Friday.

However, constitutional expert and attorney-at-law Lloyd Barnett told The Gleaner on Friday that the Government would be well within its constitutional rights not to engage with, or finance, any Maroon community that is in breach of state laws.

“The celebrations offended the protocols in relation to the anti-COVID policy. The Government can’t say we support you when you are not supporting us by observing the protocols,” Barnett said, referencing last Thursday’s ceremony and festivities commemorating the 284th anniversary of the Maroon peace treaty with British colonisers.

“Essentially, as a matter of principle, if the funds are given on a discretionary basis, it can be withheld if the person is not conforming. The only complaint you can make is that the Government is discriminating against you or treating you unfairly. But then the question of unfair treatment will depend on what are the circumstances,” Barnett argued.

Though not naming Currie or Accompong, Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ assertions condemning any national group that claimed sovereignty were unmistakably directed at the St Elizabeth Maroon villagers, whose leader has laid down the gauntlet against the police and the Government.

“Jamaica is a unitary, sovereign state. There is no other sovereign authority in Jamaica other than the Government of Jamaica. Let me make this absolutely clear. None.” he said at a Jamaica House press conference.

Controversy heightened last Wednesday when the police warned that the Accompong celebration was not approved and would breach the Disaster Risk Management Act that governs coronavirus safety.

But Culture Minister Olivia Grange told The Gleaner that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management had, on January 3, given the green light to the hosting of specific ceremonial aspects of the event.

The minister was adamant that her engagement with the Maroons was on the basis of the cultural significance of their anniversary celebrations. She said no financial assistance was given.

“Because I knew the event was taking place, I used my initiative as minister to write to ODPEM for the approval for the ceremonial activities,” Grange said on Saturday.

“The police’s statement that was released spoke to not getting approval from the Ministry of Health. So they must have just checked with the Ministry of Health alone. They didn’t check with the Ministry of Culture, which is the government entity that has always engaged with the Maroons,” she added.

It is unclear whether Grange’s intervention contravened Cabinet policy of non-engagement issued in December 2021.

Attempts to reach the director general of ODPEM, Richard Thompson, were unsuccessful.

sharlene.hendricks@gleanerjm.com