By:
Patricia Thangaraj
AT least one local Reverend is calling upon various organisations and individuals to come out on September 17 and support the Walk for Peace.
It is coming from Reverend Michael Steele, President of Hope Transplant International, who spoke with The Barbados Advocate recently at the Centre for the Blind and Deaf.
He said that this is particularly important when one looks at the increase in violence, especially those of a gun-related nature and this is an issue that everybody in this island must be concerned about and seek to address.
“You look at the state of the shootings and all of the killings that are happening with our young people, and the nation needs to address it,and I believe that the church must continue to show solidarity in things like these, because of the fact that when individuals see that everybody is coming out to make an effort for peace, they would want to be a part of it.”
As a Reverend, he also acknowledged the important role that the Church would have to play here, as they are the chief facilitators of the morals and values within our society, and when the young people see the churches joining with the leaders of this nation in an effort to build peace – and not just for the one day that this walk would be held, but on an ongoing basis – then the youth would also be willing to contribute towards this cause.
“So I encourage the church members and the leaders of all areas of the community to come on out and support this walk, because a walk is just for one day, but ultimately, the principle of peace is life-lasting, and if we can impress upon the minds of our young people how important that is, then I think that we would have a fighting chance – if I should use that term – in bringing about some peace in our communities.”
Steele stated that this peace-building initiative takes on even greater significance as this island approaches 50 years of Independence, as the whole idea of independence is about freedom, and as a result, persons should be working towards peace and unity.
“I think that 2016 is the year that we celebrate 50 years of Barbados’ Independence. Being independent means that we are free to do what we chose. I believe that as a nation, peace and unity should be one of those things that we focus on – most importantly peace and unity within our communities.”
Section: