WESTERN BUREAU:

Seemingly satisfied with the work of the Mobile Reserve team that operates in the parish of St James, citizens in Flankers say there is much that the police in their home parish can learn from the unit.

"Their interpersonal skills are great. Adults, youth and children feel comfortable with them around. Montego Bay police need to take lessons from the mobile reserves, they can learn a thing or two from them," said Monique Christie, youth empowerment coordinator at the Flankers Peace and Justice Centre.

The Mobile Reserve unit, which has personnel on rotation in western Jamaica, was placed in Flankers late December during a period of unrest in the community. Since its mobilisation, the community has seen a significant drop in crime and violence.

"It has been a good experience. People in the community show respect and say they can walk on the streets again because of us," said Constable Marcel Dixon, a member of the unit.

Drop in crime

Speaking at a Peace Day concert on Tuesday, at Central Square in Flankers, Assistant Commissioner Clifford Blake, of the Area One Police, told residents that there had been a significant drop in crime in recent months.

In Trelawny, the Police Community Safety and Security (PCSS), formerly Police Community Relations, held a march throughout Falmouth.

Six schools - Holland High, William Knibb Memorial High, Falmouth All-Age, Falmouth Infant, Hague and Salt Marsh Primary - participated in the march led by the Island Special Constabulary Band.

"This may not seem significant but, for everyone who saw the march, it has registered in their minds," said sub-officer at the Trelawny PCSS, Sergeant Olivet McKenzie.

The major Peace Day activity in Hanover was the chants of "We want peace; we want peace" by students of the Bethel Primary and Junior High School, as they marched into the town of Hopewell.

Support for peace marches

The placard-bearing students, who sang lines from Bob Marley's One Love, were escorted by their guidance counsellors and officers of the Sandy Bay Police Division.

Many educational institutions, service organisations, governmental agencies and private companies participated in marches and rallies across the island, which were held under the theme 'Peace for Prosperity'.

In the Corporate Area, the marches started from three points. One at the National Stadium, another at Mandela Park in Half-Way Tree, and the other at Portia Simpson Miller Square in Three Miles.

Each group entered the car park singing to accompanying music from drums and, in some instances, pot covers.

Cheerleaders led the groups bellowing songs such as 'We dey yah now and we want peace'.

Janilee Abrikian, PALS's general manager, said the marches of the Corporate Area exuded "a lot of energy, a lot of passion but, above all, there was an aura of positivity".