The Seventh-day Adven-tist Church in Jamaica, through its Women and Children ministries, will take to the streets on Wednesday in a national peace march against crime and violence.

The march will take place in all parish capitals except Kingston and St. Andrew, which will host a peace demonstration.

Public officials will participate in the march, which will commence at 3:00 p.m. and comes at a time when the country is facing an increase in violence against women and children," the West Indies Union Conference said in a statement yesterday.

The main purpose of the march is to "bring awareness of the negative impact crime and violence are making on the nation" and "to inform citizens thereby empowering them, of the role they can play in the fight against crime and violence of all kinds, especially against women and children."

According to Junie Parchment, Women's Ministries director of the West Indies Union Conference, "We believe that it is time to eliminate crime and violence from our homes, schools, churches, workplaces and communities at large. As a church, supported by other law-abiding citizens of this nation, we will send a strong message of solidarity and peace to everyone."

Fitting move

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, in endorsing the march, said the expansive work of the West Indies Union Conference had grown over the years to cover evangelical, health, education and youth programmes, and so it was, therefore, fitting that the church was strengthening its input in the fight against crime.

"The Church is just as important to nation building, as any other organisation or sector of society and must play a key part in improving the morals and behaviours of citizens," Mrs. Simpson Miller said. "I encourage you to continue to let your voices be heard in the fight against evil."

Opposition Leader Bruce Golding said: "I am heartened by the bold initiative of the Women's and Children's Ministries of the West Indies Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in heeding this call."

According to the church, all Adventists and peace-loving persons within the society are welcome to participate in the march.