Religious body condemns violence, calls for peace

JAMAICA

The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) has voiced its outrage and condemnation regarding the brutal killings in Clarendon, Jamaica on the night of Sunday, August 11, which resulted in the deaths of eight individuals and left nine others injured.

In their statement, the JCC, which includes representatives from the Catholic Church, expressed deep sadness, particularly over the loss of an eight-year-old child, as well as women and the elderly among the victims.

“We offer our sincere sympathies to the relatives of the deceased and the members of the community and extend our prayers for comfort at this time of inestimable grief and loss and for the full recovery of those who have been wounded,” it said.

The Council noted that the criminality that was perpetrated in this incident marked a new nature and level of callousness, horror and terror.

“We condemn this horrible act in the strongest terms and unequivocally affirm the value of human life, which scripture declares, is made in the very image of God. There is no doubt that this incident has further traumatised a community that has seen disruption in the past and apparently, was under the observation of the security forces,” the statement said.

It is the Council’s hope that avenues will be created by the churches and social service providers to offer the psycho-social and spiritual support that will assist those who have been so viciously victimised.

The JCC called on all to refrain from violence, and to pursue peace and the well-being of other persons. They especially call on those who have been aggrieved to refrain from reprisals and allow the State, through the work of the police and the courts, to address this act of violence.