Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer

Hundreds of persons from 60 denominations across the island join with church leaders in praying for unity and peace during yesterday's Power of Faith Ministries national prayer vigil at the National Arena in St. Andrew. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

With 13 persons, including two policemen, already murdered since the start of the year, and speculation that 2007 could see a bloody election, church leaders yesterday prayed with hundreds of Jamaicans for national peace and unity.

The country's top church leaders, including Bishop Herro Blair and Dr. Al Miller, joined forces with Bishop Delford Davis of Power of Faith Ministries, in calling for "healing of the family and the nation" during an all-day national prayer vigil at the National Arena.

"Lord we beg you to take this land in your hands and guide us, dear God," pleaded an old woman, standing with her hands outstretched and tears flowing down her cheeks. She was just one of hundreds of persons attending the vigil.

The murders, just three days into the new year, have already sparked the concerns of individuals and groups within the society.

Human rights lobby group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) said, in responding to the deaths of the policemen and their relatives, that Jamaica has to come together.

Ideals of justice

"Such loss of life demonstrates the need for the country to be united in the cause of creating a society based on the rule of law and the ideals of justice for all," JFJ said.

At the prayer vigil, those in attendance agreed that the country's leaders need to put God at the forefront of their governance in order for peace to prevail.

Call for political unity

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller begged political leaders to end their divisiveness.

"If we need prayer at anytime, we need it now. Through Christ and through prayer everything is possible," the Prime Minister said.

She pleaded with the Church to maintain the fight for unity in Jamaica.

"Do not relent on your fight. The enemies of this nation will have to go under," the Prime Minister said. "Pray for me a prayer that God will keep me on the right path. That the decisions I take are those that He wants me to take."

She said the country must not be misled into believing that politicians are fighting and that they dislike each other and, at the end of her message, she and Opposition Leader Bruce Golding hugged.

The hundreds in attendance rose to their feet, clapped and sang praises to God.

Golding, in his address, also said the Church is needed for Jamaica to be drawn out of disunity and violence. He said this year is intertwined with positive and negative possibilities and that the Church is needed to ensure that the positives succeed.

"We need to join these two institutions, the Church and State, to have a better Jamaica," he said.