Andrew Holness
Our world has been bombarded with a number of challenges, from global terrorism to school violence. Here, in Jamaica, our crime rate has been at an unacceptable level and this has spread to our schools.
As you celebrate Peace Day under the theme Peace for Prosperity, every single Jamaican must understand that unless we take a proactive role to reducing the level of violence in our community, we will never experience prosperity. We cannot continue to kill and maim our most precious resource - our people - yet hope that we will be a prosperous nation.
We need to create a culture of peace in our country and our schools. We must be bold and unflagging in our efforts, for only then will we attain success. As individuals, we must join hands and hearts to combat the twin challenges of crime and violence. In the words of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "Let us promise to make peace not just a priority, but a passion. Let us pledge to do more, wherever we are in whatever way we can, to make every day a day of peace". The Violence Prevention Alliance - of which PALS is a member - launched its Peace Month in February. however, we must strive daily through peaceful means to resolve conflicts.
Key partner
The work of PALS over the past 14 years has been instrumental in developing a number of programmes for schools and communities. One of its most recent programmes is a curriculum developed for the Jamaica Constabulary School Resource Officers who are placed in schools for school resource officers. PALS remains a key partner in the ministry's strategic initiative to introduce a code of conduct that will govern the behaviour of teachers and students, as well as in the implementation of a critical incident management intervention for schools. The Ministry of Education is committed to making our schools safe places of learning so that our children can realise their God-given potential.
As we celebrate Peace Day, let it be more than a symbolic wearing of blue; let each of us resolve that, from this day forward, we are taking a stance against indiscipline, crime and violence and we are taking a stance for peace.
Minister of Education
Andrew Holness
