By Petulia Clarke, Staff ReporterIT'S NOT often that a deejaying police officer is delightfully acknowledged by an audience of usually finicky schoolers in an inner-city community.
Add to Jamaica Constabulary Force saxophone player Corporal Rupert Harper's "Level the vibes" performance, a captivating storyteller, the Tivoli Dance Group, popular singers Roy Rayon, Lloyd Lovindeer, the Father Ho Lung and Friends group, drummers and the Fab Five band and there's an excellent show.
To say they were lively would only understate the performances at New Day Primary and Junior High in St. Andrew yesterday, as Peace Day kicked off in grand style at the school.
A partnership between Kingston Restoration Company (KRC)/USAID Peace and Prosperity Project and Peace And Love in Schools (PALS) Jamaica, the aim was to facilitate full involvement between students and community members in the surrounding Grants Pen community.
With loads of good music, a hilarious mix of antics from broadcaster Fae Ellington and presentations including stunning dance and drama, the message to put aside hostility, embrace love and allow peace to begin in their hearts galvanised the young people who, unperturbed by the occasional drizzle, danced and sang along to every beat which included renditions of Bob Marley's One Love, Give Peace a Chance and the Lord's Prayer that had them waving peace ribbons and hugging each other in glee.
When Perky Parrot arrived, the already fun-saturated crowd went wild.
The message was not lost even as the colourful peace mascot danced along to Lovindeer's music.
Useph Blackwood, a 14-year-old student at the school, said he was grateful for PALS's influence at the school. "It means a lot to me," he said, "there's too much war going on, it's good to see everyone coming together."
He said the programme had helped control the many fights at the school and that it was "kinda cutting down" now.
The school's principal, Sonia Ormsby, said it was the school's goal to extend the values to the wider community. "We hope we will be viewed as positive examples and a ray of light," she said.
Grade 7-9 teacher and PALS's mediator Hope Johnson-Cum-mings said the students were receptive and seemed to be co-operating with the programme. The programme ensures that teachers are trained as mediators, who in turn help children to deal with conflict resolution issues.
"What I admire is that they don't bring outside conflicts inside the classroom, even the bigger ones in grade nine," she said. "I love how they interact with each other, there's no separation, no segregation."
