Peace walk in Cunupia

Concerned about crime in their community, members of the Cunupia Police Youth Club held a peace walk on Saturday afternoon, calling for an end to violence and a reduction of illegal guns on the streets.

The theme was Silence the Violence, and the event was geared towards promoting peace.

Secretary of the club Avalon Alleyne told Sunday Newsday that in recent times violent crimes had taken the lives of three youths in the community.

"The community was not like this before. We want to show people that the club is around. We want to spread love and peace. We are encouraging the youths to put down the guns and turn away from violence," Alleyne said.

"It is time we stand up against criminal activities. We want people to know that there are different forms of abuse."

Apart from physical, there are verbal/emotional, sexual, mental/psychological as well as cultural abuse.

Many participants wore white t-shirts and held placards.

Some read, "Stop the violence", "Save our Future" and "Put down the Guns."

One was also written in Spanish, "Basta de violencia" which in English means enough of the violence.

Several club members were migrants from Venezuela and Alleyne said this population forms a large part of the community.

"It is about time we intertwine. At the end of the day, we are all from the human race. Why be segregated? We recently had a culinary and cultural exchange programme with the migrants," she said.

The locals taught them how to dance the bélé (belle aire), a folk/creole dance.

The Venezuelans taught the locals about their food and various aspects of their culture.

Other groups, like the Caroni Police Youth Club, joined the walk in solidarity.

Members of the NGO Ryu Dan Dojo- Youth Empowerment Centre of Enterprise were also part of the initiative.

This centre was established in 2013 and provides programmes to support youths' social, intellectual, and physical development in the Chaguanas district. Adrian Sealey, a policeman, and Marva John-Logan lead the organisation.

The walk started at the Cunupia market car park and ended at Cane Drive, Jerningham Road, Cunupia, the site for the construction of its clubhouse.