The Church in Kingston and Montego Bay, St James, is vigorously rallying against the violence occurring in the capitals.

Under siege from the bloodletting in the Second City, a number of placard-bearing women from the Mount Salem Open Bible Church protested peacefully yesterday along the Howard Cooke Boulevard and Fort Street intersection in Montego Bay.

Calling for a return to the days when the town held a reputation as 'The Friendly City', the women said Montego Bay had lost its renowned name, taking on the title 'Bloody City'.

"We are having sleepless nights and are constantly praying for a revival to break out in the city, and for the blood to stop flowing," said Jenise Clarke, whose nephew was gunned down in the Granville community recently.

The women's concerns come months after the city's murder count moved up to 85 last weekend.

In downtown Kingston, the Church has joined forces with the police to tackle the ongoing violence that exists within the war-torn environs of Gold Street.

Pray and read

Every Wednesday morning, for the past four months, members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and churchgoers of Redemption Ark Apostle on Orange Street in the parish, sing, pray and read Psalms at Gold Street Police Station.

Inspector Lena McBean, the sub-officer in charge of Gold Street Police Station, said the devotional exercise assists in encouraging her colleagues to fulfil their duties during tumultuous times.

"The devotional exercise tries to encourage the community to be peaceful and foster good relationships between the community and the police," said McBean.