Relaunched Salt Spring’s Peace and Justice Centre to tackle social issues
Published:Tuesday | February 25, 2025 | 12:07 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Reverend Conrad Thomas, the pastor of the Salt Spring Baptist Church in St James, says the community has the potential to be vibrant but is being held back by socioeconomic issues that need to be tackled and fixed.
According to Thomas, despite the numerous obstacles, the residents are showing remarkable resilience and an unyielding spirit, which is a clear indication that there is a willingness to fight to overcome the challenges.
“Our community grapples with socioeconomic issues such as unemployment, inadequate access to quality education and healthcare, poor infrastructure, and the persistent impact of crime and violence,” said Thomas, as he spoke to the need for a greater levels of social intervention programmes to address the various social issues.
However, having had the opportunity of seeing the efforts being made by the residents to overcome the challenges in a bold effort to create positive changes, Thomas is pleased with the resolve being shown.
“Despite these difficulties, Salt Spring is home to a resilient people with a strong sense of community, working through local initiatives and organisations to create positive change,” said Thomas, who was speaking at Saturday’s Jamaica Baptist Union’s (JBU) 175th General Assembly, where the religious group relaunched the Salt Spring Peace and Justice Centre, which is located on the grounds of the Salt Spring Baptist Church.
Thomas said the relaunch of the facility will serve as a catalyst to combat the rising tide of crime and violence among residents in the community.
He sees it as a beacon of hope, which should ultimately bring the tranquillity needed to uplift the community of approximately 10,000 residents, through a series of well-thought-out interventions aimed at fostering peace and justice.
“The Peace and Justice Centre is more than just a project, it is a symbol of hope, a promise of transformation, and a declaration that Salt Spring is not forgotten,” said Thomas. “Everything we do here will be intentionally done with the utmost class, dignity, and an appeal to aesthetics.”
TESTAMENT OF THE POSSIBLE
Thomas further argued that in a community where challenges often seem overwhelming, “this initiative stands as a testament that change is possible, change will come and that together we can create a future filled with peace, justice, and opportunity”.
“With faith in God and commitment to one another, we can break cycles of violence, deconstruct stereotypical narratives, empower the next generation, and restore dignity to those who feel lost. This centre will be a place where wounds are healed, where dreams are reignited, and where love overcomes division,” declared Thomas.
“Let us move forward with courage, knowing that our efforts today will shape a better tomorrow. Salt Spring is not defined by its struggles; Salt Spring is defined by the strength, resilience, and unity of its people. Together, we will rise,” he added.
The JBU-operated Salt Spring Peace and Justice Centre was initially launched in 2013 to foster peace and justice. It provided conflict resolution, mediation training, and peace-building resources to community members.
With the relaunch, it is expected that the centre will help to defuse community tension, provide community support and educational services, enable and uplift at-risk youth, provide training in mediation and parenting skills, and offer professional support.
“A full-time social worker/psychologist will be on staff to provide ongoing support and guidance to individuals in need, with the ability to co-opt additional professionals as required to create a peaceful environment,” said Thomas.