A raging internal battle is nearing in Spanish Town, St Catherine, as a new don for the Clansman gang is being decided with bullets and blood.
Speaking with the police as well as members of the gang, THE WEEKEND STAR investigative team has learnt that the battle which has existed for sometime now is set to intensify with the recent sentencing of the reputed don.
Police sources, however, claim that the conflict in the Clansman gang began escalating in January after the killing of Jermaine 'Speedy' Morrison, a high-ranking Clansman member and loyalist of the current don.
That was, however, only a continuation of a dramatic long-term internal feud, originating from the police killing of long-time leader Donavon 'Bulbie' Bennett in October 2005.
"Di right man who should a run tings ... a go tek over di ting once and for all. But fi dat gwan is whole heap a man afi go dead, cause di man come from di original set of Clansman, Bulbie link, an a one bag a younger Clans that are diehard loyalists of ... afi go get brush (killed)," a long-standing Clansman member told THE WEEKEND STAR.
The man being referred to was a close associate Bulbie and is respected within the organisation. Gang sources say many high-ranking members have concluded that with his intellect, finances and willingness to share spoils of extortions and contract killings, he is perfect for the leadership role.
new young bloods
Police sources confirm that this man is now entrenched in a war with persons to the current don from March Pen road and other areas.
"Toadis a long-standing gang member we hear, and believes it is his time to take over ... . He is a close associate of the former Clans don Bulbie, so it is basically the original Clansman gang against the new young bloods," explained a police officer from the division.
One gang member, clearly a loyalist of Toad, told THE WEEKEND STAR that it was not Bulbie's wish to see the current don as the leader.
"This is a mistake from long time a get correct now, Bulbie set up Dave Clans and ... (Toad) fi tek over an run di ting properly ... but after you jus hear Dave Clans dead an a ... [the current don] a run it an a one don di ting de ... look a way," he added.
Toad, it is said, reluctantly accepted leadership to prevent bloodshed.
Now with the current don incarcerated, it is expected that Toad will no longer be reluctant. Standing in his way, however, are some of the current don's loyalists who are said to be willing to use bullish, violent tactics.
One of these loyalists is a man who hails from the March Pen road area. He has been celebrated as one of the main aggressors in the feud with gang rival, One Order.
"When we an One Order did ina war, dem man de a go di hardest," said a gang member from the March Pen road area.
Sources indicate that the only other loyalists who could take the helm is a man celebrated as the person who extended the gang to Bog walk and surrounding areas to much financial gain. However, THE WEEKEND STARuncovered that he has fled to a small Caribbean island upon hearing he was being targeted in the internal feud.
BULBIE'S RELATIVE
The tale in the fight for control doesn't end there. It is said that a close family member of Bulbie is also being hailed by a number of persons as the next person to control the gang. They say until recently, he has been the only high-ranking member to openly stand up against the ruthless loyalists of the current don.
But even if Bulbie's relative becomes the man at the helm, gang sources say it won't be without the cooperation of Toad who began his takeover efforts with the killing of 'Speedy'. This is alleged to have infuriated loyalists which led to several murders in Portsmouth, Portmore, some hours later.
In that incident, the deceased were identified as 56-year-old Lerrimore Warmington; 39-year-old Owen Henry; Kenton Headley, 30; 45-year-old Levil Anderson, and a man identified only as 'Pazzam' who investigators say was a Clansman gang member loyal to Toad and was the intended target of the hit.
"Investigations have indicated a link between these murders. A third incident, the killing of the girlfriend and mother-in-law of Speedy, is also said to be linked in what seems to be a deadly cycle of reprisal," said a police from the division who spoke on condition of anonymity.
In that incident, the lives of Erica Simmonds, 44, and 23-year-old Peta-Gaye Bunda, both from March Pen road, were violently cut down in a hail of bullets. A third woman was shot and injured, but survived.
