August Town celebrates three years of peace

Anastasia Cunningham, Senior Gleaner Writer

Children and adults last Friday journeyed across the once-forbidden five borders in St Andrew to converge on the August Town Community Centre to celebrate the third anniversary of the signing of a peace initiative in the area.

For years, the residents of Africa Gardens, Goldsmith Villa, Hermitage, Jungle 12, and Bedward Gardens - all in the general August Town area - lived in fear as violence and bloodshed wracked their community, claiming the lives of many.

The Greater August Town Peace Agreement, signed among the five districts in 2008, was the turning point that many welcomed.

Within the first six months of the agreement, murders were reduced from 12 to five, and shootings from 13 to three. Since the beginning of 2011, the police have reported only one murder in August Town.

This is all thanks to the initiative of several stakeholders - especially the University of the West Indies (UWI), which has adopted the community - who have been working tirelessly to make August Town a model community.

"Our biggest success is the removal of fear. To have the freedom to move about as freely as you want without fear, nothing can compare to that," said Kenneth Wilson, president of the August Town Sports and Community Development Foundation.

"No more barriers, no more unhealthy sounds that will remain nameless. The whole community welcomes this. In fact, the police are getting more support from the citizens because no one wants to go back to those dark days."

He said the crime rate is very low; however, they are still having issues with domestic violence. "This is stemming from people's inability to resolve conflicts without them escalating."

Wilson said over the years, with the aid of various organisations, they have developed many community activities and programmes that have greatly helped with the peace initiative.

Unemployment a big issue

Samantha Williams was all smiles as she enjoyed the festivities of the evening. A resident of the community for the past 25 years, she told The Gleaner: "I've seen the difference and I'm very grateful for it. I definitely want this peace to continue."

Fitzroy Jones has witnessed August Town at its worst, having lived there for over 40 years.

"The youths dem behaving themselves. The peace really working. Unemployment is the big issue right now that we want deal with. The majority of the youths not working, and if them get a job, it will keep them more occupied," said Jones.

Headley Coleman and Simone Burke, two social work students from the UWI, are new to the team. Two of four students who are there for two months under the University Township programme, Coleman will focus on security while Burke will tackle health from a holistic angle.

"The biggest issue I'm seeing is a lot of fathers not owning up to their children and taking care of their responsibility, so we have to focus on that," said Coleman.

Following the formalities of the third anniversary celebrations, the residents enjoyed some good music, food, and partying.

anastasia.cunningham@gleanerjm.com