Despite the overcast sky, hundreds turned out in Bridgetown yesterday morning for the Walk For Peace organized by the family of two men shot and killed on August 2.
In the names of Arthur Chaderton, 79, and his son-in-law Gerhart Stock, of Austria, both gunned down at their home in Salters, St George, 500 or more marchers took a stand against crime and violence. Friends and members of community groups and non-governmental organizations joined the Chaderton family in the peaceful walk from Jubilee Gardens at 11 a.m. to Heroes Square.
Even babies in strollers, the disabled and the elderly joined. And while some walkers, sometimes under a blanket of umbrellas, reflected on their way, others softly sang the words to Let There Be Peace On Earth.
Some prominent people were there, including Roman Catholic priest Monsignor Vincent Blackett; Amor Mottley, the mother of former Opposition Leader Mia Mottley; Garrison Secondary School principal Matthew Farley; pan-Africanist David Commissiong; and cultural activist Adisa AJA Andwele.
Many going about their business stopped to read placards which read messages such as Respect Each Other, Treat Others Like Family, Violence Is Not The Answer, All We Need Is Love, Stop The Madness, Protect Our Future The Children and Peace For Barbados.
Tessa Chaderton-Shaw, niece of the murdered Chaderton, told the SUNDAY SUN that, given the weather conditions, she was impressed with the turnout for the walk coordinated in two-and-a-half days. She thanked Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin and the Royal Barbados Police Force for their assistance.
“I think that [the turnout] is testimony to the fact that all Barbadians have been touched by the recent criminal activities on the island. As a family, we care deeply for our country and we felt that if one positive message could have come out of the double murder, it was that we needed our voices to be heard and we needed to take a stand.
“We don’t want our country riddled with crime and violence as pertains in some of our neighbouring countries,” she said.
After the walk, there was brief entertainment featuring the likes of Biggie Irie and John King. AJA in his offerings focused on peace.
