Accompong Maroon Chief Richard Currie is refuting claims that he has been ousted as the leader of the Maroons.

In a statement to his Instagram page, Currie, posted that news of his removal is a “conspiracy to overthrow the current democratic elected leader for Accompong”.

On Sunday, rumours began circulating that Currie was convicted on 27 impeachment charges along with a vote of no confidence.

In response, Currie advised the public that the process of having a leader removed as chief, must follow the laws of the Accompong Constitution.

“In the event of impeachment, or removal of the Chief, Deputy Chief, and any of the Council members, they will be tried by the Executive Council. The findings of the Executive Council will be brought to the Full Maroon Council for review,” the release said.

“If the individual is found guilty, a meeting of the Full Maroon Council will be called with the Maroon citizens of the Sovereign State of Accompong to reveal the findings. A vote will be taken by written ballots for the removal or impeachment of the Chief, the Deputy Chief or any Council Member(s),” it continued.

He added that there is no provision in the Accompong Constitution affording any Council outside the Full Maroon Council to execute the laws.

In November 2021, Currie denied claims that he was running Accompong like a dictator amid growing tension over his leadership of the historic Maroon village in the hills of St Elizabeth.

The accusations were made after a resident complained of being stabbed and ‘gun-butted’ by one of Currie’s security men as they shut down a party in the town, allegedly on orders from Currie.

Currie, at that time, told OBSERVER ONLINE he was investigating the claims.

READ: Maroon anger

Currie, who was elected head of the St Elizabeth-based Accompong Town Maroons in March 2021, in recent times, has been sparring with the government over the 1738 treaty the Maroons signed with the British government.

On January 9, Prime Minister Andrew Holness dismissed the rhetoric of the Accompong Maroons that they are a sovereign people.

“Under my leadership, not one inch of Jamaica will come under any other sovereign authority”, Holness charged.