Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterDark clouds hovered over the Old Capital yesterday, as tension filled the air as police and civilians awaited an expected outbreak of violence coming with a tour of the body of slain Clansman leader, Donovan 'Bulbie' Bennett.
However, most of the day went by uneventfully, largely due to the thick police/military presence on the ground and a JDF helicopter patrolling the skies.
However, it was not business as usual as many persons stayed home, apparently in anticipation of pandemonium.
Others, who braved the uncertainty and came out, did business as usual, despite the fact that there was no buzz on the streets or in the shopping districts.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields and Assistant Commissioner of Police Reginald Grant took up positions in the area.
DCP Shields, who was casually dressed in pink shirt and khaki trousers, talked and smiled with the residents in the vicinity of the shopping centre.
regular duty
"Everything has been good so far, people are moving around freely. I think we have effective policing on the ground," ACP Grant, who is on special assignment as the ground commander, told The Sunday Gleaner. He insisted that the police were just doing their regular duty.
"No extra policing, just policing the normal way. I am not concerned, it is a criminal who is dead and he should not have any special focus," ACP Grant told The Sunday Gleaner.
He said that there will be no parading through the communities with 'Bulbie's' body. "The undertaker can carry it from downtown to the community centre, using the shortest possible route between the hours of 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., and him caan go nowhere else."
Additionally, the lawman gave the assurance that there will be a strong detachment of police and soldiers before, during and after the slated funeral today.
"Things might not happen before or during, so it mustn't happen after," he said.
