Richard Currie’s hastily announced election date was hardly unexpected.
The constitution he claims to govern according to clearly stipulates that after three months, any Chief must relinquish control of state property and cease conducting business on Accompong’s behalf.
Currie’s five-year tenure concluded on 18th February 2026. Consequently, on 18th May, he would have been unable to announce an election, which would have been a significant embarrassment for a man who had enjoyed considerable popularity for months after becoming the face of Accompong in 2021.
In a Nationwide News Network interview with George Davis, Currie explained the reason for the short notice between the announcement, nomination day and election day. He cited a clause in the controversial constitution that states the full maroon council takes control if the election isn’t announced three months after it’s due.
On 5th May, former Colonel of the maroon enclave Meridie Rowe filed an injunction in the Jamaican courts. This injunction seeks to instruct Currie to relinquish all documents and property belonging to the maroon people of Accompong. Over the past five years, Currie has been using a Toyota Coaster bus, acquired for the maroon enclave by former Colonel Ferron Williams. Additionally, there’s a building that was initially constructed to house The Bank of Accompong during Williams’ tenure.
Throughout the past five years, several GoFundMe initiatives endorsed by Currie have raised millions of Jamaican dollars. However, there has been no transparent use of these funds, which is a stark contrast to what was expected from a man with a master’s degree in business.
The maroons of Accompong, the former chiefs, and potential candidates for the new chief all share a common sentiment: Currie’s five-year tenure failed to produce any substantial and meaningful achievements for the maroon people.
It’s clear that the enumeration process (which Currie claims he had no involvement in), the voters’ list and the proposed election day process are all questionable at this point. The entire process is far from transparent and the man seeking re-election as chief insists it will be an internal affair with no oversight from the Electoral Office of Jamaica.
If this fraudulent election proceeds it will mark the beginning of the end for Accompong’s claim to sovereignty.
