According to UNICEF, English-speaking countries in the Caribbean have suffered the worst effects of disorder and the dangers of globalization in aspects of social violence, genocide, terror, extorsion and homicide. For example, in Jamaica, with its 2.6 million inhabitants, more than 1,450 homicides were recorded in 2021, making it the country with the highest homicide rate in the world, with at least four homicides per day.
In the same year, 164 kidnappings were recorded in Trinidad, a record for the country that continues to demonstrate a link between poverty and crime. The 414 homicides registered in Trinidad and Tobago to date represent a 40% increase over the same period last year.
In the Jamaican city of Kingston, poverty remains high, especially among 15-24 year olds in the western part of the country, as well as weakness in education. Poverty rates are high in rural areas, but are particularly pronounced in urban areas such as the capital cities of Kingston (Jamaica), Georgetown (Guyana), El Puerto de Espanha (Trinidad and Tobago), and others, leading to migration from these regions.
Each of these aspects leads to hopelessness among children and youth, as they feel the effects of this social unrest the most. As PEPE, which assumes that in the Kingdom of God there are no differences between people, just like Jesus Christ, we love children and are ready to be light in each of these countries and bring them hope.
Various actions have been taken to reach these English-speaking countries of the Caribbean, as well as Belize, which is classified as a low- to middle-income country, with a population of 419,199 inhabitants, of which more than 42% are boys and girls of young age. As for Belize, we have already made some contacts, but due to situations beyond our control, such as the death of family members of those contacted, the process of alliance building has been interrupted. However, we are still looking for more contacts and trust that our goal of reaching these countries will soon become a reality. In this way, we hope to contribute to the holistic development of children in the Caribbean and provide them with equal opportunities to reach their full potential.
In the Americas, there are 15 countries that have English as an official language, including: Guina, Barbados, Jamaica, Santa Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, São Cristóvão and Nevis. Pray for this great challenge. We are working to fulfill the mission of reaching the children of our entire continent, without forgetting that there are still many boys and girls in the Caribbean islands and in the Americas who are waiting for PEPE to arrive!
Let us continue to work together; the mission is not over yet.
Verónica Torrento – coordinator of PEPE Americas for countries of English language
Carmen Ligia – text editing
Translated by Victor Baptista
