“Not here to start a war” – that was the sentiment by Maroon Chief Richard Currie to the government and the wider public in an address via a video posted to his Instagram on Friday.

It was a softened tone by Chief Currie during his address, as he expressed the intentions of the maroon hierarchy as well as highlighted their significance to the country.

“Chief Richard Currie did not come here to start a war. Chief Currie came here to assert birthright and to facilitate economic and social upliftment of the Maroon people,” he stated.

“We’re not trying to create a divide, we’re not creating a threat to the state, we are not here trying to overthrow anybody” he added, as he addressed the tense and strained relationship between the Government and the Maroon Community.

Chief Currie, alluding to the sentiment by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during a press conference where he suggested that funding of a leadership, which operates autonomously from the government can incite ‘guerilla wars’ and government ‘Coups’.

The Maroon Chief asserted that given the geographical location of the Accompong maroon settlement being in the Cockpit country, which provides a significant volume to Jamaica’s freshwater supply, among other natural resources discussions are inescapable.

Currie noted that his responsibilities are entrenched in the welfare and preservation of the maroon people and their inherited land resources, which have come under increased threat of destruction via mining.

“At the end of the day, the Chief looks after his people,” he stated. “We live in a landlocked territory. Therefore, diplomatic engagement is necessary,” he added.

He also expressed disappointment in a request to the other chiefs for his absence as a conditionality for any meeting to be facilitated between both governments.

He indicated that after initially agreeing to the terms, the other Chiefs ultimately recanted on their decision to have barred him from any meeting involving the state of affairs for the Maroons.

“Having agreed to these terms, within the last 24 hours, much to my disappointment, the decision of the other three Colonels have changed,” he shared.

Despite alleged attempts to exclude him from meetings about the affairs between the maroon leadership and the island’s leadership, he remains open for dialogue to establish diplomatic resolutions.

“I have said it on many platforms, I’ve said it on many videos, I’ve said it on many programs – dialogue, dialogue, dialogue,” he said. “We continue and remain resolved to work with the government to bring a resolution to these challenges but not in a divided way,” he concluded.

Relations between the Maroon state of Accompong and the Jamaican government have been strained following the hosting of its annual festival against government prohibitions.

The January 6 activity resulted in the death of one person and injuring of several others, at the hands of a police officer during a confrontation.