POINT, Hanover — Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says it is up to Jamaicans to decide whether or not the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) erred in inviting popular entertainer Vybz Kartel, who had a murder conviction overturned on a technicality, onto the stage of their national conference on Sunday.

He has also questioned Chief Richard Currie’s appearance and what it says about the PNP’s stance on the Maroons having a separate State within Jamaica.

“The people of Jamaica can see what has been done and determine whether this was appropriate,” the minister told the Jamaica Observer on the sidelines of an event in Hanover on Wednesday.

Kartel, who raised his fist in the PNP’s signature salute but did not speak, appeared on the platform with his attorney Isat Buchanan. The lawyer briefly addressed the conference.

The dancehall artiste spent 13 years in prison after being convicted for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. On March 14, 2024 the UK-based Privy Council ruled that the convictions of Kartel and his two co-accused should be overturned because of juror misconduct. Kartel walked free in July after the Court of Appeal said the trio should not face retrial.

Chuck, who made it clear that he respects the court ruling, stressed that the men walked based on a technicality.

“To the extent that the conviction was vacated, it can be said that there’s no conviction. But bear in mind that the reason why he was not tried again is due to the Court of Appeal decision [on] the time passed. But it is something that many Jamaicans wonder, whether the trial itself, if it was conducted [with only the] remaining jurors, whether the conviction would not have remained,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, in addressing the issue of controversial Accompong Maroon Chief Richard Currie’s apparent endorsement of the PNP on Sunday, Chuck cautioned Jamaicans to be clear on Currie’s objectives.

“Jamaicans must be aware that Richard Currie would like a compound to be a State within the State of Jamaica. Is that something that we can even contemplate? He would like Accompong to have its own ministers, its own recognition as a State, and therefore, as far as he’s concerned, he wants Jamaica to recognise Accompong as a State within a State, as I understand them, [from] some of the things that he has expressed,” the justice minister said, repeating a stance previously taken by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“If that is his position, how can we, in all reason or consideration, start to discuss anything with him? Because that is where, to the best of my knowledge, he’s coming from. Is that what the PNP is going to do, recognise a compound as a separate State?” Chuck asked.

He maintained that over the years, Jamaicans have always treated the Maroons with dignity, due respect and civility, and afforded the group all State benefits.

“You have this new colonel who now wants to go further and declare, almost, independence in a compound. That is not something that Jamaicans should even contemplate. The PNP must determine if that is what they will do if, God forbid, they should ever return to power in the near future,” Chuck said.

Currie, who has been at odds with the Government for some time, has complained that after three-and-a-half years of attempts to engage in talks with the Jamaica Labour Party-led Administration, there has been no response. In contrast, he noted, PNP President Mark Golding has attended events hosted by the Maroons.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has questioned whether the Opposition, if it returns to power, would allow the Maroons to have a separate State within Jamaica. (Photo: Anthony Lewis)