Peace Day concert at Flankers Primary
Keril Wright Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE FLANKERS Primary and Junior High School in Montego Bay, fresh from the recent visit of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will today host an historic concert to mark Peace Day.

This, says PALS general manager, Janilee Abrikian, will be the first time the concert is being held outside of Kingston since the programme's inception in 1996. The annual concert traditionally held in Kingston will also be on.

Peace Day is being observed today (this year on March 5) in partnership with PALS and the Social Conflict and Legal Reform Project (SCLR).

In fact SCLR and the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF) just recently established a Peace Centre in Flankers. The centre is the first of two pilot projects-the other is to be established in Trench Town-that will be undertaken by these groups.

"The concert is the highlight of Peace Day celebrations and this year we are pleased to be working with the SCLR project which is an initiative of the governments of Jamaica and Canada to bring the message of peace to the community through this event," Mrs. Abrikian said in a statement.

The concert, which starts at 3:00 p.m., will feature popular Jamaican artistes Lloyd Lovindeer, Roy Rayon and writer/actress Adziko Simba, as well as performances from students from Flankers, Corinaldi Primary and the Herbert Morrison High School.

"The entire community is excited that they will be involved in the concert to commemorate Peace Day," said SCLR's Community Component Coordinator Sharene McKenzie.

She noted that the event is also being supported by Sandals Montego Bay, an important partner in the implementation of the project, a number of social service organisations as well as students, teachers and parents from Flankers.

Sandals Montego Bay also hosted training seminars for the mediators who will work at the Peace Centre in Flankers.

In addition to the concert Peace Day is also marked by a programme of activities undertaken in all primary schools since last December, Ms Abrikian said.

These activities include exhibits, art and poetry competitions, essay competitions, marches to the community, church services and most significantly, "awards to peacemakers from within the school community."