Community action group Rise Above, Bermuda will be marching through some of Pembroke's troubled streets in a bid to make 2010 a year of peace.

The group, started by brothers Dwayne, Wayne and Travis Caines and Dr. Lou Matthews who grew up in the St. Monica's Road area, is calling on the community to march in unity on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The peace march will start at St. Monica's Mission, on St. Monica's Road where 30-year-old Kumi Harford was shot dead while in his car on December 5, and end on Jubilee Park, on Parson's Road.

According to Dwayne Caines, it is a way to show people in the area that the country cares for the community.

Mr. Caines said: "One of the key reasons why we are having this march is to first show the individuals in that area that Bermuda supports the community and we feel their pain and we are doing everything to bring about a better Bermuda.

"The second reason is to show that it is a new beginning for Bermuda for the New Year. It is a formal way to start off the New Year with positive steps.

"The third reason is to galvanise faith-based organisations, community activists, social groups and anyone who is committed to peace in Bermuda. We are looking for everyone, black, white, young, old, who wants 2010 to be a year of peace to come out."

Since starting the group in the wake of Mr. Harford's death, some "beautiful things" have come out of Rise Above, Bermuda, added Mr. Caines.

In addition to starting a support group for mothers of murder victims, more than 1,000 students at schools including Whitney Middle School, Berkeley Institute and Dellwood Middle School have had communications with Rise Above.

He added: "We have made tremendous inroads in this short-term and the response has been overwhelming from the community. We have seen new leaders emerge, community visions take off and organisations pool and link resources," added Mr. Caines.

"But we are not fooled. This is not something that will happen overnight. We are committed to the long-term and changing our community one day at a time, one person at a time."

The march is the latest in a series of organised rallies by organisations like Youth on the Move and CARTEL. They are in the wake of the shooting deaths of 22-year-old Gary Cann on December 15 and 30-year-old Shane Minors on December 17. Since May four people have been shot dead in Bermuda.

l For more information visit the group's website at http://riseabovebermuda.org.