New Institute of Maroon and Indigenous Studies proposed for UWI Mona and Maroon Communities

Kingston, Jamaica, January 20, 2025

A recommendation to establish a new Institute to research, document and share the rich history, culture and contribution of Maroon and Indigenous people at the University of The West Indies, Mona and in Maroon communities in Jamaica was welcomed by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles while addressing the opening of the historic Symposium on Maroons, which was recently held at The UWI Regional Headquarters. He was addressing a gathering of Maroon Chiefs and other representatives from the communities of Accompong, Mooretown, Flagstaff, Scotts Hall and Charles Town as well as other experts, attending the Symposium entitled “The Maroons of Jamaica:  Our Legacies, Telling Our Own Truths,” on January 9, 2025.

“The UWI has a moral duty to facilitate not just resilience but the opportunity for the Jamaica Maroons to thrive and that is exactly what we will do”, Professor Beckles said. “An Institute for Maroon Studies should be established… The most precious thing that ever came out of the Caribbean is the Maroons… Everywhere there was slavery, there was marronage. This University is an expression of marronage today.”

He further declared that “Everything we need to know about the future can be found in the study of our past….There can be no discussion about the future of this region without the Maroons. Maroon philosophy, politics and ideology must be at the center.” He concluded by reinforcing that “We are all Maroons.”

Professor Beckles welcomed the proposal for an Institute of Maroon and Indigenous Studies, following opening remarks by Gaamaa Gloria Simms, Chairperson of the Maroon Women’s Network, who said “I have been looking forward to seeing Maroon Studies at The UWI, it is full time. It is in accordance with The UWI mission statement which includes uplifting culture, and the University should have Maroon people coming in to speak.” Gaamaa Gloria also noted that “We also need proper representation in Parliament for the development of Maroon people.”

The Maroon Institute would lead a collaborative research, advocacy and policy agenda with the Maroon communities and be positioned as a regional and global centre for indigenous and Maroon knowledge, culture and history.

Organised by the CARICOM Reparations Commission in collaboration with The UWI Centre for Reparation Research, the Maroon communities of Jamaica, AIDO Network International, the Global African Diaspora Kingdom and Omanye Royal Kingdom, the Symposium was designed to hear the authentic voices of the Maroon Colonels and Chiefs, telling their historical stories and truths, dispelling myths and misconceptions and strengthening their unity and reconciliation efforts, which was on full display at the Symposium. The recent successful staging of the 287th Maroon Festival in Accompong on 6 January lead the way on this Sankofa journey.

The Symposium was also part of an initiative by the CARICOM Reparations Commission to amplify the voices and increase advocacy for reparatory justice and the rights of the Maroons and other indigenous groups, as highlighted by Dr. Hilary Brown, Programme Manager Culture and Community Development, CARICOM Secretariat (Enstooled Queen Asianut Acom II), who officially opened the proceedings. “The Maroons are among the indigenous people of the region who are due reparatory justice and have a right to development. Their issues, concerns and rights must be respected and amplified within the regional movement for reparatory justice,” she said. 

Chief Richard Currie of Accompong in his remarks painted a picture of Maroon self-determination and resilience which forced the British to capitulate. Jamaica’s wealth was at the epicenter of Caribbean development where sugar was like oil,” he said.

He also explained that “The losses that the British suffered – their troops, economically, in mercantile trade and commerce were underlying forces which forced the British to sign the treaty with the Maroons. In fact, the first independent Caribbean Republic, Jamaica, set the standard for development to continue,” the Accompong Paramount Chief said.

His Highness Paul Jones Eganda (Enstooled Papa Ateker I) is President of AIDO Network International and Chairman of the Global African Diaspora Kingdom began his opening remarks with the day’s mantra: “Bayete (Royal Greetings) – Nothing about the Maroons… Without the Maroons,” delivered in a call and response style that reverberated all day through the entire Symposium.

He also expressed to the audience that “AIDO Network consists of 600+ Kingdoms and represents two million people.  I believe in the Maroons and honor the sacrifices of our ancestors who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.”  HH Eganda also told the unified Maroon Colonels/Chiefs to: “Keep up the good work, I am proud of you and want to work with all of you.”

He also expressed the view that “This is a global affair, the indigenous people should be protected and must get what belongs to them. Honor the past – celebrate the present – envision the future. We must continue the fight for Reparations. We are guided by our ancestors and Sir Hilary Beckles [who] has given us the guidance we need.”

Through a series of panel and roundtable discussions, representatives of the Maroon communities, notably Chief Richard Currie and Ambassador Anu El of Accompong; Col. Wallace Sterling (Moore Town); Colonel Lloyd Lattibeaudiere (Scott’s Hall); Chief Kanute Cameron (Flagstaff); Gaamaa Gloria Simms, Maroon Women’s Network (Charles Town); and Ms. Beverly Carey (Researcher and renowned Maroon Author), spoke to the enduring legacies, contribution, history and culture of the Maroons and the lasting impact on Jamaican society and culture.

There was also a special focus on the historic treaty signed between the Maroons and the British in 1739 with insightful presentations from Chief Currie, Ambassador Anu El and Mr. Bert Samuels, Pan Africanist and Attorney-at-Law.

Symposium highlights included the Opening panel: “Maroon Treaties, Resistance, History & Culture: Dispelling Myths, Telling Our Truths,” which was moderated by Dr. Hilary Brown, CARICOM Secretariat. Panelists were: Chief Richard Currie (Paramount Chief aka Papa Odwe II, and Ambassador Anu El, Accompong); Mr. Bert Samuels (Attorney-at-Law, National Council on Reparations); Col. Wallace Sterling (Moore Town) and Colonel Lloyd Lattibeaudiere (Scott’s Hall).

The second panel entitled: “Maroon Legacies and Impact on Contemporary Jamaican & Caribbean Culture” was moderated by Dr. Sonjah Stanley Niaah, Director, Centre for Reparation Research, The UWI. Panelists included: Gaamaa Gloria Simms, Ms. Beverly Carey (Researcher | Author), Alex Moore-Minott (Myal priest) and Mr. Sydney Bartley (Culture Expert | Consultant).

The closing roundtable was moderated by Dr. Chenzira Davis Kahina, enstooled Queen Mother Hajila Adeke ( AIDO | GADK | CPAN | CRC | UNIA ACL RC 2020) and entitled: “Jamaica and the Maroons: Inclusion, Collaboration and the Right to Development.” Participants included:  Chief Richard Currie (Accompong); Colonel Wallace Sterling (Moore Town); Colonel Lloyd Lattibeaudiere (Scott’s Hall); Chief Kanute Cameron (Flagstaff), and Dr. Marcus Goffe (UWI / Legal Counsel of YCOIL/Charlestown). The panel focused on constitutional reform and advocated for inclusivity of the Maroons of Jamaica in all future proceedings and developments.

Mrs. Sharon Parris-Chambers, Publisher of Caribnewsroom online news journal, served as chairperson of the day’s proceedings. The Symposium ended on a high note with a commitment to commence work on the establishment of the Institute for Maroon and Indigenous Studies, which will be informed by the priorities identified by the Maroons in the Symposium. The Institute will have branches in the Maroon communities for collaboration and inclusivity. There was also a commitment to advancing the discussion on constitutional reform and inclusivity of indigenous people in the process.

HH Queen Grace Eganda, Secretary General of AIDO Network International, offered closing remarks where she recognized Professor Beckles for his visionary leadership and declared that victory was already on the horizon and that the journey had just begun.

Contact:  Theo Chambers
Caribnewsroom (Co-Publisher)

Kingston, Jamaica, W.I.

+1-876-310-6612