GRANVILLE, St James — Member of Parliament for West Central St James Clive Mullings on Tuesday stressed the need for forgiveness, as the government launched a Restorative and Community Justice Pilot Project in this violence- prone community.

“One of the hallmarks of justice and restoration is forgiveness. If we insist that we are right then there will be no end to violence,” Mullings said during the launch of the initiative at the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College.

The community of Granville, located on the outskirts of the resort city of Montego Bay has for many years been crime-ridden.

Last year for instance, the area accounted for a huge chunk of the more than 240 murders committed in the parish of St James.

Mullings argued that while there is now a need for a pilot project, is it regrettable that the community has reached a stage where it has become necessary for its implementation.

It is hoped that the project will, over time, result in less cases of non-fatal offences going to the island’s courts.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dorothy Lightbourne who was the guest speaker at the project’s launch described the initiative as “a community process that involves full participation and consensus, that heals what has been broken, bridges what has been divided and strengthen the community to prevent harm.”

As part of the project, a community justice panel will be established at the Granville community centre, which will be chaired by a Justice of the Peace who has already received training in restorative justices principles and processes.