Mandeville, Manchester — A multi-stakeholder group including the police, called a “peace coalition”, to fight crime and violence was recently launched in Manchester.

The initiative is aimed at getting citizens to be less fearful and more inclined to participate in violence prevention efforts as a way of countering Jamaica’s “informa fi dead” culture.

“I believe that there are persons in Jamaica who have looked at the situation, want to be part of the solution but (are) afraid. In comes Manchester Peace Coalition, it provides the perfect vehicle for persons who want to actually get involved… It provides a safe way to get into a community, get involved, get among the people and learn of the challenges that they face so that you can begin to help them to help themselves to get out of the situation,” said interim chairman of the group Dr Clifton Reid.

The launch of the Peace Coalition is a follow-up to the designation of Mandeville as a Peace Town in 2013 and Brooks Park Sports and Recreational Complex as a Peace Park by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT).

The IIPT is a non-profit organisation.

President for IIPT Caribbean, Diana McIntyre-Pike, said that her organisation was founded on the vision of the world’s largest industry, travel and tourism — with the belief that every traveller is potentially an “Ambassasor for Peace”.

Reid said that a number of activities including sports, home work assistance, certification for people who have skills but are not certified and free legal assistance will be used to help in building relationships with the “at risk” communities with which they are working.

Pastor Glen Samuels, who was guest speaker at the event and is a board member with the St James Peace Initiative, said that positive transformation is always possible with commitment and co-operation, despite one’s circumstances.

“We rise together or we perish together. We don’t have much of a choice but to be resolutely committed to stand together and say enough is enough. We must make a difference, this is our Jamaica,” he said.

Reid said that while there was always a commitment since the IIPT naming to extend the peace message in a timely manner through various means, there were financial constraints.

The Peace Coalition launch in Manchester, which was also a fund-raiser, was done ahead of World Peace Day /International Day of Peace on September 21.

A civic ceremony at Brooks Park, short peace marches in some “at risk” communities, a gospel/peace concert, a peace football game between members of the Manchester Police and residents of some of the “at risk” communities in the parish were among the commemorative activities.

— Alicia Sutherland