T&T pupils march for peace

(Trinidad Express) Pupils from six schools within the Morvant district yesterday braved rain and an overcast sky to show their disgust against the increasing crime situation in the country as they took part in a peace march organised through the British High Commission.

Addressing the children after the march at the St Dominic’s RC Primary School in Morvant, British High Commissioner Arthur Snell said that despite their age they can still make a difference when it comes to dealing with the level of crime in the country.

He added that the youth in other parts of the world have been doing it and therefore they themselves can as well.

The march, which is in keeping with the promotion of the Olympic Truce leading up to the London 2012 Olympics, is one of three events, Snell said, in keeping with the truce.

He told the media that a similar peace initiative was taking place in Barbados, where two warring groups were matched up in a game of football to show that there are different ways of settling disputes.

The schools represented were Success/Laventille Secondary, Our Lady of Laventille Primary School, Chinapoo Government Primary, Rose Hill Primary School, Russell Latapy Secondary School and St Dominic’s Primary School. The march began just after 9 a.m.

Nickel Christian, a Standard Four pupil of St Dominic Primary School, said he decided to join the protest to be able to speak out against crime.

Another pupil, Jane Chedu, of Our Lady of Laventille RC School, said she took part in the walk so that crime would stop. The Standard Five pupil said it is not fun to raise children in these times as people were dying by the gun faster than by God.

Also present at the peace walk were People’s National Movement MPs Donna Cox and NiLeung Hypolite.