Jamaican politicians greet delegation of IEPC host organizations

Meeting with Sir Patrick Allen, governor general of Jamaica

A joint World Council of Churches, Jamaica Council of Churches and Caribbean Conference of Churches delegation met with Sir Patrick Allen, governor general of Jamaica. Pictured: WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit and Sir Patrick Allen.

Sir Patrick Allen, governor general of Jamaica, expressed his joy, on behalf of Jamaica and the entire Caribbean region, to be hosting the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation.

Pictured: The delegation representatives from the organizations organizing and hosting the IEPC - World Council of Churches (WCC), Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) and Jamaican Council of Churches (JCC) - with Sir Patrick Allen.

Meeting with the prime minister

From left to right: WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, JCC general secretary Rev. Gary Harriott, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, moderator of the WCC Central Committee.

The leader of the parliamentary opposition

Jamaican parliamentary opposition leader Portia Simpson-Miller was the first female prime minister of Jamaica. She said that the churches play a “very crucial role” in the transformation of all forms of hostility witnessed in the country.

Local impact

Reflecting on Portia Simpson-Miller's thoughts, Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima (top row, right), the other vice-moderator of the WCC Central Committee, said that one of the goals of the IEPC is to have a concrete impact on Jamaica’s struggle to overcome violence.

Monument in memory of children who died under violent circumstances

During a short visit to the monument in downtown Kingston, WCC general secretary Tveit led a prayer for the numerous young victims who have had their names recorded there since 2008.

At the Supreme Court of Jamaica

The delegation wrapped up its official visits at the Supreme Court of Jamaica, where Chief Justice Zaila McCalla (pictured here with WCC general secretary Tveit) offered insights on just peace.

All photos © Peter Williams/WCC
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