Students are being encouraged to serve as ambassadors of peace, promoting and practising peaceful conflict resolution among their peers.
This charge was delivered by Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Marlon Morgan, during the handover ceremony for a 2026 Toyota Coaster bus donated to Port Antonio Primary School in Portland on April 28.
“We want you to be safe. We want you to grow up and, ultimately, become productive adults in Jamaica. What that means is that… you, too, have to ensure that you are well-behaved and responsible. So if you are in class or if you are in the schoolyard or out on the streets and you see two other boys and girls or whichever number of them having a dispute and you can step in and just usher a calm and appropriate word that will cause the two warring factions to not go down the route of escalating into violence, I’m imploring you to do so,” he said.
Senator Morgan voiced concern over the troubling trend of individuals recording or photographing disputes for distribution across social media platforms.
“We are seeking, as a country, to have more peace prevalent among us as opposed to violent and antisocial behaviour. So when you see the potential for violence emerging, play your part in ensuring that that is diminished and brought to an end. That is why it is important for you to be ambassadors of peace and step up in that regard,” the Parliamentary Secretary further stated.
He also encouraged students to report disputes to adults, such as their teachers or other staff members, to ensure conflicts are addressed appropriately.
“Embrace that posture of peace and escalate to appropriate authority figures any matter that need to be brought to their attention, rather than taking matters into your own hands and seeking to settle them on your own,” Senator Morgan said.
Pointing out that peace is not simply the absence of conflict, Senator Morgan noted that disputes and disagreements are a natural part of human interaction.
He emphasised, however, that what truly matters is how individuals resolve these disputes, utilising appropriate channels to achieve peaceful outcomes.
