Fifty-six days after residents of warring corners in August Town signed a peace treaty, minus the signatures of some of the more violent 'shottas', only two gunshots have been fired in the community since, and they came from the weapon of a law enforcement officer.

But residents are thankful for small mercies.

Scene after a shooting in August Town in March this year.

"The peace is holding, and the residents have been doing their part. Only two shots have been fired in the community since the peace treaty was signed and they came from a policeman's gun. And we have reported the matter to his senior officers. But no robbery, no rapes, no dead." said a smiling Kenneth Wilson, president of the August Town Sports and Community Development Foundation last week.

It was a peace that the residents longed for, hoped for, and worked towards. But hope and longing almost turned to anger and disappointment in June, as gunmen, demanding exemption from arrest from the police who were giving a watchful eye to the peace ceremony, refused to participate in the event.

The police did not relent, and residents wondered if another attempt at peace would hold.

Last week, when the Sunday Observer visited the community, children shrieked happily as they played on the streets - the same streets on which the life of a toddler and his mother were snuffed out more than two months ago.

Scores more were killed in the neighbourhood, and hundreds over the years. But the killing of the infant and his mother was the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Yes miss, we can play anytime and don't be afraid," said a little girl, as she and three others played with much abandon at Bryce Hill square on Thursday.

Intermittent violence had communities such as Hermitage, Goldsmith Villa, Bedward Gardens, African Gardens and August Town Proper under siege for close to a year, as gunmen from different corners traded bullets, murdering each other, mostly because someone was 'dissed' (disrespected).

According to Wilson in an earlier interview, "sometimes they do not even know who has been dissed or the reason for the dissing".

The five communities combined are home to more than 15,000 people and are riddled with some of the common problems affecting inner-city communities in Jamaica - poverty, unemployment, dysfunctional families, school drop-outs, community gang conflict, teenage pregnancy, and poor garbage disposal.

These are the issues being tackled by Capacity Development Inc, a United States-based non-profit organisation, which seeks, as a broader mandate, to significantly reduce violence, especially in inner-city communities.

"The idea was to interface with government officials, non-governmental, community and faith-based organisations, on the role that youth can play in preventing crime, drugs and violence in their communities," said Dr James Corbett, vice-chair of Capacity Development Inc.

Dr Corbett, whose organisation has assisted community development in more than 20 countries, is on his third visit to Jamaica, but this time under a different umbrella from his previous trips.

His first visit in 2002 was sponsored by the United States State Department under the auspices of former US Ambassador to Jamaica Sue Cobb.
A year later, he came back as the deputy director of Youth Crime Watch of America, an international group operating in 20 countries, including Jamaica, to train, over a two-and-half day period, 76 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government officials, plus 400 youths in mediation in inner-city communities.

The training, it is hoped, will benefit communities such as the five making up the August Town area.

"The youths in August Town can benefit from Dr Corbett's visit," said Wilson. "And that can impact the wider community. That is why we have to put most of our resources and emphasis there."

For Corbett, however, education is the only way out.

"We have to stop paying lip service to education and rescue the youngsters before they become drop-outs and join the gang that is on the corners and continue the crime and violence that is already claiming lives," Corbett said.
Wilson has been the standard bearer, offering the alternative through his organisation, for youths to become change agents.

He wants youths to take responsibility for themselves, their families, community, country and the world.

But it has not been easy, as the violence that has ravaged the communities has harboured seeds of hatred and threats of reprisal.

Jennifer Lewis, who moved away from the area five years ago, said she was tired of the roller-coaster emotions of inner city life.

"One minute you are on a high that things are OK so you drop your guard. Then something happens and you have to put up boundaries again, and then, peace again. I could not live that way," she said.

So she took her four children and moved away.

"I won't go back," she said.

But, under the treaty, leaders pledged to be true to each other and promised free movement of all persons from all boundaries, regardless of reputation or affiliation to particular corners.

The treaty also demands:
. that no guns are to be brandished, they must not be seen at any time;
. no intimidation;
. no gun salute; and
. no form of shooting for the next five years.

Corner leaders must guide and counsel members away from theft, extortion, domestic violence, carnal abuse, rape, and all other wrongs; respect and tolerance for all political beliefs and no one is to be labelled an informer.
Any violation of the agreement should see corner leaders committing to making genuine efforts to diffuse the matter.

Last Thursday, a group of men laughed and chatted loudly at the Bryce Hill plaza. "Anything for a little peace," they told the Sunday Observer.
They, too, are thankful for small mercies.

Corbett said that for August Town to achieve its potential, "it must first realise that the residents have to make the community safe for themselves, and this will encourage students from the university to live among them and help them to raise the stature of the community."

It is the message that Wilson, plus stakeholders such as the University of the West Indies, Jamaicans For Justice, Peace Management Initiative, Dispute Resolution Foundation, Social Development Commission, and a number of others, have been preaching.

Their hope is that even one resident will be affected positively.

For now, however, everyone is thankful for small mercies.

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