General Secretary Rev Merlyn Hyde Riley puts her shoulders to the shovel as she helps to plant the mango tree in a symbolic act of renewal and growth. JBU President Dwight Fraser (second right) and other congregants look on.
February 24, 2025
Baptists relaunch Salt Spring Peace and Justice Centre to ‘renew hope’ in violence-prone community
The Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) has reaffirmed its commitment to peace and justice with the weekend relaunch of the Salt Spring Peace and Justice Centre located at the Salt Spring Baptist Church Hall, St James.
According to the JBU, the centre stands “as a beacon of hope in one of St James’ most violence-affected communities”.
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Saturday’s relaunch came exactly 12 years to the date of the initial launch of the centre — February 21, 2013 — under the JBU’s theme ‘Being God’s People in God’s World: Living in Peace’.
“It was a strategic move aimed at establishing peace and justice centres in volatile communities nationwide, with Salt Spring chosen as the pilot site due to its history of violence,” the JBU said.
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The centre was initially supported by the Salt Spring Baptist Church, the St James Baptist Association, the Peace Management Initiative — Western (PMI Western), and the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP).
General secretary of the JBU, Rev Merlyn Hyde Riley, in highlighting the vision behind the centre’s establishment, noted that, “The Salt Spring Peace and Justice Centre was founded to serve as a sanctuary where community members could access conflict resolution, mediation training, and peace-building resources. It represents our ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of non-violence and reconciliation.”
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The relaunch comes at a time when Montego Bay and the wider St James region continue to grapple with crime, Hyde Riley said, noting that at the initial launch in 2013, then JBU General Secretary Rev Karl Johnson emphasised the centre’s critical role in easing community tensions, offering counselling services, and conducting peace-building forums. That vision, she said, remains intact today, “as the relaunch signals a renewed focus on providing practical solutions to social unrest”.
The JBU general secretary also highlighted some of the centre’s past successes, which include partnerships with the Jamaica Constabulary Force for youth summer programmes, grief support initiatives, literacy and numeracy training, and health and wellness fairs in collaboration with community service agencies.
It has also worked alongside peace organisations to deliver violence-prevention and crime-reduction strategies.
The relaunch ceremony, led by the JBU President Dwight Fraser, saw participation from several stakeholders, including Member of Parliament Heroy Clarke, who underscored the importance of collaboration in conflict resolution.
Greetings were also brought by Rochelle Cawley McKenzie of the Child Development Centre in St James and Rev Conrad Thomas, pastor of the Salt Spring Baptist Church.
In a symbolic act of renewal and growth, an East Indian mango tree was planted to commemorate the occasion, serving as a reminder of the long-term vision for peace and transformation in Salt Spring.
“With its reopening, the Salt Spring Peace and Justice Centre is poised to continue its mission, standing as a testament to the power of faith-based intervention and community resilience. The JBU remains steadfast in its resolve to cultivate peace in Salt Spring and beyond, ensuring that the message of justice and reconciliation endures for generations to come,” said Rev Thomas.
Rev Merlyn Hyde Riley
