Rhonda Forde buried
Rhonda Aretta Forde, who was killed under unclear circumstances during last week's shoot-out between Linden London called 'Blackie' and the Joint Services, was yesterday laid to rest at Le Repentir Cemetery. Followed by thousands of persons, including family, friends and the curious, the funeral procession wended its way from her relatives' home in Albouystown to the Church of the Good Shepherd, Bent Street, Wortmanville. Following the funeral service, the procession then left for a final pass through the Albouystown area where Forde had lived then on to the cemetery. The area in front of the church was jammed with people who had gone there to get a glimpse of the woman who had known and was killed along with 'Blackie', the country's most wanted man. Family members were forced to close the door of the church a little after the funeral service had started as the crowds outside surged forward in an attempt to enter. The building could only accommodate about 150 persons. Sounds of weeping and loud reggae music in the background from vehicles could be heard throughout the service. Then the proceedings were forced to a halt for about 20 minutes after persons in the church started scrambling forward in a frenzy to view the body. This caused officiating priest, Fr Linden Gillis, to declare that he was ashamed of peoples' behaviour "in this hour of bereavement." However, the casket remained unopened throughout the one hour-service at the church which began at about 1515 hrs. Forde's body was removed from the church at about 1620 hrs and arrived at the cemetery at about 1800 hrs. Among those present at the funeral were the deceased's two daughters, Rochelle, 12, and eight-year-old Keisha. Forde's mother, Maisie Forde, had flown in from New York on Wednesday to make arrangements for her daughter's funeral. The 29-year-old Forde was the eldest of five children. She was also the only girl. Though there have been several conflicting reports the circumstances under which Forde died are still unclear. The police had said that the woman's lifeless body was thrown out through a window of the apartment that London was holed up in. Ranks who attempted to get at her body were prevented from doing so after London lobbed several grenades at them. Another version is that the woman was pushed out of the door by London and ranks seeing the door opening fired hitting the woman in the process. This version also suggested that London returned fire and hit Forde in the back.
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