Page 8 - 10th Annual International Charles Town Maroon Conference and Festival Magazine

June 2018 Charles Town Maroon International Conference Magazine

Working for Peace

Dianne McIntosh

Once again we need to work for PEACE in struggle to experience PEACE in Jamaica the land we
Jamaica: a message from the Ministry of National love.
Security
PEACE is a word layered with many meanings but is
I wish to congratulate the Charles Town Maroon recognized around the world as the universal language
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Council (CTMC) on the staging of the 10 Annual of understanding, tolerance, and acceptance regardless
Maroon Conference and Festival. of age, gender, ethnic background, abilities or beliefs.
True PEACE begets a culture of harmony, non-
This gathering each year carries with it a recognition violence and equality with communities respecting not
and celebration of one’s truth that “we are all spirits only one another but also the environment in which
and that we all carry inside us people who came before
they live and thrive.
us” For this I respect and highly regard the CTMC and
the people of Charles Town as they strive each year to Albert Einstein once said “PEACE cannot be kept by
remind us of this truth. force, it can only be achieved by understanding”
Wisdom, strength and resilience - the gifts of our
Like the force of a river flowing, wisdom, strength and ancestors - comes from an understanding in truth
resilience are gifts that flow from the affirmation of
which they valued as a part of PEACE. And so this 10 th
such truth as we accept the presence of our ancestors Annual Maroon Conference and festival promotes
and honour them for the race they ran. The baton is
respect and sustainability for indigenous values and
constantly being handed over to a new generation of builds the foundation for strong relationships and
leaders and on this leg of the journey the work that you traditions to stay intact between community, citizens
do here in Charles Town holds the key to the future
and country. The charge for this conference and
and prosperity of not just our indigenous communities festival is to join hands together to build a bridge that
but also Jamaica’s cultural and economic inde-
unifies dissenting forces making us resilient warriors
pendence.
for peace and love.
Inside all of us lives the indomitable spirit of our great The Ministry of National Security applauds the
ancestors, it is the spirit of self-determination , the will
Charles Town Maroon Council and Ancestor Col
to build and grow a community to achieve high Frank Lumsden for championing such a vision. We
heights. It should be the dream for our children to
wish to reinforce with you and the community this
maximize every opportunity presented to them as set bridge of peace and its link to economic independence
by the foundation of our ancestors to move Jamaica in today’s Jamaica whilst honouring the best in
forward in every field, be it science, business, public
ourselves. We support your endeavours towards a safer
service or even as Prime Minister.
and sustainable Jamaica.
However, on this leg of the journey as it was 250 years
ago at the signing of the Peace Treaty, is a recognition
that a critical component to moving Jamaica forward Dianne McIntosh,
is to establish PEACE. We are at that place again but Permanent Secretary
not with the British, this time with ourselves. And the Ministry of National Security
dreams of our children may be frustrated as they

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