Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

Residents of Waterhouse participate in a peace march in that community on Wednesday, August 20. - photo by Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

The usually dreary streets of Waterhouse in St Andrew were transformed into an arena of celebration, as residents, led for the most part by the St Patrick's Marching Band breathed a sigh of relief in the name of peace, Wednesday.

Residents, including councillor for West Central St Andrew, Junior Stewart; and Pulse International supermodel, Nadine Willis, turned out to show their support and join hands in a peace march aimed at uniting sections of the community and its environs, which up until just a few months ago had been torn apart by violence.

"The idea for the march came from the communities," said Horace Levy, a member of the Peace Management Initiative. The organisation, Levy said, had been meeting with the leaders of the communities for two months before making plans to have a march, and he feels the nation's success at the Olympics has only served to strengthen the support of the people.

Sang and danced

Soca music seemed to have been the order of the day, as residents sang and danced along to the band's rendition of Alison Hines' Togetherness.

The crowd grew bigger at every corner as the band marched through, with residents leaving their homes to either watch from their gates or join in the march. Children ran along, eager to see the section of their community they had until recently feared entering.

The narrow bridge connecting sections of the community shook under their weight, as the residents crossed the gully from Drewsland, the crowd multiplying by the dozens as it went by. Feelings of nostalgia were ignited as many remarked that it had been years since they had been able to do so.

Thirty-seven-year-old Newton Carey, was among the supporters, standing firm in the belief that the violence should end. "It needs to stop right now, because there are children who live in the community and they will learn it if it isn't stopped. I love what is going on right now, and I would love for it to stay this way," said Carey.