Bounty Killer Joins Maroon Chief In Quest For “No Bauxite Mining In Cockpit Country”

Bounty Killer has renewed his defence of the Cockpit Country, and has also come out in support of Accompong Town Maroon Chief Richard Currie’s bid to take the Government to the Supreme Court over the proposed bauxite mining within sections of Jamaica’s largest watershed area, which supplies 40 percent of the island’s water.

A few weeks ago, Currie had revealed that the Accompong Maroons had filed a lawsuit against the Andrew Holness-led administration, which he described as a legal fight to protect Cockpit Country, not just for Maroons, but for the born and the unborn, and to ensure that that “every Jamaican recognizes the natural, cultural and geological importance of Cockpit Country to all the island’s inhabitants”.

Yesterday, Bounty reshared a post telling his followers about the matter and seeking support and “donations to cover the cost for the case management” of the lawsuit against the Government “for violations of rights protected and secured under the 1738 Maroon Treaty with the British Crown”.

The Supreme Court is to hold the first hearing of the case which was filed last month against the Government and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, on Tuesday July 12.

Bounty’s co-signing of the lawsuit, evoked a big thank you from Currie who responded: “Gratitude and Honor Uncle; Kindah 🙏🏾 ⛰🚩”.

Bounty replied: @chiefrichardcurrie. Salute bro from the ppl for the ppl get up stand up 💪🏿”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfke5FtgViE/

Currie had explained that among the declarations being sought, are  the Maroons’ right to ancestral lands in the Cockpit Country under the 1738 Maroon Treaty, and redress for a declaration of title under the Registration of Titles Act without prejudice to Maroon sovereignty.

In addition, the Accompong Maroons’ lawsuit also outlines, among other things, violations of constitutionally protected rights to private property, and trespass on the Maroon estate, which Chief Currie says has been unlawfully permitted by the Government of Jamaica to be mined for bauxite and other ore, including lithium.

According to Munroe College old boy, a Fixed Date Claim has been precisely constructed to allow the court, “for the first time in history, to construe exactly how the 1738 Maroon Treaty remains in force under the 1962 Order in Council Constitution of Jamaica”.

He has also said that the intimidation and the failure of the Holness administration to resolve the land issue through discussions are among the reasons for the lawsuit.

A protected area, the Cockpit Country is the largest remaining natural forest in Jamaica.  Being a source of fresh water has been described as the region’s most unique, irreplaceable value, as it ,   stores water underground and releases it through rivers, streams, springs, upwellings, glades, and ponds, stretching across six parishes and supplying 40 percent  of the island’s exploitable water sources both above-ground and sub-surface.  It is also Jamaica’s largest remaining bloc of wet limestone forest, and a biodiversity hotspot due to its high concentration of endemic species.

In January, the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) granted a permit to Noranda Bauxite Company, in which the government is majority shareholder, for the mining of lands that are part of the Cockpit Country in St Ann via Special Mining Lease (SML) 173.

But Currie has argued that it is unthinkable that the Government would even remotely consider mining in the area when, beyond it being one of the world’s most biodiverse places, “its value to Jamaica’s water resources and at a time when the island is facing water scarcity due in part to climate-change impacts”.

According to Currie, the Maroon boundary, which also takes in Trelawny and St Elizabeth, would amount to US$3 billion in losses or 100 million tonnes of bauxite, while the Forestry Reserve boundary would herald a loss of US$0.45 billion or 15 million tonnes.

In mid-2019, Bounty Killer had unleashed his full wrath on Prime Minister Andrew Holness as he condemned the government for its plans to allow bauxite mining within sections of the Cockpit Country in Trelawny.

“ANY GOVERNMENT SELL OUT THE COCKPIT SHALL NEVER WIN AGAIN IN JAMAICA. Who is here for Jamaica let unuh voices be heard. Take a stand. Either u with us or against us. Speak up folks!! I’M NOT A JLP NOR A PNP. I’M A TRUE JAMAICAN,” the Anytime artiste had stated.

Weeks later in July 2019, the One General had taken to the studio to wage war for the protection of Jamaica’s natural environment, following protests by Albert Town residents in Trelawny who were fighting to prevent mining in Maroon territory and the watershed.

Back then Bounty made it clear that he wanted no bauxite mining in the Cockpit Country and would be cross and angry if the Jamaican Government permits bauxite companies to encroach into that territory.

In the song titled Born and Raise, he had even issued another  warning to the Prime Minister, noting that: “nuttn no lef fi di native a di lan; Wi a go wrath if dem sell Trelawny to Chinie man.”

“It seem if i don’t do it then it won’t be done anymore where is the voices of todays generation to stand for the ppl? I guess the ppl following these fools and turning idiots.   Albert Town stay vigilant allout war with the government Andrew… This lazy sleeping Jamaicans wake up!” Bounty had posted on Instagram.

But the issue appeared to have died down after, on August 28, 2019 Holness had a meeting with Bounty and his compatriots  Queen Ifrica and her partner Tony Rebel, at Jamaica House, the official residence of the Prime Minister, to discuss their concerns relating to bauxite mining within the buffer zones of the Cockpit.

Holness had posted photos from the meeting where a Powerpoint presentation on the boundaries was made to the three.

The Prime Minister also posted photographs of the three artistes smiling from ear to ear while posing with himself, then environment minister Daryl Vaz, and Senator Matthew Samuda.

Holness had said that the discussions with the trio, were enlightening and that he had restated to them his position that his administration remains committed to protecting the Cockpit Country.