Michelle- Ann Letman, Gleaner Writer

The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA), which is on a mission to create a violence-free Jamaica, is hoping to send a powerful message for peace come March 4. On that day, the VPA will be staging a peace march in the Corporate Area under the theme 'Peace for Prosperity'.

Similar marches are to take place in Spanish Town the same day and in Clarendon on March 7.

The peace march will bring to a close a number of activities put on by the VPA as a part of its National Peace Month Initiative.

Rallying support

Chairman of the VPA, Professor Barry Chevannes is rallying support from church groups to join in the peace day march, as he believes that the Church plays an important role in advocating for peace.

Co-chair of the VPA, Dr Elizabeth Ward, echoed similar sentiments to those of Chevannes, stressing that the Church was a vital link in violence prevention.

But while they appeal to church groups to support the march, they are also encouraging all other private and public entities to give support.

"We (VPA) want to appeal to all quarters not just churches, but also to business entities, youth organisations and professional agencies to come out and give support," Chevannes said.

Dr Deanna Ashley, a member of the VPA, told The Gleaner that she was expecting at least 4,000 Jamaicans to join the peace march.

Peace is possible

"We want to spread the message of peace and let Jamaicans know that peace is possible and violence is preventable," she said. And Diane Ellis, another VPA member, in response to questions about getting perpetrators of crime involved in the march, said: "By reaching the wider public, the message will impact wrongdoers."

The Corporate Area march begins at 3:00 p.m., from three locations - one by the National Stadium on Mountain View Avenue, the second in Half-Way Tree by Mandela Park and the third in Three Miles, at the Hunts Bay Police Station, all ending at Ocean Boulevard, downtown Kingston, where a rally will take place.

In support of the VPA National Peace Month Initiative, the Grants Pen Community Policing Consultative Committee is also holding a peace march. This will take place on Thursday and will cover the areas of Barbican and Grants Pen.

Students surrounding primary and secondary schools will be participating.

After the march, persons will gather at the Peace Park in Grants Pen where Children's Advocate Mary Clarke will be asked to speak on the issue of how violence affects the development of children.

In Spanish Town, that procession will leave Central Village at 3:00 p.m. to reach Prison Oval at 4:00 p.m., where the marchers will be addressed by Henley Morgan, management consultant.

On Friday, March 7, the Mega Peace March Expo and Anti-Violence concert for Clarendon starts at May Pen Hospital and ends in the town centre at Bargain Village. This event will see a 'Gone too Soon Memorial' to highlight children who died in Jamaica between 2006 and 2007. May Pen businesses are to display blue flags in solidarity with the event.