On day three of Jamaica via Agnes, we had the chance to visit one of the few Maroon communities in Jamaica. Our tour guide, Lawrence, a native of the community walked us throughout and blessed us with some exciting information regarding Accompong.
Location: St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica─Cockpit Country
The sun beamed down on my body, showing me some sweet love as I toured the Accompong village. I saw a map of the compound which detailed a simplistic layout of the community. I won’t be showing a picture of the map as I feel it is something precious to the community and I myself did not take a picture because of my position as a tourist. A couple of chickens crossed my path and the plant life sprouted into the walkway. I touched everything I was allowed to touch and enjoyed every minute of it. I saw so many beautiful flowers that excited my mind. Though, the thing that really caught my attention was the hotel being built in the community and the intention for the construction.
IMPORTANT FIGURE
Sgt. Laxi Lambert Salmon
Globalization in Jamaica
Sometimes I feel as though we are fine-tuned to notice when people are not in their element, or rather the place, I, as the viewer am used to seeing such individuals. Throughout the streets of Jamaica, there was a lot of construction taking place. The workers were Asian. This was my first time traveling outside of the country; so, I left home with a very open mind. I didn’t go expecting much, except for the beef patties of course.
The reason for the presence of the Asians in Jamaica, from my view, is a result of the globalization occurring at the time. When driving through Montego Bay, I noticed that there were not as many Jamaicans in this area compared to other cities/parishes. The streets were nicely paved over, it looked like the new streets of Atlanta, what used to be my home. Due to the large influx of tourists through Montego Bay, the creeping claws of globalization seeped into Jamaica. After leaving this area and heading into the more rural parts of Jamaica, I began to see a lot more Jamaicans and the roads got a lot bumpier.
This trip has allowed me to look at my home and see what is happening right in front of me, over many years past; though, that’s an article for another time.
Towards the end of our tour we came upon a hotel being built within the Maroon community. Lawrence, our tour guide, told us about the secrecy of the Maroon communities. No one can simply buy a piece of land in Accompong and move within its walls. They only way to become a member of Accompong is through marriage, or birth. With the knowledge of this secrecy, it is shocking to see the small inklings of globalization creeping into Accompong. It’s disturbing to me that Accompong has had to open their doors to tourism in order to maintain their livelihood.
INTERESTING FACT:
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In Accompong, the dead are buried with their heads facing towards the West. It represents that they were never able to return home and in death, their descendants wanted to finally return them to their motherland symbolically.
It’s been so fun sharing my experiences in Jamaica and while this is the end of my Tale of Jamaica I have so much more to share with you all. So, don’t worry, write ya soon!