RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Hours after a shooting rocked the south city leaving one man dead and four others injured, deputy mayor of San Fernando Vidya Mungal-Bissessar expressed hope that the police will find the perpetrators.
She was speaking to reporters after visiting the Pope family at their Cipero Street, San Fernando home yesterday.
Mungal-Bissessar, who is a personal friend and neighbour of Stephen Pope, said she was very saddened when she heard of his death.
As the councillor for Les Efforts East, Mungal-Bissessar said she knew Pope for over 25 years.
"He was a very nice gentleman. If you knew Stephen Pope if he heard any sort of commotion he would definitely want to come out and see if there is something he could help with, if he can defuse a situation. He was that type of person," she said.
She said despite the increase in murders across T&T, many people still felt safer in San Fernando rather than in other parts of the country.
"I have full confidence that the police would come to the root of this. Any death is a death too much," she said. She called on San Fernandians to come forward and help the police with information.
"As a citizen, crime touches everyone and the veil of secrecy and not wanting to get involved, whether it be murder, whether it be guns, domestic violence, whatever it is, we have to get involved," she said.
She said citizens must protect themselves and be their brother's keeper.