Plot Twist in Accompong: Government Drops Receipts — Is Chief Currie Misleading the Public?
Jamaica Live News Desk– | Dec 7, 2025
The controversy surrounding disaster relief in Accompong has taken a dramatic turn after Government Minister Daryl Vaz, MP, published evidence on his social media pages directly contradicting claims made by Maroon Chief Richard Currie.
According to Vaz, Accompong was among the first communities visited by government officials in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. He stated that just days after the storm, assessment teams—including himself—entered the community to evaluate the damage.
Vaz’s post claims that during this early assessment, Chief Currie personally informed the government team that the majority of homes in Accompong had sustained damage, reinforcing that the community was in urgent need of assistance.
This sharply contradicts public statements and online narratives that suggested the Jamaican Government either ignored Accompong or was reluctant to intervene.
Government Says It Was Already Engaged
Vaz further stated that earlier this month, government representatives returned to Accompong—this time delivering donations and meeting with residents directly.
Following this, Prime Minister Andrew Holness publicly announced that the Government would provide support to repair damaged buildings in Accompong and surrounding areas across St. Elizabeth, confirming that the relief effort would be broad and inclusive.
Holness emphasized transparency and responsibility, sharing on his social media that:
“There is no community for which the Government of Jamaica is not responsible… No Jamaican community will be neglected or taken for granted.”
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
The dispute appears to hinge on Currie’s rejection of JDF-led rebuilding assistance, where he insisted that aid should be handed over directly to him rather than coordinated and executed by state agencies.
Currie, meanwhile, has argued that his comments were taken out of context and that he never refused assistance—only the form in which it was being offered.
But Vaz’s evidence now adds a new layer, painting a different timeline and challenging Currie’s version of events.
Public Growing Weary of Mixed Messages
With a devastated community still struggling to rebuild, many Jamaicans have grown frustrated by conflicting accounts.
Government officials insist they acted quickly and responsibly.
Currie maintains the government is misrepresenting his position.
Residents are caught in the middle.
And now, with Vaz publicly documenting early government engagement in Accompong, the question becomes unavoidable:
Could it be that Chief Currie is deceiving the public?
Or is this simply another case of political mistrust spiraling into confusion during a national crisis?
Only time—and transparency—will tell.