PROMOTING PEACE WITHIN OUR MARKETS
LIV GUD MOVEMENT TAKES OVER SANTA CRUZ AND MANDEVILLE MARKET
The Ministry of National Security and Peace’s Liv Gud Anti-Violence Market Movement Campaign is taking roots in least Thirteen major markets across the island. Through this collaborative effort countless peace ambassadors have been dispatched into our markets to support peaceful interactions and encourage continued conflict resolution.
The community-based initiative is a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, our affiliate agency Social Development Commission, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Rural Agricultural Development Agency, and the Thirteen Municipalities that has responsibilities for the Markets.
The programme, which is geared towards promoting better problem-solving techniques within the markets, was born out of the need to encourage or maintain amity between vendors and consumers.
It takes a boots-on-the-ground approach, with officers from the partnering Ministry and Agencies visiting and speaking with vendors and shoppers in the market on a one-to-one basis about the campaign and its message of promoting peace, respectful conduct and conflict de-escalation through three simple languages, ‘Dash Weh Di Badness’,’Do Di Right Ting’ and ‘Respect’.
Director of Communication and Public Relations in the Ministry of National Security and Peace, Charnele Henry, during a visit to the Mandeville Market on Saturday the subsidiary campaign is geared towards reminding vendors and patrons about the role they play in crime reduction.
“The Liv Gud Market Movement is a subsidiary initiative of the Liv Gud Anti-violence Campaign of the Ministry where we go into this community spaces and we are talking to patrons and vendors of market spaces reminding them that they too have a responsibility when it comes on to crime reduction and for Jamaica to achieve that goal a peaceful, more secure, more safe society,” she said.
Meanwhile, vendors such as Ms Ruby Forbes who ply her trade in the Santa Cruz Market welcomed the initiative, commenting that the programme is a step in the right direction.
“For me [its] excellent… I live good with just about everybody, I am the peacemaker, but if they would just take a picture of my book, I think it would be more unified, or you’d have more peace in the market”
Mandeville Market Manager, Special District Constable, Robert Masters, said the Municipality will continue to support the campaign’s message after the official programme ends. He noted that this ongoing commitment will help vendors and patrons maintain harmony within the market space.
“You teach what you preach, being a part of this core, I realize the positiveness and the atmosphere that it gives to the vendors so we now as the municipality we will do our part to continue promoting this ‘Liv Gud’ and have a safe environment, not just for vendors but for shoppers also,” he said
The Liv Gud Market Movement initiative is expected to run from July to September 2026. During the movement, vendors will be positioned as ‘Liv Gud’ Ambassadors to further reinforce the campaign’s message throughout day-to-day interactions. So far, seven markets have been impacted by the programme.