REV Al Miller, pastor of the Fellowship Tabernacle, says this week’s riot by members and supporters of the Clansman gang is cause for concern as the implications for the country are great.

“It highlights the depth and gravity of the national dilemma while reflecting signs of things to come that should not be taken lightly. We are reaping today what was sown yesterday,” Miller said in a statement yesterday.

The protest by the Spanish Town residents against Sunday’s police killing of Donovan “Bulbie” Bennett, leader of the notorious Clansman gang, forced a shut-down of the town for two days as they set up burning roadblocks, while some engaged the police in gunfights.

“Our political/national leadership has allowed garrisons, turf control and a culture of ‘donmanship’ to develop and dominate our land. Those who have used young men, when convenient, to advance their cause cannot now discard and turn them over to death and imprisonment and feel that the problem of crime has been dealt with. It is immoral and unjust,” said Miller yesterday.

The churchman said justice demands that a better way be found or else those who have courted and used them for illegal activities anD then discard them or disassociate themselves from them, are equally guilty before God.

“This approach borders on state terrorism because we do not want to acknowledge our wrong and set new paradigms.

“While we must deal with the major crime problems.it should not be done outside of the principles of justice and righteousness or else the end will be worse,” said Miller. “We have permitted illegal conduct, given tacit approval, accepted and justified it, but when it becomes inconvenient, we sacrifice the men on the altar of expediency,” added the churchman.

“A case in point was the death of Oliver “Bubba” Smith of the One Order gang over a year ago, and then of Donovan “Bulbie” Bennett of Clansmen on the weekend. Many others have also been used to carry out and advance the interest of many in high places and have also been discarded in like manner. Who will be next? This is immoral and fundamentally wrong,” he said.

Miller said the breakdown of truth and justice in a society will always lead to social disorder and potential anarchy. Only a platform of truth and justice, he said, can restore the nation and prevent increased bloodshed.