CLOSE to two weeks ago, a stray bullet from the shoot-out between a bandit and police in downtown Port of Spain pierced the window of the Catholic News office on Independence Square. The bullet struck a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI. Today, the picture, with a hole in the Pope's right arm, remains as a reminder to workers at the weekly newspaper of the violence that has plagued downtown Port of Spain in recent times.
Also serving as a memento of the events for over ten days, was the slug, which would serve as evidence in the case arising out of the shoot-out.
"We called CID (Criminal Investigations Department) to come for it but they never turned up," said Lucille Nathu, business manager of the Catholic News yesterday.
The disturbed picture of the Pope as well as the shattered window and shell was only discovered on May 19, when Nathu and a security adviser decided to inspect the building following a theft in another part of the building. The slug was found still lodged in the portrait.
On the day of the shooting, a celebration was held in the car park of the building following the diaconate ordination of Leslie Tang Kai, just moments before the shooting.
"If it had happened like an hour early, the entire car park would have been filled," said Raymond Syms, a journalist for the publication.
Syms was one of the few people still on the compound when the shoot-out took place. He heard the shots just before 2 p.m. on the day, and moments later saw the man being hauled out of the car park by police.
"We were just kind of shocked, that this was happening," said Syms, who did not realise a bullet had shattered a window in the hall downstairs.
The man who was held following the shooting, is still under police guard at the Port of Spain General Hospital, and is yet to be charged.
Police sources revealed he was linked to other crimes prior to the shoot-out, including a recent murder.
Officers from the Port of Spain CID went to retrieve the bullet yesterday afternoon.
Off-duty police officer Nigel Wilson was shot several times during the attack.
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