Family mourns as PMI liaison slain
Published:Wednesday | February 19, 2020 | 12:33 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Wandering around the yard with his cell phone in hand amid speaker boxes blaring Luther Vandross’ Dance With My Father, a 12-year-old boy contemplated the loss of his hero.
Only a few hours had passed since the murder of his father, 42-year-old Kevin ‘Rumm Ramm’ Clarke, a popular Arnett Gardens personality and peace activist.
Up to the time of his death, Clarke was employed to the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) as a community liaison.
When our news team went to the family home yesterday on Greenwich Crescent, the family, including his mother and eldest sister, were gathered with guests from his workplace who came to give their condolences.
His mother told The Gleaner she was too distraught to speak in detail about Clarke, her third child.
With tears in her eyes, her only words were, “I have been up since 5 a.m. trying to cope and function.”
Clarke’s sister, Andrea Berry, said she was cooking food for her younger brother when she heard loud explosions.
It was the sounds of crying that triggered their instinct that something was wrong.
Clarke was shot multiple times and died while undergoing surgery at Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).
Known for his signature flaring red beard, Clarke is believed to be the victim of an ongoing conflict in a space involving warring factions as gangsters targeted him as a proxy play.
“Is a case of you can’t catch Quaco, yuh catch him shut. A must dat, because Kevin nah hurt a soul,” a resident said.
Clarke’s family said they are now concerned about their safety.
The deceased’s ‘Rumm Ramm’s alias is synonymous with QQ and Culu Culu’s famous dance move and song. He was featured in the music video.
Kimesha Adams, the mother of Clarke’s son, said that although she and Clarke often didn’t get along, she was rocked to the core by his death.
“Mi feel it to my heart. Fi see mi son can’t sleep and haffi a go the bathroom, two a we a do turns. Mi nuh get no sleep,” Adams said.
Damian Hutchinson, executive director of the PMI, told The Gleaner that Clarke has been a community liaison with the entity for the past two and a half years.
“The members are torn apart, very saddened by the incident. He is someone who goes everywhere and he is always willing to give a hand,” said Hutchinson.
The executive director said that Clarke’s death would not affect the work of the PMI in the area.