MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Civic and security leaders have lauded students at Bishop Gibson High School for Girls for becoming the latest institution to partake in the Manchester Peace Ambassador programme.

The initiative, which is spearheaded by custos of Manchester Garfield Green, has been expanded to 21 schools since it was first piloted in 2023 in two institutions.

“We were able to determine the success of the programme from the principals of both schools. They have both testified that they have noticed a change in the students’ behaviour as a result of the peace ambassadors’ intervention and presence on the school campus,” he said on Monday.

Green said he is pleased with the support for the programme.

“We were encouraged to have a roll-out of the programme in all schools in Manchester…What we are doing now is to go physically into each school to do a pinning exercise,” he said.

Four Bishop Gibson High students — Keyana Brown, Daniella Jones, Shamoya Swaby, and Brianna Bent — were introduced to their peers as peace ambassadors during a function on Monday.

Green said the students have been trained to respond to and mitigate disputes and disagreements among their peers.

“This programme came about, because of what we thought was the need to be more than prefects in schools. We want these peace ambassadors to be sentinels of the peace for them to be first responders, for them to be counsellors and to intervene in matters between their peers and to provide justice to their peers. They are trained in special areas,” he said.

“We really need some interventions in schools and who are the better ones to lead than our youth. They already understand their peers. They are the ones who will work with their peers to be better persons,” he added.

He also applauded the Manchester police for the reduction in major crimes in the parish.

“The crime figures are down in Manchester and I believe it is a result of the work of the police force, so I must commend them. We see them around. We can feel them and it is paying off. However, one crime is one too many,” he said.

Head of the Manchester police Deputy Superintendent Carey Duncan commended Green and the four newly pinned peace ambassadors.

“Promoting peace in schools is essential for creating a positive and supportive learning environment. It improves academic performance. Students who feel safe and supported tend to perform better. It also reduces bullying and violence. A peaceful school reduces the likelihood of bullying, fights and other forms of violence. It also increases empathy and fosters understanding,” he said.

He said conflict resolution skills such as mediation and negotiation are crucial to resolving disputes.

“Last year we had some incidents of homicides within this parish. When we do our analysis of the data, 72 per cent of the homicides were dispute related. Those are incidents that could have been avoided if people decided to talk it out other than to fight it out,” he told his audience.

Last May 20-year-old Akeilia White was fatally stabbed at the Catholic College of Mandeville allegedly by another student, and last October a Porus High student was injured after being stabbed, reportedly over $200.

“I want to encourage you young ladies that these peace ambassadors who you see standing here are the ones who will effect the change. I encourage you and I implore you young ladies to talk it out and not to fight it out,” Duncan said.