KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, has expressed shock at the sudden passing of Colonel Marcia Douglas, leader of the Charles Town Maroon community in Portland.

Colonel Douglas died Wednesday on the way to the Seville Heritage Expo held at the Seville Heritage Park in St Ann in celebration of Heritage Week.

Noting that she was the first and only serving female Colonel of the Maroons, Grange shared, “As a guiding force within the Maroon community, Colonel Douglas dedicated her life to safeguarding and promoting the rich heritage and traditions of the Maroons, particularly the Charles Town Maroon community in Portland.”

“Her visionary leadership at the Charles Town Maroon Council and her stewardship of the annual Asafu Yard celebrations enabled Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora to connect with their roots and to take pride in their heritage,” she continued.

Reflecting on their partnerships, the culture minister recalled, “In 2020, Colonel Douglas approached me for support for online classes for students in Charles Town who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Ministry of Education had facilitated online classes islandwide, the Charles Town community needed data plans and devices to allow students to access their training portals.”

“I thought Colonel Douglas’ initiative was very commendable, and my ministry sponsored the acquisition of computers, tablets and data plans. The programme was very effective, and we continued to sponsor it in 2021,” Grange said, adding that the collaboration characterised Colonel Douglas’ visionary leadership and tireless advocacy for youth and her community.

The minister noted that Colonel Douglas continued to work closely with the ministry and they enjoyed a good and productive relationship which resulted in other successful and impactful initiatives including a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) funded training programme.

She said that with Colonel Douglas’ strong leadership, a six-month programme was successfully executed which facilitated the inter-generational transfer of cultural knowledge from Maroon elders to their youth in wicker, beading and hand-sewn crafts.

“The colonel’s legacy of mutual respect, advocacy, and work towards achieving sustainable development through unity and cooperation will never be forgotten.  She died as she lived in celebration of her heritage, devotion to her community and to Jamaica.  We will continue to support the vibrant annual celebrations and traditions of the people she so loved and served well,” Minister Grange said.

“I spoke with her spouse, Rodney, and indicated to him that our prayers are with him, their daughter Jamoike and the entire Charles Town Maroon community. As we honour her memory, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing initiatives which she started, to celebrate and preserve Jamaica’s rich Maroon heritage,” she shared. “May her soul rest in eternal peace.”