A spike in gun vi­o­lence in Siparia has prompt­ed more than sev­en com­mu­ni­ty groups to join forces with the po­lice in a peace walk through the com­mu­ni­ty, with po­lice de­clar­ing Siparia and sur­round­ing ar­eas a “no crime zone”.

Op­po­si­tion Leader Pen­ne­lope Beck­les joined res­i­dents, re­li­gious or­gan­i­sa­tions, cul­tur­al groups and com­mu­ni­ty lead­ers for the can­dle­light vig­il and peace walk, which be­gan at the Siparia Del­tons Steel Or­ches­tra pa­n­yard on Fri­day night.

The ini­tia­tive came weeks af­ter the Ju­ly 18 mur­ders of Kwame Par­ris, 29, alias “Six” of Co­conut Al­ley, Siparia, and Teshawn Bap­tiste, 25, of Lowkie Trace, Pe­nal and the Ju­ly 16 mur­der of Akiel Pack­ette, 40, who was shot dead on Quinam Road, Siparia, in what po­lice de­scribed as an in­crease in lo­cal gang- and drug-re­lat­ed vi­o­lence across the Siparia dis­trict over the past few weeks.