Accompong Maroons reject JDF support to help rebuild community

 

Accompong Maroons Chief Richard Currie has rejected an offer from Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness to deploy members of the military in the maroon community to aid in the recovery and reconstruction efforts. 

 

Prime Minister Holness made the offer during a tour of the maroon community in St. Elizabeth on the weekend. 

 

It is estimated that 80 per cent of the 260 homes in Accompong were damaged by the storm. 

 

But in a post on social media Thursday, Chief Currie argued that the leadership of the compound community cannot accept members of the military roaming the area. 

 

"Following a deep comprehensive internal review and a formal deliberation, the full maroon council has decided not to accept the offer on the militarisation of the space during the recovery effort. The full maroon council instead has resolved to continue with the response utilising civilian resources from our adjoining communities and our partners, both locally and internationally, who have offered to the community their assistance in the recovery efforts. Instead, the council would like to thank you for the offer on materials and would accept the offer on those materials and equipment necessary to assist in those recovery efforts," said the maroon chief.

 

He added that the Accompong community has been receiving international aid in the necessary recovery efforts and called on the government not to view his position as a rejection. 

 

"This decision is not a rejection of cooperation nor does it diminish the appreciation of the humanitarian intent behind your offer. We again thank you. But rather it reflects Accompong's capacity to manage its internal recovery efforts through established civilian channels and international collaborative efforts that have been ongoing since the impact of this storm," he stressed.