The Manchester Peace Coalition (MPCo) serves as an exemplary model of community empowerment and action for the IIPT Global Peace Parks Project. The Coalition (MPCo) was organized as a result of the visit by Dr. Louis D’Amore, Founder/President of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) when he participated in the IIPT Caribbean Community Tourism Conference and Study Tour held in Jamaica 2013.
During his visit, the Manchester Parish Council registered Mandeville, its capital, as the first IIPT Peace Town in the Caribbean and dedicated Brooks Park Sports and Recreation Complex as the First IIPT Peace Park in the Caribbean. Following the dedication of the IIPT Peace Park, the now Chairman of the Manchester Peace Coalition (MPCo). Dr. Clifton Reid formed a working committee to develop the way forward which included detailed research by Dr Horace Gayle who identified 18 at risk communities in Manchester paving the way forward for empowering these communities in a holistic development through education and training, sports and recreation and economic projects.
The Manchester Peace Coalition (MPCo) was officially launched September 2016 at a peace breakfast ceremony with Pastor Glen Samuels, PMI St. James that included more than twenty-five regional and national organizations with ranging mandates with the intention of working towards collaborative initiatives aimed at creating a healthy and safe environment, the preservation of heritage, poverty reduction and human resource development, making Manchester a desired place to live, work, do business and raise families.
Vision
Manchester a place of peaceful and holistic living
Mission:
To reduce domestic violence, promote better parenting, reduce school drop-out rates, support uniformed youth groups in Manchester and income-generating projects in the targeted communities.
Broad Objectives:
- Training of violence interrupters
- Promoting better Parenting through parenting clubs
- Reducing school drop-out rates through the establishing of home work centres
- Raising the level of civility through the support of uniformed youth groups
- Supporting income generating projects for the targeted communities
Stakeholders of the Peace Coalition
Stakeholders in addition to the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) include
Manchester Parish Council and various Committees of the Parish; Government Ministries including Education, Justice and Child Development Agency; Offices of Members of Parliament for Manchester; Countrystyle Community Tourism Network/Villages as Businesses; Manchester Principals Association; Manchester Association of Deans of Discipline; Civic organizations including Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce; Mandeville Hotel; Manchester Wellness Foundation (MANWELL); University of West Indies Open Campus; National Youth Service; National Association for the Family, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and Social Development Commission; National Council on Drug Abuse; Manchester Football Association; Police and Fire Departments; Neighborhood Watch; Manchester Conflict Resolution Association (MCRA); Network of Women; Brooks Park Sports and Recreation Complex; NCU FM/NCU TV; Power 106 FM and others.
Achievements to Date Include:
– Community Peace Games
– Launch of Annual Father’s Day Celebration
– Peace Projects designed for Manchester School
– World Peace Day extended to World Peace Week with various initiatives throughout the week
– Strong partnerships with stakeholder groups, particularly Manchester Parish – – Cultural Development Committee, Social Development Committee, Police organizations
– Plans to forge long term relationships with 18 at risk communities identified
– Pre -Valentine’s Day Family Event Feb 9 2019 in memory of the late Corporal Melvin Smith
– Dr. Clifton Reid a main presenter at the IIPT International Community Tourism Conference November 2018 at the UWI Mona campus where a Community Tourism Award was given to the MPCo and Chairman, Dr Clifton Reid for outstanding service to community development in Manchester
– Website: WWW.MANCHESTERJA.ORG has been created to provide exposure of both the work of the Coalition and the Parish of Manchester. The website will also facilitate posting community calendars of events; generate income through advertisements; post jobs, opportunities and CV’s; and provide further awareness and focus focus on communities and their needs for all Jamaicans and the Jamaican Diaspora.
Going Forward
Going forward, the Manchester Peace Coalition will continue to focus on Education and Training, Sports and Recreation, Economic Empowerment and:
- Promote Father’s Day Celebrations in every Jamaican community;
- Assist the Manchester Municipal Council to complete and execute the Peace Town Plan for Mandeville
- Assist the development of Peace Coalitions in other Parishes of Jamaica
- Seek funding for the interventions
