JG - Maroons crash BBC taping - Not on sacred grounds, they say

Jamaica Gleaner

Maroons crash BBC taping - Not on sacred grounds, they say

Published: Sunday May 10, 2009

Paul H. Williams, Gleaner Writer


Patrons gather and wait for the festivities to begin under the Kinda tree in Accompong town, St Elizabeth, on Saturday January 6, 2006. The occasion was the 269th anniversary celebration to mark the signing of the peace treaty between the maroons and the British. The Kinda Tree is considered sacred. - File


A TENSE stand-off exists between Maroon leaders and a group of local community members over the taping of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary on April 4.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Members of the community, led by Richard Robinson, the co-chair of the Full Council of Maroons, allegedly crashed the taping, destroying video equipment and utensils that were being used on the set to showcase Maroon traditional meat jerking. "

"While production was taking place, Robinson and president of the Accompong United
Youth and Sports Club got wind of the activities and proceeded to Kinda - the Maroon sacred site, with machete in hand. He halted the proceedings, as he was not interested in a financial 'negotiation' that was about to take place. "

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"While some Maroons are upset with Robinson, he seems to have strong support from many residents who said the filming should not have gone on with or without permission, for monetary gains or not, as it would defile sacred Maroon grounds. Even if permission were granted to the BBC team, Robinson and his supporters said it was done without consultation with and approval of the Full Maroon Council as stipulated by The (2004) constitution of the Trelawny Town Maroons of the Sovereign State of Accompong.

Paragraph three of the constitution's preamble says, "The colonel shall not have the sole power and/or authority to enter into any agreement on behalf of the Trelawny Town Maroons of the Sovereign State of Accompong without the consent of the Full Council."

Paragraph four states, "It is customary and traditional that the colonel does not have the right to enter into any transactions or agreement on behalf of the Trelawny Town Maroons of the Sovereign State of Accompong without the approval of the council.""

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paul.williams@gleanerjm.com