Tina Penner asks for husband’s safe return
In March the Mennonite Community of Belize was shocked by the kidnapping of Menno Penner from his farm in Belmopan. Although a ransom note demanding a million dollars U.S. was sent to the family, they cannot — and will not — pay because such a negotiation goes against their beliefs and community policies. Penner’s family still does not know if he is alive or dead, but they have not given up hope. Although the police helped them videotape an appeal to the kidnappers, it has been sent to Guatemala and Mexico but not released in Belize as the family had hoped. To try and show Belizeans what kind of man her husband is, and how his disappearance has affected the family, two weeks ago his wife wrote a letter to the Amandala newspaper. This week she allowed News Five to come into her Belmopan home and speak to the people who know Menno best in the hope that someone out there will be able to help them.
The Penner residence is filled with photographs that have captured the good times family and friends had with forty-two year old Menno Penner.
Frank Penner, Brother
“It has been very hard, very sad to have somebody out there and you don’t know what has happened to him. It makes you feel very uncomfortable; it makes you feel insecure. It kind of messes up your future. You don’t have any future.”
It is still not clear what unfolded on the morning of March seventeenth. Eyewitness accounts are that Penner, who is the co-owner of Belmopan Sand and Gravel and a citrus farmer had just pulled up in front of his farm when several armed men, dressed in what looked like military fatigues came out of the bushes and held Penner up. A witness reported seeing Penner’s hands tied as he was thrown into the passenger seat of his pickup truck.
Frank Penner
“He went to the farm to pick up the workers and he went by the gate and while turning around his pickup that is where they caught him.”
Jacqueline Woods
“It is believed Penner was taken down this road on his farm and across the river. His pickup truck was later found that day, abandoned on a back road in Camalote Village.”
Catherine “Tina” Penner, Wife
“I think in this country, you are never free from the thought that something could happen. Every time we would go to the farm, I would never go by myself and probably he did sometimes but he would usually carry a radio or something.”
However, that Wednesday morning, Penner was in a rush and had left behind his cellular phone. The incident has been hard on the Penner children who range in age from nine to one and half years old.
Joseph Penner, Son
“I want him back.”
Rebecca Penner, Daughter
“That he should come back and we could go to the farm.”
Catherine ?Tina? Penner
“I am facing the fact that something could have happened. I mean I tell my kids the same thing. We don’t know what has happened to daddy. We don’t know if he will return.”
Ironically, the children still find pleasure in the river where their daddy was taken. Maybe it is because this is where the children had countless wonderful times with their dad.
Catherine ?Tina? Penner
“He used to take them a lot on the farm. We were a family that would just pack up and go on the farm and we would have a picnic with some other people together.”
Penner, who has eight brothers and four sisters, is described as the backbone of the family: the doting father, loving husband and caring brother who always had a positive attitude about life. Elizabeth Penner, who had polio, says her brother was always by her side to comfort her and give her the help she needs.
Elizabeth Penner, Sister
“At night, many times at night I would just wake up and think, Menno where are you? Let me know. We just need him back to be with us to take care of all the things he used to take care of.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Although the family has not heard anything for the past six months they remain hopeful that one day their loved one will return home safe and sound.”
The Penner family says the last time they heard any news was when they received a ransom note, five days after Penner was kidnapped. In that note, the kidnappers told the family if they want to see Penner again, they will need to hand over one million US dollars. If not, Penner would be taken into Guatemala and never heard of again.
Frank Penner
“We would really love to know what has really happened. We do not know what has happened. We would like to know what has happened to know what to do.”
Catherine ?Tina? Penner
“I want to say something to Penner if he would hear this. That we love him, we pray for him. We pray for you and every minute we think of you. There is not a minute that goes by that I don’t think about this whole situation.”
Tina Penner says she would like to thank all who have sent kind words of encouragement and who have prayed for the family. If you have any information on the kidnapping of Menno Penner you are asked to call the nearest police station. Belmopan police say they have not heard anything from the kidnappers since the ransom note, but believe Penner may still be alive somewhere in Guatemala. When asked why the Penner’s video appeal to the kidnappers was not released to the media in Belize, Police Press Officer Christy Castillo said it was sent to media houses in Guatemala and Mexico but it was felt that airing it in Belize would only serve to “enrage the kidnappers”.
