The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has listed Maroon Chief Richard Currie as a person of interest in connection with an incident in Quickstep, St Elizabeth, where a team from the Forestry Department was barricaded in the community on Friday.
According to Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, head of the Constabulary Communications Network (CCN), Currie is being asked to report to the police by 10am on Monday in relation to the incident.
She was speaking during an interview on RJR News on Sunday.
A joint police-military team responded to a call on Friday that workers from the Forestry Department had been unable to leave Quickstep due to roadblocks, caused by fallen trees and large boulders.
The incident is believed to be linked to a longstanding dispute between residents and officials over the cutting of trees for lumber in a protected forest area in the community.
The Forestry Department was conducting a seizure operation of cut lumber when the area was blocked, leading to a stand-off with residents who suspected officials of wanting the lumber for personal gain.
The police went to the area on Saturday, and were able to escort the eight member team safely from the community sometime after 2pm.
Currie, who has been vocal about the issue, took to Instagram on Saturday to criticise the authorities for allegedly being involved in lumbering. However, the police have deemed the situation serious enough to warrant further investigation, with possible charges to be laid.
“It was a very hostile situation,” said Lindsay, adding that other individuals have also been identified in connection with the incident.
“It is very likely that there will be charges, because they consider what happened as a very serious breach, and it really put the lives of those individuals at risk,” Lindsay indicated.
As the investigation continues, the police are urging calm and cooperation from all parties involved.
