'Blackie' buried amid chaos
By Desiree Jodah and
Linden 'Blackie' London was buried yesterday after nearly 11 hours of viewing and parading in which confusion reigned. A week ago, London, who police have linked to 14 robberies and two murders, was killed when he emerged from the Toucan Guest House at Eccles, East Bank Demerara where he was engaged in a an 11-hour gun battle with members of the joint forces. A woman Rhonda Forde, 28, who was with London at the time was also killed. London's body was placed at the Square of the Revolution for public viewing from as early as 0730 hrs, despite relatives not obtaining permission from the police. However, there was no interference from the police and the only visible uniformed police at Square later in the morning were those from the traffic department. The few officers were attempting to keep the flow of traffic smooth, but as a result of the thousands of persons gathered at the Square, traffic was snarled. From about 0730 hrs, there was a long, but orderly line filing past the wooden casket, which was draped with a Guyana flag and placed under a tent. The top half of the casket was open and London's body was visible dressed in an off-white shirt and dark trousers. Relatives and associates of 'Blackie' and those assigned to control the crowd were clad in white T-shirts with the words "Blackie the Hero" emblazoned in red on the front. They also wore bandannas and scarves made of camouflage material. Persons from all walks of life filed past for a glimpse of the man who became famous when he escaped a Joint Services dragnet in the Mocha canefield last September. London, along with others had reportedly executed a daring robbery on America Street during which several persons including a policeman were injured. Employees of several government and non-governmental agencies dressed in their uniforms and school children of all ages could be seen in the queue waiting for a glimpse of the body. The line moved along quietly until about 0850 hrs when pandemonium broke out after persons refused to look and move on and stood around the casket. Before long, the impatient crowd surged forward and became uncontrollable. The tent under which the body was started to tip dangerously and organisers decided to move the body to another part of the square. This did not do much good as the mammoth crowd moved along with the casket bearers, trampling the flower plants which decorated the Square. In a bid to restore some order, organisers placed the casket on a large truck on which the music system was. However, the crowd went right along with it almost tipping the vehicle over. A man wearing a multi-coloured dress and wig, lost his wig as he attempted to get on the truck, much to the amusement of the crowd. At about 1000 hrs, Clem David was heard asking persons to make way for "president Hoyte," who would be arriving shortly. His pleas fell on deaf ears, for instead of clearing the way, those at the back decided it was time to get to the front and some in front decided it was time to use force to get the crowd back. Several persons were injured during the pushing and shoving. Shortly after, PNC leader Desmond Hoyte was able to get onto the truck, but was unable to address the crowd, which continued to press against the vehicle. Hoyte left soon after, after speaking with reporters. The funeral procession left the Square of the Revolution about 1130 hrs making its way along Brickdam accompanied by music blaring from a stereo set on a truck and numerous cars. With each playing its own music, the result was a cacophony of sound that could be heard for miles around. The original route planned by the organisers would have taken the body past the Brickdam Police Station. However, police barricaded Brickdam at the junction of Camp Street. Members of the Tactical Services Unit stood at the ready, fully armed behind the barricades. They were not called into action. Those leading the procession turned south into Camp Street with some taunting the lawmen. The hearse bearing London's body, took another route and did not pass through Albouystown as was planned, but headed straight for Vergenoegen. The hearse took several hours to get from La Grange to Vergenoegen as it stopped several times along the way for persons including school children to view the body. At his relatives' home at Vergenoegen where the funeral service was held, thousands had gathered. They were joined by the many who had journeyed from the city including those on bicycles. The procession and the crowd snarled traffic, which was being controlled by members of the Leonora and Vreed-en-Hoop traffic departments. Other officers were also present attempting to keep the traffic moving. It took a while for the casket bearing the body to get into the yard as the crowd swelled to uncontrollable proportions. A steady drizzle which started at this time failed to quell the sometimes hostile multitude. When the casket was finally removed from the hearse after some delay it was surrounded by a swarm of curious on-lookers as bearers hoisted it shoulder high. In the yard of his relatives, crowds pressed forward all wanting to get a glimpse of the man considered Guyana's most wanted. After an unsuccessful attempt to open the casket this scheme had to be abandoned and it was returned to truck which had been part of the procession. By this time the crowd had become restless and they swarmed the truck. Many of them had to be removed bodily from the vehicle and punches were thrown as tempers flared. Bass, a noxious substance, was sprayed in the crowd and people ran in all directions. However, their places were quickly taken by others who were not close enough to be affected by the fumes. Finally, in an attempt to return a modicum of calm to what had become an out-and-out battle between those directing the funeral and the crowds, the vehicle bearing London's remains departed the scene. There was a lengthy wait for its return by which time many of the persons who had travelled from the city began to depart. The body was returned to the yard at 1615 hrs, by which time a system had been devised to control the crowd. The casket was passed over the locked gate and those who had remained in the yard started the viewing, which continued with organisers allowing in small groups at a time. The service, which had been delayed by the confusion, started while the viewing was still ongoing. The service was conducted by Pastor Royford Wright from the Vergenoegen Wesleyan Church. In a moving tribute to London, the pastor paraphrased Mark Anthony's tribute to Julius Caesar remarking: "We have come bury 'Blackie', but not to mourn him." This was met with murmurs of approval from the crowd. He remarked that circumstances had made the late London what he was. He further urged the gathering to allow God to judge the life of London. Once the lines had dwindled and the service drew to an end a relative air of calm returned. The body was then removed to the waiting truck for the one mile trek to its final resting place. A sizeable crowd lined the route for the march to the cemetery which also had musical accompaniment.
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