Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
Nickesha Heath, the daughter of Pancheta Johnson of Thompson Pen in Spanish Town, who was allegedly shot and killed by Police on Monday, is being carried by neighbours after she fainted at her home while residents demonstrated against the police yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
FOR THE second day running the security forces in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, tried to regain control of the Old Capital by clearing several roads blocked by residents protesting the police shooting of gang leader Donovan 'Bulbie' Bennett.
Yesterday, the police imposed a curfew in sections of Spanish Town, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 o'clock this morning.
Bennett, the reputed leader of the Clansman gang, was killed in Rock River, Clarendon, early Sunday morning.
As early as 7:00 a.m. yesterday, a police party led by Supt. Kenneth Wade went into the Thompson Pen area where residents blocked the road in protest against the shooting death of 34-year-old Panchita Johnson, a businesswoman from the community who was allegedly shot by members of another police party.
POLICE VEHICLE DAMAGED
While the police were on the scene, residents smashed the windshield of a police unit as they vented their frustration. They said they did not want the police in the area, claiming Ms. Johnson was killed in cold blood.
Reasoning with the residents, Supt. Wade said an investigation would be conducted into the shooting. Member of Parliament for the area, Sharon Hay Webster, also visited the community and told residents they should leave the investigations to the police. They then agreed to clear the road.
In Spanish Town itself, the area was tense and there was traffic congestion in the vicinity of the Spanish Town Hospital and the police station. This was a result of bus and taxi men modifying their route as they refused to go into the bus park near the Life of Jamaica Complex along Burke Road.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Arthur 'Stitch' Martin, the police were aware of the problems associated with the bus park, and would be seeking to bring normality to the area.
"We realise that we may have to stay in the area for as long as it takes to allow law-abiding citizens to go about their business," he said. "So we are going to send for reinforcements to beef up the operation."
Several businesses and schools reopened yesterday, having been forced to close on Monday.
AREAS UNDER CURFEW
A curfew has been imposed until 8:00 o'clock this morning in the following areas:
North along Burke Road.
South along Spanish Town bypass to Port Henderson Road.
East along Manley Boulevard.
West along Oxford Road to Salt Pond Road.
