ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – Embattled Accompong Maroon Chief Richard Currie says his people are within their right to defend the Cockpit Country as their own amid a standoff between residents of Quickstep and the authorities on the weekend.

“The Maroons are within their right to defend their territory to defend the forest. Chief Currie is not a ‘lumberer’. Chief Currie is a defender of the earth… defender of the culture. That is all I have been doing since I have come here and I have been asking for dialogue to resolve long standing issues. Particularly, the one with Quickstep and the illicit lumbering [there],” he said on Instagram live Monday morning.

His comments follow the alleged barricading of seven Forestry Department workers in the Cockpit Country on the weekend. The Forestry Department said it disrupted a major illegal logging operation in the community of Quickstep and was impeded in conducting its lawful duties by more than 200 community members and illegal loggers.

READ: Maroon Chief Currie in hot water

Currie, who has been vocal in questioning the actions of the Forestry Department, reiterated that he has been trying to de-escalate tensions between residents and the authorities.

“We are here in Accompong and it has been a tense moment for us and everybody in the adjoining communities. I have been assiduously working since morning to prevent any escalations of tensions with the dispatch of several [police] officers into the Quickstep community this morning,” he said.

“It hasn’t made it any easier to try and quell the temperature of the people when they see such an aggressive show of force in the Maroon community, particularly Quickstep. I saw that there has been some challenge as to the ownership of Quickstep and that Quickstep is a Government owned property… Go and look up in your history book about the land of look behind. This is the heart of Cockpit Country. Tell me which part of the Cockpit Country the Government of Jamaica owns land. Explain that to me, so whoever has that claim should bring that claim forward and should table it and let us have a discussion,” he added.

The police have since imposed a 48-hour curfew for the community of Quick Step and its environs which includes the Pullet Hall main road and the Forest Reserves.

According to the police, the aim of the order is to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the community while the Jamaica Constabulary Force conducts investigations into the theft of government property, abduction, and obstruction of forest agents who were on duty in the area on the weekend.

Residents are encouraged to remain calm, stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities, the police said.

— Kasey Williams