MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The death of a 19-year-old woman, allegedly at the hands of her 17-year-old sister, has again brought to the fore problems of poor anger management and domestic violence among Jamaicans.

Pastor Michael Harvey, who heads the fledgling Manchester Dispute Resolution and Violence Prevention Association (MDR&VPA), says his organisation has been making headway in its quest to help people resolve conflicts peacefully.

Harvey told the Jamaica Observer that since its formation last year, the organisation has trained about 100 para-professional counsellors to provide mediation and referrals in communities. Also, community sensitisation meetings have been held in a number of communities across Manchester and the association has been working with other groups in the delivery of services such as anger management training and parenting seminars, he said.

“I will say to those in Manchester and surrounding areas, if there are challenges that you are experiencing… help is available. We will take our services to you. If we can prevent one of those situations (of domestic violence), it’s worth the effort,” Harvey said.

The association was formed last year at the behest of Minister of National Security and Central Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting. The initiative followed reports of a higher than average rate of domestic violence in the parish.

In light of the situation, the Manchester police recently made an appeal for persons to use a 24-hour helpline (1-888-Dispute-347-7883), established through the MDR & VPA.

In the latest case of death as a result of domestic violence, a seventeen-year-old who was charged for murder this week for the stabbing death of her sister is now on bail.

She was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 when she appeared in the Mandeville Resident Magistrates’ court on Wednesday.

Allegations are that the 17-year-old and her sister Kadine Nembhard, 19, had a domestic dispute at their home in the Sommerset community on Saturday.

The disagreement between the two reportedly stemmed from the older sister using a handkerchief belonging to her younger sister to clean furniture. A knife was brought into play.

Nembhard died in hospital on Sunday from stab wounds. The 17-year-old is expected to know her fate when she faces the Children’s Court on August 15.

Harvey said that efforts are being made to register the association with the judiciary.

Among the benefits of the affiliation, he said, will be that other “remedial modalities” will be explored rather than putting first-time offenders in jail and legal assistance can be provided for those who are in need.

He said that the association would like to engage more volunteers such as deans of discipline, pastors from varying denominations, principals of schools, business persons and other civic leaders.