Page 2 - The Maroons

Article for the Gleaner

The Maroons… Fighting for their Rights

Done By: Renia Brown
The maroons are a set indigenous people who now
resides in the hills of Jamaica called the Cockpit
Country. They were slaves set free by the
Spaniards, when the British invaded the island in
1665 they escape into hill of Jamaica. After years
of war between the maroons and British a treaty
was signed giving them the freedom. These proud,
strong and resilient people developed for
themselves colony, which became a “nation within
a nation”. For centuries, they have been enjoying
their own monarchy and sovereignty as they
consider themselves as a sovereign state.

Nevertheless, today these strong set of people are
being marginalized and their rights being trampled
on. As they are being disregarded by the
government of Jamaica with regards to matters
concerning them and their territory. They are
considered insignificant, and therefore are being
excluded from major decision making that
concerns them. According to the treaties signed in
1739, the maroons were given bounded territories
and were declared the landowners. These lands
include the Cockpit Country.

However today they are in constant battle with government of Jamaica re the Cockpit Country as their
rights to own property is being infringed on. It is my believe that the cockpit countries belong to the
maroons, as it is a part of their territory. With mining as one of Jamaica’s main source of bringing in
foreign exchange, the government and the Noranda Bauxite Company wanted to mine in the Cockpit
Country. This action is not wise move, as it will definitely infringe on their rights.

However, the Maroons held their ground and fight for their rights, not only to protect their land, but
also the beautiful vegetation and the different types of animals that are only found there.

The maroons being the warriors they are stop at nothing, as they battle for what is rightfully theirs. They
wrote to the Queen through the Governor General of Jamaica who is her representative here in Jamaica.
They marched to Gordon House where they staged a protest, as their voice must be heard on the issue.

The government being aware of the violation of the Maroons rights is attempting to set boundaries
around the cockpit country in order to prevent such violation. I would recommend however, that the
government from now on will include the maroons in any decision making that concerns them. My
second recommendation is that the parties involved just refrain from mining anywhere near the Cockpit
Country. This is the simple and best solution to this problem. There are other lands in Jamaica that can
be used for mining. Let us not infringe on the rights of the Maroons!