Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
'WHAT NOW for the peace in Spanish Town' is the question that pops up each time one of that community's reputed gang leaders is murdered. But even Monsignor Richard Albert, the Roman Catholic priest who has been stationed there for the past two years, struggles to give an answer.
"That's the $64,000 question," Monsignor Albert said yesterday as sections of Spanish Town came under attack from persons protesting the murder of Andrew 'Bun Man' Hope, who was said to be leader of the notorious 'One Order' gang.
Monsignor Albert told The Gleaner that he spoke to Hope just hours before his death Wednesday afternoon, reportedly at the hands of gunmen along Young Street in the Old Capital. The police have made no arrests.
Hope was scheduled to meet with Monsignor Albert and administrators from several
corporate companies to discuss various projects throughout war-weary Spanish Town.
TRUCE IN JEOPARDY?
"He called and said he could not make it," said Monsignor Albert, who visited Hope's family in Tawes Pen shortly after his death. While he does not know how badly his death will affect the fractious truce in Spanish Town, Monsignor Albert says Hope was maturing.
"He was a low-key type of guy ... I'm not saying he was Robin Hood because Andrew had a tough past," said Monsignor Albert. "But he was moving in a direction to legitimise himself."
The American priest says he first met Hope shortly after he moved to Spanish Town.
"He called me and we would talk about projects for Tawes Pen. He said he would give me his full support," said Monsignor Albert.
Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for Central St. Catherine, would not comment on what impact Hope's murder would have on maintaining peace among Spanish Town's factions.
ACTIVE ROLE
Like Monsignor Albert, she said Hope played an active role alongside community leaders in De La Vega City, Homestead and Gordon Pen to help empower residents.
Hope, 27, had his share of brushes with the law. On January 1, 2003, he was arrested and charged by the police for illegal possession of firearm, but eventually freed and the charges dropped.
In April 2005, he was again arrested for questioning in connection with an upsurge in violence in Spanish Town. Again, he was released without being charged.
Hope is the latest of the Spanish Town area leaders to meet a bloody end.
In July 2004, Oliver 'Bubba' Smith, Hope's predecessor in the 'One Order' gang, was shot and killed at Whitehall Avenue in St. Andrew.
Last October, Donovan 'Bulbie' Bennett, long-time leader of the rival 'Clansman' gang was killed by a police party led by Operation Kingfish. The police report that several members of the 'Clansman' gang, fighting to succeed Bennett, have since been murdered.
