Nightly candlelight vigils for ‘Bulbie’
SUPPORTERS of slain Clansman gang leader Donovan “Bulbie” Bennett have been holding nightly candlelight vigils in Spanish Town, the town where the gangster operated for 10 years. The heart of Spanish Town is transformed each night with the glow of candles, lit from as early as 8:00 pm and placed along the sidewalks in and around the town centre.
The candles are placed along sidewalks at the bottom of Young Street and the intersection of March Pen and Burke Roads, as well as outside the LOJ Shopping Centre and the adjacent Texaco gas station.
“Bulbie” was killed two weeks ago in an alleged shoot-out with the police at his home in Tanakay, near Rock River, Clarendon.
His death sparked a nasty protest by Clansman gang members and other supporters, as gunmen turned their weapons on the lawmen.
For two days, the old capital was shut down by protesters who blocked roads and lit fires, causing businesses and schools to close. Since then, there has been a tense calm in the town with the return of commercial activities.
Many “mourners” viewed the hundreds of lit candles placed strategically along the roadway as a last show of “respect” to the fallen gang leader.
One young man who accidentally knocked over one of the candles from off the sidewalk last week in the vicinity of the LOJ plaza was chastised by a man, who said he had disrespected “the fadda” (father). The man ordered the lad to replace the candle and threatened to “box” him “over” the head.
On Young Street, a woman exclaimed that “It nuh matter how much money it cost we, we naah stop mek him know seh, a him a di real top man aroun’ here”, while dancing to a popular music beat, and lighting more candles.
In De la Vega City, where Bennett’s main base was said to be located, black strips of cloth have been hanging from utility posts as some members of the community mourn the gangster’s death.
One resident, who gave his name only as “Bees Man”, said that the police were “wrong fi kill the leader, dem should at least carry him in fi justice, if dem seh him guilty a crime”.
Bennett, who was on the run for 10 years, was said to be wanted for more than 80 murders, extortion and other crimes in Spanish Town and other communities in St Catherine and Clarendon.
