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Peace Management Initiative

Jamaica has a homicide problem. Property crimes have been steadily declining over more than two decades, while the murder rate has steadily grown over the past 14 years. Some blame drugs, as the underlying tap root of the money, guns and psychology driving a “criminogenic” process. Reprisals from community and domestic conflict are considered another source.
The Peace Management Initiative (PMI) was established in January 2002 to defuse potential or actual violence in the communities in and adjoining Kingston; a radical departure from the exclusive use of the security forces. The six-person civil society team comprised high profile personalities with a reputation for fairness to attract the attention of combatants and engage them in meaningful dialogue.

Working in over 50 communities or sections in some 15 different areas the PMI approach is a three-step one: mediation, counselling/welfare and development. The third strategy; development, is multi-faceted, covering cultural activities, sport, skills training, employment opportunities, retreats, capacity building and the formation of a local council. The PMI collaborates extensively with other agencies, bringing them into difficult areas and putting community people in touch with them. The PMI is generally regarded as having contributed significantly to the control and reduction of community conflict.

One particular lesson learned was the need to distinguish between community gangs comprised of delinquent youth defending turf who can be rehabilitated, and criminal gangs with more serious long-term criminal goals who have to be dealt with by the police. The value of a civil society non-blood-letting approach to violence prevention is recognised and so is a better public appreciation of the deeper psycho-social and socio-economic roots of the violence. Evaluation has shown a number of lessons to be learnt, things which could have been done better which may serve as guideposts for others which include: better organisation and moving earlier in a developmental direction, mobilize needed funding, especially from the private sector, and to try other avenues (such as the media, lobbying, etc) in addition to direct community work.

The PMI’s initial interventions involved mediations between gangs as an exclusive part of its work programme. The organisation has since evolved to include the following key elements to engage a community trapped by violence, drafting the way forward based on values of Respect, Care and Inclusion.