Page 3 - The Maroon- Patricia Reid

Jamaica Legislature in " slavery days " passed a law forbidding the importation of any more of the tribe. Recruited

from this source, the Maroons daily became more formidable. The hills in which they had ensconced themselves

were well-nigh inaccessible to Europeans, or even to the "Black shot," who accompanied them. The latter were

confidential slaves, armed and equipped as soldiers to assist their masters.

The state of affairs was becoming intolerable and was, of course, to the last degree detrimental to the colony; it was

necessary to bring the Maroons to terms in any way that was feasible. Treaties had been made with the Maroons in

1738 and 1739; by the terms of these treaties, certain tracts of land were granted to the Maroons free of taxation.

Based on an article posted by the Jamaican Gleaner on Sunday, November 04, 2018 by Shalman Scott. The writer

denotes that, “there is today no difference or distinction whatever in the rights and obligations as defined by the law

of this island between persons residing in former Maroon settlements and those of any other British subject in

Jamaica.” The 1962 Jamaican Constitution Order in Council passed by the United Kingdom Parliament whilst

retaining her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. Also, while the Maroons' large acreages of land were

ideal to fight guerilla or bush warfare, when hostilities ceased and the economic race for sugar production and sale

began, the Maroons discovered they could not compete; therefore, they became permanently and acutely

marginalized.

However, there is no reference in the Order of Council or the Constitution of Jamaica to the Maroons! Clearly

Maroon folklore, legends and emotional flight of fanciful stories will not suffice. We are a country of laws. In 1956

the legal relevance and validity of the two Maroon 'Treaties' of 1739 and 1741 were tested in law through the

Supreme Court of Jamaica. The outcome was dismal for the Maroons.