Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
Janilee Abrikian (right), general manager of Peace and Love in Society (PALS), joins others waving banners symbolising peace during the praise and worship session at Family Church on the Rock, St. Andrew, yesterday, to mark Peace Week. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
PEACE, LOVE and unity! Those were the words that echoed from the voices of students of Pembroke Hall Primary School, St. Andrew, yesterday, as they performed at a church service to commemorate Peace Day, which will be observed tomorrow.
The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) has joined with Peace and Love in Society (PALS), to commemorate the day.
And chairman of the VPA, Professor Barry Chevannes, has urged Jamaicans to lead a violence-free day.
"We are hoping that from 12:00 Monday night right back to 12:00 Tuesday night, Jamaica will experience a day of peace," he told the congregation at Family Church on the Rock, St. Andrew.
Dr. Donald Rhodd, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, who brought greetings on behalf of Prime Minister P.J Patterson, commended PALS on its efforts in promoting peace and love in Jamaica.
"We need all stakeholders, the Church, the media, the family, the community ... to partner with the government to act decisively against gangs, illegal guns ... and all impediments to peace," Dr. Rhodd told the congregation.
He said there has been an increase in the numbers of youth who are involved in crime and noted that parents and communities should be more active in the lives of children.
MORE COMMUNITY WORK NEEDED
"Together we can fight the grave threats to the peace, stability and development that face our country," he said.
In his message, Pastor Franz Fletcher of Family Church on the Rock, challenged church members to do more work in communities to improve the lives of people.
"The Church has to get radical, it cannot sit by and wait on the Ministry of National Security," he said.
Yesterday, members of the Pembroke Hall Primary School choir, pleaded for peace as they sang, "Put a little more love in your heart and the world/Jamaica would be a better place ..."
PEACE DAY AGENDA
Concert at August Town Primary, 8:00 a.m.
Burial of Violence Service at Charlie Smith High School, 12:00 noon.
Three marches which will converge in a concert at the Urban Develop-ment Corporation (UDC) car park, downtown Kingston.
The marches will start from:
Half-Way Tree
Bob Marley Stadium
Three Miles
