A multinational reconstruction initiative is underway to restore the historic Maroon settlement of Accompong in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, following extensive damage from an October hurricane that devastated approximately 80% of the community’s structures. Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced during his Sunday visit that engineering corps from the Jamaica Defence Force will lead repair operations, with additional support expected from several African nations including Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda.
The rebuilding effort holds particular significance as authorities work against the clock to prepare the community for its annual January festival commemorating the 1739 peace treaty between Maroons and British forces. Holness emphasized the cultural importance of Maroon communities within Jamaica’s heritage, acknowledging historical undersupport while characterizing the reconstruction as an opportunity for ‘a reset’ in governmental relations with indigenous communities.
Accompanied by Culture Minister Olivia Grange and Agriculture Minister Floyd Green, Holness received a firsthand assessment of the damage from Maroon Chief Richard Currie, who expressed gratitude for the assistance while highlighting the need for both housing and agricultural restoration. The Prime Minister concluded the visit by presenting a generator to the Accompong Primary and Infant School, symbolizing the beginning of coordinated recovery efforts between government agencies and the indigenous community.