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Colonel Lloyd Latibeaudiere, leader of the Scott's Hall Maroons,
Leader of the Scott's Hall Maroons, Colonel Lloyd Latibeaudiere, says efforts were made to include Accompong Maroon Chief Richard Currie in Friday's meeting with the government.
The meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holness involved Colonel Latibeaudiere, Colonel Wallace Sterling, who heads the Moore Town Maroons, and Colonel Marcia Douglas, who is the leader of the Charles Town Maroons.
During an Instagram live session on Friday morning, Chief Currie suggested the meeting was held on the condition that he was excluded.
But Colonel Latibeaudiere told Radio Jamaica News he understood the Prime Minister's decision to leave out Chief Currie.
"The Prime Minister had said that he did not want to meet with Mr. Currie right now because of the tension in the air and the disrespect, and I think he has a right to defend that."
Colonel Latibeaudiere said the Maroon leaders had an emergency meeting on Thursday night to "let [Chief Currie] know that we may still have to go because somehow, we have to start dialogue".
He said the other Maroon leaders felt "obligated" to attend the meeting set by the Prime Minister and to "go along" with his protocols since he was the one who set this meeting.
However, he noted that the Maroons will plan the next meeting between themselves and the government, so Chief Currie would get the opportunity to speak about issues related to Accompong.
Still, he insisted that the talks were not just about the Maroons and their specific issues but also about Jamaica.
Friday's meeting with the Prime Minister, the Scott's Hall Maroon leader said, has set the pace for further dialogue.
There are four Maroon groups in Jamaica, each headed by an elected chief.
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