Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Jamaica Labour Party Senator, Anthony Johnson (right), raps with Juan Carlos Espinola, representative of the United Nations Development Programme, just before Tuesday's launch of Peace Month at the corporate offices of the Gleaner Company Ltd., downtown Kingston. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Peace Month 2007 was launched on Tuesday against the backdrop of close to 200 persons murdered over the past 37 days and dozens left traumatised from violent incidents.

The month-long observances are being speaheaded by PALS (Peace and Love in Society), the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA), and the Ministry of Health.

'No violence, Jus' bat for Peace', that's the World Cup Cricket-inspired theme for the month-long campaign which will conclude on Peace Day, March 6, with a concert in downtown Kingston.

At the launch of the programme at the Gleaner Company's North Street offices, PALS' General Manager, Janilee Abrikian, told touching stories of the painful impact of the culture of violence prevailing in the society - how a traumatised child in August Town, St. Andrew, refuses to go back to school; the reaction of a woman who was doused with acid and for the first time in 21 years saw the woman who had disfigured her.

"We need to learn to live peacefully in our schools, communities and even in high places," said Abrikian.

The Peace Day activities will coincide with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 warm-up games in Jamaica. Selected schools will parade in the colours of the 16 teams that will be participating in the championship.

Police to give 100 per cent support

"Leading up to Peace Day, we will be having a series of school-community consultations between the schools and residents," said Lt. Col. Oral Khan, chairman of the Safe Schools Task Force. Specific schools located in volatile sections of St. James and Spanish Town, St. Catherine, will be targeted.

Deputy Commissioner Jevene Bent said the Peace Month activities would receive 100 per cent support from the police high command.

In the meantime, Minister of Health, Horace Dalley, who expressed high hopes in the various peace initiatives, said during the two years, 2004 and 2005, the impact of violence cost the health sector over $700 million. Most of the victims, he said, were in the 15-20 age group.

email: glenroy.sinclair@gleanerjm.com