The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, CERD has expressed concern about the alleged seizure of lumber in the maroon territory of Quick Step between Trelawny and St. Elizabeth last year and has requested that Jamaica provides information on the incident, by August 1.

In July 2024, the Forestry Department said it responded to reports of illegal harvesting activities, including the cutting and conversion of several Jamaican mahogany trees into lumber in the Cockpit Country Forest Reserve, near Accompong in St. Elizabeth.

It said hundreds of pieces of lumber were discovered.

However, the department said when it loaded the lumber for removal, their team’s exit was blocked as trees and boulders were used to obstruct the road. 

The police and military assisted with getting the forestry team out of the community safely.

The UN CERD said it received a report about the incident.

The report detailed that members of the maroon community demonstrated against the seizure and transportation of the lumber from the area. 

According to the report, following arguments between the maroons and members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the law enforcement agents allegedly responded violently.

As a result of the clashes, a 48 hour curfew was declared in Quick Step on July 29.

In a letter dated May 12, 2025 to the UN Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Jamaica, Richard Brown, CERD Chairman Michal Balcerzak said following the incident, it was reported that members of the maroon communities became targets of intimidation and harassment by law enforcement. 

The committee chair said the allegations, if verified, would infringe upon the protected rights of the indigenous maroon communities under the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), including their right to own, develop, control and use their communal lands, territories and resources. 

CERD also expressed concern about the reported lack of effective and meaningful consultation with the indigenous maroon communities on any projects or legislative or administrative measures, particularly the constitutional reforms, that may affect their land, territories and resources.

In this regard, the committee recalls its previous concluding observations in 1997 concerning Jamaica and its General Recommendation Number 23 on the rights of indigenous peoples.

A section of that recommendation states that the committee especially calls upon state parties to recognize and protect the rights of indigenous peoples to own, develop, control and use their communal lands, territories and resources. 

It said, where they have been deprived of their lands and territories traditionally owned or otherwise inhabited or used without their free and informed consent, steps should be taken to return those lands and territories.

The committee said in accordance with  the convention it requests that the state party which is a country that has adhered to the World Heritage Convention, and in this case, Jamaica,  provides information on the allegations, by August 1, 2025.

CERD said it wishes to continue to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Jamaican government with a view to ensuring the effective implementation of the convention.