FABIAN LEDGISTER, Staff Reporter
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Scenes from 'Bunman's' funeral service held yesterday in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. - FABIAN LEDGISTER PHOTOS
THE CARS AND LIMOUSINES were 'flashy', the fashion was 'bashy,' but it was the hundreds (possibly thou-sands) of people at Andrew 'Bunman' Hope's funeral that made it a memorable event.
As the funeral procession at the Phillipo Baptist Church, St. Catherine, commenced, scores of persons from all angles flocked outside the chapel and filed on to William Street, and parts of Cumberland Road.
In fact, the service which ran from 3:00 p.m. until about 5:30 p.m., had been transformed from a day of mourning to an evening of celebration. Three marching bands provided the pulsating rhythms for the 'well- wishers' to dance and celebrate, as they followed the four limousines and the lavish carriage containing 'Bunman's' well dressed body.
Even the family of Hope was pleased at the jubilation of the massive crowd that attended the funeral.
"It nice man, mi love how di people come out fi support di funeral ... dem have fun an dance cause dem did love him," said Charmaine Johnson, the mother of the slain area leader.
It was an evidently special day for residents of Spanish Town, as most were sharply and even extravagantly dressed in their best outfits, resulting in an interesting display of fashion and style.
"Mi love Bunman an mi did afi dress up fi him funeral else mi wouldn't feel good," said Venice, as she modelled her black and gold dress with fleece boots for The STAR.
Despite an overwhelming joint police/military presence scattered across the Old Capital, friction between lawmen and residents manifested only in derogatory comments being hurled at the lawmen.
"Dem can say what dem want, but we're here to maintain the peace and that will be executed," said a police officer who was being cursed by residents.
Dancing and celebrations continued into the night, but the procession itself ended with Hope's body being laid to rest at the #5 Cemetery (Tawes Pen) in an extravagant concrete and glass sepulchre.
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