Two children join adults in a prayer for peace at the signing of a ceasefire treaty between warring factions in August Town at the University of the West Indies' 'Bowl' on June 24, last year. - File
SEVEN MONTHS after the signing of the peace treaty in August Town, St Andrew, residents of the community are thankful that peace has been maintained.
The ceasefire followed months of bloodletting and several meetings to stem gang violence that had claimed dozens of lives.
In the last flare-up of violence early last year, a one year-old boy was among four persons shot dead in March.
In June, community leaders signed a treaty aimed at a five-year ceasefire. Under the agreement, leaders pledged movement of persons across all boundaries, regardless of reputation or affiliation.
The results are encouraging. There has been a 60 per cent decrease in murders and a 75 per cent drop in other crimes.
During a recent visit by The Sunday Gleaner to August Town, a level of calm was observed. Residents lauded the efforts of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), which they credit with playing a critical role in the sustained peace.
Keith Campbell is one of those residents.
"We can enjoy ourselves now and we don't have to sleep and fret," Campbell told The Sunday Gleaner. He said, however, that unemployment among the youths was still a concern.
Kenneth Wilson is another August Town resident who acts as liaison officer on a University of the West Indies (UWI) committee which is working to improve the economic and social problems in the area. He, too, acknowledged the drop in crime, but believes the PMI must have a bigger say.
Violence-prone neighbourhoods
"The Government needs to allocate more funds to the PMI because the PMI work has saved a lot of lives," Wilson said.
August Town is adjacent to the UWI. A working-class area, its mostly paved streets and corner shops set it apart from the poorer, violence-prone neighbourhoods.
The UWI has in place a number of community-based programmes to provide August Town's youths with alternatives to crime.
Professor Barry Chevannes, a member of the university's committee, said the aim was to build a long-term relationship between the community and the university.
The UWI has also addressed the importance of education. It has helped to refurbish basic schools in August Town so they could be certified by the Ministry of Education. Students from the university are also teaching in these schools.
Some residents are tutored in English and mathematics up to CSEC level, while 180 youths are enrolled in HEART programmes.
Funded by the UWI, the project costs close to $1 million, said Chevannes.
Horace Levy, a member of the PMI, said he was impressed by the improvement in August Town.
"Peace is good in the area now. There has been no conflict between the five different sections of the area and there is pretty free movement in all the sections," he declared.