Dunkirk residents in peace-march with the police today

Police Commissioner Owen Ellington

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Residents of the Dunkirk community in east Kingston in association with the Ministry of National Security and the Jamaica Constabulary Force will conduct a peace march in the community today (Sunday, February 23).

The march is scheduled to begin at 3:30pm on Banana Street/Red Square and culminate on Williams Street in the community, also known as McKintyre Villas.

Residents of Banana Street were traumatised on Valentine’s Day when armed men allegedly from Bryden Street, also in the community, invaded a party about 10:15 pm and opened fire killing a man and a 17-month-old child.

In retaliation armed men from Banana Street went to a house on Bryden Street where a woman lived with her two-month-old baby. The gunmen seeking revenge reportedly shot the woman and her boyfriend but failed in their attempt to kill the child.

The brutal incidents drew attention to the tough community with members of the church and the Peace Management Initiative, among others, meeting with residents throughout the week.

Expected to be in attendance at today’s peace march are Minister of National Security Peter Bunting and Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, as well as representatives from civic groups and the church.