Maroons unite

Launtia Cuff, Gleaner Writer

ACCOMPONG, St Elizabeth:

WITH THE many visitors who travelled from across the island and even from overseas to celebrate the rich history of the Trelawny Town Maroons on January 6, the birth date of their founding leader Cudjoe, British High Commissioner David Fitton said while it was important to reflect on their heritage, it was even more important to look forward as there was much other countries could learn from the example of the Maroons.

"I want to look forward, not back, because I think your history has a lot [it] can teach us in Jamaica, and in my country and other countries overseas.

"The British had to fight the Trelawny Town Maroons and found them very determined and courageous opponents, probably the most determined and courageous opponent that the British had to face. After the treaty was signed, the British of those days also found that the Trelawny Town Maroons were powerful friends. I've come to learn even in the short time that I have been here today that friendship is an important part of Maroon life," Fitton said while addressing the attendants at the event

Admirable society

The high commissioner said it was admirable for any society in this day to have virtually no crime, especially without the aid of law enforcement.

"If we stop to think for a moment, a society which is so close, which has no need of police, which does not suffer from the evil of crime is a rare thing anywhere in the world. I think you have all the ingredients for perfection here if you keep hold of them tightly and you introduce them as best you can to others as you have done to me today," he said

He also said while the Maroons should take care to maintain their culture, it was still important for them to venture outside of their community and learn from others and then take that knowledge back to Accompong.

"Sometimes you must go outside of your own community, as many of you have, and learn more from others and bring back knowledge. Outside influence need not be a bad thing providing that it doesn't interrupt what you have of your own and adds to the learning that you already have," Fitton said.

He added: "When you have such a rich culture, you must preserve it in lots of ways. Let your own culture enrich others, and learn from others as you do so."

Maroon and historian, Melville Currie, said it was the culture of unity that afforded the Maroons the opportunity to be triumphant over their enemies, but he said it was now being noticed that some Maroons were adopting an attitude of disunity and warned against it.

"Over the years, since the political system started in Jamaica, we have noticed something is happening in our community now, and that really gives us some food for thought. What this is doing is dividing the people into two factions. We cannot allow this to happen. We nuh inna division. We are Maroons. We want to stay as we are because if we do not unite, we will fall, we will fail," Currie told the gathering.

Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna, who was also present at the event, said she returned for the celebration to re-establish her ministry's commitment to work with the Maroons towards the development of Accompong. She also pledged the commitment of the ministry and its agencies, the Institute of Jamaica and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, to a reconfiguration and revitalisation of the Museum of Accompong.

rural@gleanerjm.com

PHOTOS BY LAUNTIA CUFF