Casino proposal angers Maroons Objection to foreign investors

Claudia Gardner, Hospitality Jamaica Writer

SOME ACCOMPONG Maroons in St Elizabeth are objecting to what they say is a proposal being made by Florida-based investors Hal Brooke and Associates to construct a casino and a 400-room hotel on 50 acres of land in the community.

PHOTO BY HERBERT MCKENNIS The Maroons celebrating in fine style during the 268th Annual Accompong Maroon Festival at Accompong, St. Elizabeth.

According to them, such a move could destroy the Maroon culture and sovereignty.

One former Colonel, Harris Cawley, told Hospitality Jamaica that he was displeased that such a development was even being contemplated by the current Accompong Maroon administration.

"We don't want a casino! Casino is not going to help us! We need something more substantial and uplifting to help the younger ones, where we can live a dignified life, because Maroons are proud people!" he said angrily. "We don't want to know that foreign entities come in and later on it becomes a problem ­ because it can be."

His sentiments were shared by the most controversial Colonel of modern times, Meredie Rowe, who has also expressed his disapproval, saying the development would destroy the Maroon heritage and reflect badly on the community.

NEGOTIATING HEAVILY

"They are negotiating heavily with the World Bank and other agencies, but not only do we think a casino is improper, but it will devastate our culture to the point where our celebration would be a cosmetic routine thing with no quality," Rowe added.

But head of the Accompong Maroons, Colonel Sydney Peddie has defended the idea of the development, and denied that the proposal by the developers is for a casino. "They have approached us with a gaming resort and not a casino," he explained. He said the developers had invited him on an all-expense paid trip to Florida to "see other places they have developed", but that he had not yet accepted the invitation.

According to him, the resort will be built on Maroon lands, but would not be in the residential section of the community. "It would be a new town with bars, hairdressing and barber shops and games rooms and a hotel. They did not mention casino, but the people who are against it say it is a casino."

He said the developers met with the entire community, yet some Maroons who were present still don't understand what the situation is. He admitted that he was considering the proposal. "But I would not make any decision until the people of Accompong accept that it is the right decision. I am not a dictator."

And others like Maroons spokesman on tourism, Rupert Robinson, while not objecting to the development, warned that the Maroon administration exercise caution in the matter, since they do not have the expertise to conduct such negotiations.

ARGUMENTS

"There are arguments for and against it. But we have got to be careful of what we do, and how we do it, because we haven't got the population; we haven't got the know-how. We haven't got the knowledge of how to manage a thing of this nature. So, therefore, we would have to call in a lot of outsiders."

He said the Maroons, especially those in the United States, who are aware of the casino business are the main ones who are objecting to it. On the other hand, the locals who he claims have no experience sees it a means of improving the community, "They are the ones who are saying to go ahead."