Chief Richard Currie And Buju Banton Blocked From Entering Maroon Election

Made in JamaicaMay 9, 2022

The disagreement between the Jamaican Government and certain members of the Maroon community has sparked again as Reggae artiste Buju Banton and the leader of the Accompong Maroons chief Richard Currie were blocked from entering the premises of one of the autonomous territories for an election.

The specific reason why Richard Currie and the ‘Gargamel’ were blocked from entering the maroon territory is unclear; however, it is a well-known fact that the Reggae singer has been showing his support to the Accompong chief especially after they have been going back and forth with the Government about issues ranging from land to their sovereign status.

The entertainer even stepped up to Currie’s defence more when the leader of the Accompong maroons was charged for carrying a firearm on maroon territory which the artiste saw as an effort by the Government to usurp his leadership.

According to the Jamaica Gleaner, the election involved a teenager by the name of Lomorra Dillion who is said to have gone up against Colonel Wallace Sterling who for three decades has been the head of the community said to be in the Parish of Portland.

The mother of the teenager was also reported to have given a statement to the news medium that initially published the story, stating that Buju would have voted because of his Moore Town Maroon heritage.

It is understood that Currie and the ‘Gargamel’ were refused entry upon their arrival at the community and were held at a security checkpoint at Rio Grande in the Parish.

The Jamaica Gleaner also reported that the Head of the Portland Police Division, Kenneth Chin did confirm that Banton and Currie were refused entry into the maroon community and held at the security checkpoint but did not give any details as to why that happened.