Rasbert Turner and Claude Mills, Gleaner Writers
Grey columns of smoke rise from burning tyres yesterday as residents of communities affiliated to the People's National Party blocked several sections of the Spanish Town Bypass to demonstrate against the killing of Donovan 'Bulbie' Bennett.
MAYHEM GRIPPED Spanish Town, St. Catherine, in its deadly embrace yesterday as angry protests and running gun battles between armed thugs and the police forced the lockdown of most schools, shuttered businesses in the area and led to the shooting death of one woman.
The protests were triggered by the shooting death of reputed People's National Party-affiliated 'Clansman' leader Donovan 'Bulbie' Bennett during a joint police military operation in Rock River, Clarendon, on Sunday. Bennett had been a regular fixture on the police most wanted list for more than 10 years.
Yesterday morning, anarchy reigned in Jamaica's old capital as motorists, chased by intermittent bursts of gunfire, were forced to take evasive action as they attempted to navigate roads which were blocked with burning debris for more than three hours.
Up to late yesterday evening, streets remained largely deserted, although Jamaica Defence Force soldiers and a team from the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) had cleared many roads of debris, old cars and tree stumps.
However, during the day, sporadic gunfire, fiery roadblocks, shell-shocked motorists, and armed thugs attacking the police were the central theme of a 24-hour period of anarchy in the Old Capital.
On Sunday night, members of the Clansman gang orchestrated attacks on the police in retaliation for 'Bulbie's death. Three policemen were shot in three separate incidents between Sunday night and yesterday morning. At a few minutes before 11 p.m. on Sunday, a police constable was shot and injured at the Jose Marti roundabout while travelling in his private car. Policemen, responding to the constable's distress call, were en route to that location, when gunmen ambushed the police party on the Spanish Town bypass. A shootout ensued, and one cop was injured.
AMBUSHED
Earlier that night, a police party, responding to reports that the police command post in the bus park was under attack, was ambushed on White Church Street by a group of gunmen. No one was injured. At 8:30 p.m., a Pajero service vehicle driven by an inspector of police, attached to St. Mary, was raked with bullets while he was driving on the Spanish Town bypass in the vicinity of March Pen Road. He escaped unharmed.
On Monday, a policeman was shot and injured in Dela Vega City, reportedly by 'friendly fire' from his colleagues on patrol in the area.
"From the death of 'Bulbie,' it is clear that the police have been targetted," Assistant Commissioner of Police Arthur 'Stitch' Martin said.
10 PERSONS ARRESTED
He confirmed that 10 persons were arrested yesterday and charged with breaches of the National Solid Waste Management Act.
"I've encouraged people who have been calling me to stay off the streets, Rivoli, Dela Vega City...I can't do anything about the roadblocks, if they choose to put themselves in harm, they choose to pay the price, they must allow the police to get their job done," Member of Parliament for South Central St. Catherine, Sharon Hay Webster, said, yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon, Dandrita Johnson, a 34 year-old businesswoman was shot and killed in Thompson Pen, allegedly by the police.
