MONTEGO BAY, St James — Pastor Knollis King Snr of the Rose Heights United Full Gospel Church of God is literally sitting on top of the world following last Sunday’s massive peace march through several sections of the once crime-ridden Rose Heights community.

As religious music blared from two of the motor vehicles that accompanied the residents through traditionally-feared areas such as Bronx, 41, Bay Route and Vietnam, greetings and hugs were freely traded.

Bearing banners emblazoned with various peace slogans, the residents walked for some three hours before converging in Branch Hall square to celebrate in the heavy rain.

“It was a joy to see people who were at war coming together. Many people believed that it could not happen, but it did! Over 3, 000 people gathered in Branch Hall square in a demonstration of their commitment to making the peace last, ” an elated Pastor King told the Observer West.

“God being a spirit came in the form of the rain and the people stayed right there in the rain. It was really a wonder to behold,” he added.

Located about a mile from downtown Montego Bay, Rose HeightS is one of the 17 inner-city communities in St James which have distinguished themselves as hotbeds for shootings, robberies and other crimes.

Between August and late October an upsurge in crime– believed to be caused by feuding gangs in the community–saw at least three persons murdered; a number of persons robbed and several houses fire-bombed .

But with the intervention of Pastor King in November there has been some level of calm in the community.

“The crime was escalating and so I decided to go out on the streets and have personal talks with the guys in the different regions and the guys have so far stood by me and have vowed to stand up for the peace,” Pastor King explained.

He said a committee comprising former gang leaders and other residents has been formed and meetings are held at the Rose Heights United Full Gospel Church of God weekly to formulate strategies, aimed at maintaining the peace.

“The residents are very serious. They have decided that they don’t want to hear any gunshots, unless it is from the police,” said King.

“They have decided that any person who fires a shot in the community will be found and handed over to the police because they are not going to allow any crime in the area.”

Pastor King also told the Observer West that the committee is also in the process of identifying projects that could generate employment.

Estactic residents told the Observer West that life has improved as a result of the initiative.

“Since the peace thing started last month people have been going to the different communities and mingling with each other. Just Saturday, there was a party in Greenland and people from Bay Route go down there and every thing was good. Pastor is doing a good job,” said Evelyn Jagdath, who has been living in the area for almost three decades.

In the meantime, Knollis, who has been contacted by other troubled communities for help, is anticipating an ammendment to the name of the Community we want our light to be seen by all we want to be called Rose Heights, the City of God,” he said.