Page 9 - The Maroons

“Consequently, we have a peace treaty with the Queen of Jamaica and we find that mining in the
Cockpit region is a complete violation of the terms of peace and friendship which we had extended to
her forefathers, being King George, and which she is bound to by a treaty unto this day and into
perpetuity,” said Semako I.

In the document, the Maroons state: “We must furthermore and accordingly declare that The Queen
of Jamaica, through her own handling or by means of proxy, did issue mining leases ML 173 et al and
in so doing has violated oaths of peace and friendship made by noble blood.”

Semako I said the Maroon community is also calling on The Queen to acknowledge and honour the
terms of the peace treaty that was signed into perpetuity.

Asked whether he expected the Jamaican Government and the governor general to respect their 280-
year-old agreement with the British, Semako I replied: “We are not concerned about the opinions of
the Government of Jamaica. We don't need their approval, and we are not concerned with the
opinions of the governor general, Sir Patrick Allen. I, nor any of the Maroons in Jamaica, require his
approval. What we are concerned about is the landholder who is The Queen of England and of
Jamaica, who is in violation of the terms of peace and friendship upon which she is bound and obliged
through oaths and treaties of noble blood.”

“It is not up to us to justify our presence. We are the indigenous here. It is the terms of peace which
allow and permit Her Majesty The Queen to be here in peaceful accord and friendship with us. So
there can be no question of whether we have documentation to prove that we can be here on the
island of Xaymaca. It is our island,” said Semako I. “The question is, does Her Majesty The Queen
have her papers in order?”

“Our aim is to maintain an atmosphere of peace and friendship because this treaty is inviolable. It
shall go on into perpetuity. But she has violated it, and it is up to her to bring it back to a normal
condition of cordiality and trust.

“It is my hope that not only can we re-establish peace between the Maroons of this island and the
other sovereign, being The Queen of Jamaica, but have The Queen bring herself back into a
condition of due care, but more importantly, that we begin to cooperate,” he said.