HANOVER, Jamaica — Organisers of a march for peace through the crime-riddled Green Island community in Hanover, are hoping the shock of seeing themselves in a coffin will be enough to jolt residents into action.

A brown casket with a mirror in it was strategically placed in the middle of the Old Green Island to Prospect road, which was blocked off to accommodate the march. The event’s theme was ‘The Man in the Mirror’.

“[If] you come to view the body, you will see yourself,” explained Reverend Revern Grant, president of Christian Communities United For Change which organised the march. “A lot of people have a tendency to say that they have nothing to do with crime; they have never killed anybody. But at the same time, every person that lives in Jamaica contributes to crime in some way. And so, we’re just showing that if you see something, even child abuse and you give rise to it, it means that you are contributing to it. We’re not just speaking about murder; crime is a general thing.”

The march was welcomed by many residents, who complained of the way their lives have been disrupted by illegal activity. Healthcare worker, Devona Samuels spoke of the lack of freedom during flare-ups.

“It really dampens the spirit of the community,” she said. “We see [medical] cases on the rise because of crime and violence. It is overwhelming and it’s even difficult for us as healthcare workers to be effective in the community,” she added.

Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of the Hanover Division, Keeble Simms, thanked those who came out in support of the fight against crime. The police sanctioned the blocking off of a section of the road to accommodate the event.

“Crime and violence in Hanover are quite significant and impactful. As a matter of fact, your space, the Green Island area, is our main hotspot area and it has been so over the years,” Simms said.

“Since the start of the year, we have seen where some absolute foolishness has unfolded. Right here where we are standing has been an area where persons have been killed,” the senior officer added.

He was referring to the murder of two taxi drivers in May. They are among the 17 killings in Green Island since the start of the year, three more than the corresponding period in 2022.

Tuesday’s march started at the Green Island Police Station and ended at the Old Green Island Taxi Stand. Along the route, there were stops for prayer and words of encouragement for those impacted by crime.

Reverend Grant noted that while the objectives of the march were met, support dwindled this year. In general, however, he said he was encouraged by the public’s reaction.

“Our mission and goal are to reach their hearts and to see how best we can transform them back to where Jamaica was 15, 20 years ago,” he said of the initiative that dates back to 2014.

Member of Parliament for Hanover Western, Tamika Davis also encouraged participants to return to the days of being their brother’s keeper.

“Today as we march, as we send a message, let us commit that going forward we are all going to play our part. Imagine if everyone says, ‘I am taking a stand. I know and see something and will share it with the police.’ What a peaceful Hanover it will be,” said the MP.

Impressed by what he saw in Green Island, Cauldwell resident Rodney Stewart is hoping that future marches will include his community where the quality of life has deteriorated because of crime. He also spoke of the need for intervention in areas such as Spring Mountain, Friendship, and Pell River

“At one point, nobody could come out on the road because you don’t know who is who or what they are going to do,” he said of what life used to be like.

He spoke of a period of shuttered shops and sky-high taxi fares for workers who travel after dark. According to Stewart, night-time cab fares moved from $200 per trip to $1,500.