On Saturday, the St. Patrick Brigade hosted their third annual Peace Walk in Penal to demonstrate unity and harmony in the community.
A solid turnout of uniformed youth marched from the grounds of the Shiva Boys’ Hindu School through the streets of Penal, accompanied by the music of the St. Patrick Brigade band as they proudly held their peace placards with messages ranging from ‘Say No To Violence’ to ‘Peace Is Always Beautiful.’
Joining the march were members of the Penal Sea Scouts, the Penal Is Love Youth Movement, and the 2nd Penal Senior, Junior, and Brownie Guides.
Lieutenant Dwayne Padilla of the St. Patrick Brigade shared more on the purpose of the walk.
“To bring back peace and love in the community as well as harmony because we realise a lot of the youths are lost, the adults, and persons in society. So, we’re trying to bring back the love, and bring it back where persons would feel more comfortable going out and doing stuff.”
Speaking directly to the nation’s youth, Manager of the Penal Is Love Youth Movement, Martin Cornwall, offered a few words of encouragement.
“As a youth, it’s important to know that things wouldn’t always come easy. Things wouldn’t always be easy, but sometimes you just have to weather the storm, and that’s where you gain the experience to really go forward and to learn things.”
The youth had an even greater message for the wider public. District Youth Commissioner of the Naparima SW Scout District, Chris Baksh, shared: “We want to send out the message that unity is something everybody should be open to because if the youths could do it, the public could do it.”