Accompong Maroons living in the Cockpit Country in St. Elizabeth are gearing up for their annual maroon festival and celebration, marking the 284th anniversary of peace and amity. The festival commemorates the victory of the maroons in the first war against the British in which they fought for their freedom.
But the Jamaica Constabulary Force is warning that no approval has been given for the staging of this event, usually attended by hundreds of patrons. His highly ritualistic celebration commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the 1739 peace treaty with the British.
With the existence of the covid-19 pandemic, the maroons will have to take a different approach.The St. Elizabeth police are however warning citizens not to attend the event, as a gathering with more than ten people would be a breach of the disaster risk management act.
The police are also calling on the organisers of the event to comply with the instructions given by the ministry of health and wellness and to cancel the planned event.
