UDP Dangriga representative Frank Pawpa Mena is under pressure tonight - and it is coming from UDP's within his own constituency. Mena was reported to be considering not running again after his candidate for leader John Saldivar was defeated. But, 10 days later, he hasn't gone anywhere, and, now, a letter sent by ranking UDP's in the division to leader-elect Patrick Faber three days ago says, basically, that they've lost confidence in Mena and want him gone.
It's a remarkable political hit against a sitting two term representative, and former divisional Chairman John Castillo, deputy Mayor Aaron Gongora, Town Councillors Earth Lopez and Alex Joseph along with two others write that Mena cannot win the seat. They say he has, quote "lost too much ground" unquote and will be unable to make it up before the general elections.
But it's not just casual complaining; they point out, correctly, that Mena has not been endorsed as the UDP candidate for the Dangriga Constituency and, quote, "hereby demand for a convention to be held expeditiously" end quote.
We reached out to leader elect Faber today and he said, quote, "I've received such a letter. The party chairman is currently to meet with Mena this afternoon to discuss matters related to the Dangriga Constituency."
That's less than a hearty endorsement of Mena's political future, and if you're wondering why, you just need to go back to Mena's comments about Faber in the John Saldivar campaign launch back in November of 2019. He said Faber was no unifier:
Hon. Frank "Pawpa" Mena, Area Rep. - Dangriga
"...we can't agree because so many things and so this country yearns for a unifier. This country cannot deal with nobody who is petty and vindictive and personal and all of that."
And now, the same allegation is being levelled against Mena from within his own constituency - politically damaging with months to go before an election. We are told a number of prominent UDP's have expressed interest in contesting the seat.
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