News

UWI Guild march for peace

By RASBERT TURNER, STAR Writer

THE GUILD OF students from the University of the West Indies, Mona along with other students from other institution across Jamaica launched the 'Save Jamaica' campaign in Spanish Town, yesterday.

The event which took the form of a march by the over 200 students started at 3 p.m. at the Spanish Town Hospital gate.

They proceeded through De La Vega City on to the bypass, to Burke Road through the violent community of Tawes Pen where they stopped for several minutes preaching peace. During the march, several residents from these area shook the hands of the participants and expressed joy at the start of what they think will turn out to be very fruitful.

The students then moved to the bus park in Spanish Town where they were joined by Member of Parliament Sharon A. Webster. She lamented the fact that peace is priceless and if all come together it will yield precious rewards. She also thanked the Guild of Students, who contributed $100,000 to the police for their crime fighting, for their initiative and told them that they are the future and it is great to know that they have the interest of the country at heart. She said crime and violence affects all in a negative way and it doesn't matter what side of the political fence your on, as the time has come to put Jamaica forward. She offered a word of prayer to the gathering.

Putting Ja first

Presidents of the Guild, Mr. Damion Crawford said the aim of the peace march was to enlist the social political and all other will of the people to put Jamaica first. He said the time has come for the students to recognise that in the near future they will be the leaders of the country and of such they are putting forward their best effort to plea peace for all.

His sentiments was echoed by President of the United Student Movement of Northern Caribbean University, Ryan Wiggan. He said the initiative is a step in the right direction and although he is not a student of the University of the West Indies he is giving moral support to a worthy cause. Other students that were present were from the University of Technology, Mico Teachers College, Shortwood and Exed Community College.

Persons who spoke with THE STAR said although the students' initiative is not a do it all, it is a worthwhile investment that the youth have the interest of the country at heart. They promised to support the initiative and hope that there will be everlasting peace in the Old Capital. The March ended with a concert at the bus park that saw several of the guilds students showing their talents in singing songs and playing music. This under the watchful eyes of the police.