What’s Up With Papa Mena in Griga Dan?

Frank ‘Papa’ Mena

As for Martinez’s ministerial colleague, Frank ‘Papa’ Mena, there is still no certainty whether he will be contesting the Dangriga constituency come November.  That’s because a petition has been launched by the U.D.P. committee in that area asking for his removal as candidate in the upcoming general elections.  This afternoon, PM Barrow spoke glowingly about Mena, despite the criticisms that the Dangriga area representative has been facing in his own camp.  The prime minister told the media earlier today that Mena is still the candidate to beat in the Culture Capital.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I have never seen any politician that is able to connect with people in quite the way that Papa Mena is able to.  You see him on a rostrum when he’s switching between Garifuna and Creole, you see him in a crowd with his Garifuna constituents, the man is magic, But that’s not necessarily all that is required to win an election.  For my money, Papa Mena would absolutely go clear in the election, notwithstanding some amount of opposition as is evidenced by what has happened.  The truth is though and I don’t think I’m treading on the leader-elect’s toes, we’re still not quite certain what the position of the Honorable Mena is, whether in fact he still intends to stand in the next elections.  So I would leave it at that, merely repeating that with every respect to those that have been inveighing against him, my own position is that he is the best candidate that the U.D.P. could have to contest that Dangriga seat.”