Hundreds of participants march for peace in Spanish Town, St Catherine, on Sunday. - photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

Church and civic leaders took to the streets of Spanish Town Sunday in a show of unity against the scourge of crime and violence and prayed for divine intervention in 2009.

The mass effort led by the Spanish Town Ministers' Fraternal incorporated stakeholders from several sectors of society, including political representatives.

Among those who turned out were Superintendent Assan Thompson, head of the St Catherine North Police Division; Andrew Wheatley, mayor of Spanish Town; Sharon Hay-Webster, member of parliament for South Central St Catherine.

Hundreds of participants brought traffic to a standstill for hours. Starting at Greendale, the mostly male participants stopped briefly at the Spanish Town Hospital and police stations, singing and worshipping along the way.

The event, which was held under the theme, 'Wi a Tek it Back', climaxed with a gospel concert at Sagicor Shopping Centre.

Galvanise civic society

Bishop Rowan Edwards said the ministers' fraternal, along with the Spanish Town Revival, believed that peace was the buzzword for 2009. He also said the march was a momentum-building attempt to galvanise civic society to counter the spate of brutal murders that stained the nation last year.

"We contacted the police, the correctional services, the fire department and members of the various churches throughout the parish and it is pleasing to see the turnout," Edwards said.

His views were echoed by Bishop Dr Delford Davis.

"For years, the Church has been trying to bring peace to the nation, and it shows that if we get other groups, they can only work wonders," Davis said. "Spanish Town must be anointed."

Spanish Town, which has been wracked by internecine violence by the One Order and Clansman gangs, is a major transportation and commercial hub in St Catherine.

Last year was the second-bloodiest in Jamaica's history, with just over 1,600 persons being murdered. The record - 1,674 - was registered in 2005.