Peacefest set for Sunday

They are nothing if not persistent, and their enthusiasm has paid off as a group of young people from an organisation called Youths for Peace, has put together what is being billed as a Christmas Peacefest. The event, set for Sunday in the front yard of the Belize City Centre, will feature a day of entertainment in an atmosphere that promotes togetherness and brotherhood for young people from all over the country. Organiser Kevin Kelly says the event is being held with a singular objective.

Kevin Kelly, Director, Youth for Peace

“What we’ll be doing is some basketball marathon, some positive rap, the best rap win two hundred dollars. We’ll be having eating contest, we’ll be having a little games for kids etcetera, but the main thing about this Christmas peace fest is the message. And the message we are sending here today is that we must stop the violence, especially in 2004 and beyond. That is the message: no more violence.”

“Let’s be reminded that its Christmas time and these youths will have ideas to maybe rob, maybe pick up a gun, they want money, they want this, they want that, but the have no way to go. What we want to create is some way that these youths can come and say what is happening and we can address it to the nation.”

Organisers of the Peacefest have invited representatives of the police, government, and opposition to attend and make presentations to the young people. Kelly says the event will start at nine Sunday morning and end at midnight.