Church umbrella group urges Jamaica peace push after Kemelia Paul’s death

The Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches is pressing for a fresh national focus on peacebuilding, family care and preventing violence after the death of Kemelia Paul, a 13-year-old student of Excelsior High School.

In a statement issued Wednesday morning, the church organisation said it was grieving Kemelia’s death and offered sympathy to her relatives, friends, school community and everyone who stood with her as she fought for life.

JUGC said Kemelia was remembered as a child who sought peace and died while attempting to intervene in a dispute. The group said her bravery and kindness had reached Jamaicans across the country.

Churches islandwide are being asked to mark a "Kemelia Peace Call" this weekend by setting aside five minutes during worship for prayer, repentance and a pledge to build peace in families, schools and communities.

The umbrella body is also urging wider action on domestic violence, the return of conflict-resolution programmes including PALS, deeper cooperation with the Violence Prevention Alliance, and more support for parenting and family-development work.

JUGC has again called for 2027 to be named the Year of the Family, with emphasis on stronger family values, improved parenting, child safety and a more peaceful society. It said Kemelia’s death should become a point of change for Jamaica, not merely another tragedy in the news.