TWO separate “prayer breakfasts” for peace and reconciliation in the aftermath of the 100 Lane massacre and the earlier killing on neighbouring Park Lane on New Year’s Day were held Sunday by the United People’s Party.

Party president, Antonnette Haughton-Cardenas, said the UPP formed last year “is the only party that can broker a truce between these two communities as we are the only party that can go into the two lanes and be welcomed”.

She added that “there is very little real difference between these communities – until New Year’s Day they were at peace – so we are optimistic”.

Police believe that the attack on 100 Lane, by a group of almost 50 gunmen, which killed seven people including two children, was in retaliation for the shooting dead of a man in Park Lane on New Year’s Day.

Police say the two communities have been engaged in a long-standing feud and that many people have been killed on both sides in the past six years.

The prayer vigil, lead by the Reverend Peter Morgan of the Covenant Community Churches, who was joined by Bishop Bradley Dyer of Portmore and St Catherine, began in Park Lane with hymns and the National Anthem. At first the meeting was sparsely attended as local residents hung back in silence, looking confused. Later several children approached, although it was unclear whether they were interested in the prayer meeting or the breakfast that followed it.

Haughton-Cardenas dismissed the poor showing at the start, saying many people were still in bed. And although she said she appreciated that the food was an attraction “as of course a community like this is very, very poor”, she said this was not why people had come. She also denied suggestions that the prayer breakfast was a publicity stunt to garner support for her party – which has around seven per cent in the polls – saying the UPP “has a lot of support on the ground”.

Park Lane residents who did attend appeared to appreciate the meeting. Monica Maize, 20, whose brother Garth was one of the victim of the New Year’s Day killing, praised the UPP for bothering to come to Park Lane, saying that in comparison to the rival 100 Lane residents, “we don’t count over here”.

She added that the prayer meeting was a good thing because the violence “need to be stop right now because it is costing innocent people’s life”.

Four year-old Omar James said: “I like it … because somebody is dead … it will help”. And 13 year-old Nicky Grant said: “It is good for the community … it bring people together especially the children.”

The prayer meeting in the schoolyard of 100 Lane was better attended with dozens of children and adults taking part in what became an enthusiastic singing and clapping session. Haughton-Cardenas explained this saying, “It’s in 100 Lane that the most bleeding took place.” Mechanic Victor Thomas who was watching the service as he fixed a wheel said, “everyday we have church people come and talk to the people … we welcome them.” Devon Webley agreed, “worse dan dis did happen in olden days an it change through prayer … It will work out.”

But “Bagaloo” who works at the electoral office at 100 Lane criticised the UPP for not trying to bring the residents of Park and 100 lanes together at the ceremony. “If you want to get the communities together you cannot separate them with a service … It shouldn’t be one side JLP and the other side PNP, dem shouda do one big thing together,” Haughton-Cardenas said this was simply not possible, “the communities aren’t ready for that, it’s too close, too painful, too bitter, we have to take it one day at a time.”

Bagaloo at first attributed the violence to a ‘don’ who he said was trying to convert the whole area into a JLP stronghold. But he added, looking at the pockmarked roads, few cars, and dilapidated wooden houses “a lot of men don’t work in this area that is what caused it.”

The end of the prayer sessions came when Haughton-Cardenas, the preachers and crowd moved to the recently established police and army post in 100 Lane to bless the police. Unfortunately as the crowd approached, the security personnel became visibly nervous and refused to let them in. A snub Haughton tried to brush it off saying it was “against protocol”.

The crowd began to jeer at the police, “come out den! Come out!” producing more nervous twitches among the officers, no doubt remembering the accusations of residents that the police had done nothing to stop the massacre. The blessing took place with the police inside and the crowd firmly out, but Reverend Peter Morgan who was leading the prayers appealed for understanding for the security forces saying, “we must all recognise that the police are messengers of God, but they suffer under extreme pressure.”