Prime Minister Bruce Golding has  welcomed a proposal by the Peace Management Initiative (PMI)  group to  increase the role they can play in helping in the social recovery and transformation programmes in  marginalized communities across the country.  

Representatives of the PMI met this morning at Jamaica House with Prime Minister Bruce Golding and National Security Minister, Dwight Nelson, during which they  outlined their plans to extend their approach    for a fresh initiative to deal with community violence which they said accounts for many of the growing number of homicides.  

Mr. Golding told the group that in order to  develop an effective long term social recovery and transformation programme , there is the need to synchronize the  various  programmes being undertaken by both government and non-government organization. He noted that the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) was in the process of developing such a programme  that would provide a comprehensive, sustainable approach to transforming  marginalized and garrison communities.  Mr. Golding has invited the PMI to  provide their input .

He said  the multi-lateral agencies  have already committed their support for  social recovery programmes  some of which he noted  will  have to be aligned with law enforcement activities.

The PMI  was established in 2002   and comprises representatives from the church, the University, the Dispute Resolution Foundation  and civil society. The group’s role is   to defuse, through dialogue, community violence which they say accounts for the growing number of homicides. The PMI representatives noted that they have   experienced some success but their present proposal calls for the extension of this approach which would require increased funding.