As we told you last night, the UDP has a problem in Dangrige. Prominent UDP's. - including town councillors are making a move against representative, Frank Pawpa Mena - who has won two elections there.
With months to go before a general election, they are calling for a convention to select a new standard bearer. They have written to the UDP leader elect Patrick Faber to say that Mena can't win the division again. Mena was also not a Faber supporter in the divisive leadership convention and there had been suggestions that he would step down if Faber emerged as leader. He has not.
And so, yesterday, Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte was given the task to go talk to Mena, to, as the PUP used to say, "see where his head is at." Today, when we asked the Chairman, he wasn't too keen on discussing it:
Reporter
"Can you as the chairman of the United Democratic Party weigh in on the Pawpa Mena situation down in Dangriga?"
Micheal Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"I can, but I don't want to."
Jules Vasquez
"I heard the leader elect told me you had a meeting with him about constituencies issues yesterday."
Micheal Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"That's my job as the chairman of the party. Discussions are being held and I don't want to be premature in my position."
Reporter
"Would this be taken however, the letter I am referring to, as a vote of no-confidence in Mr. Mena's ability to lead that constituency to the next general elections?"
Micheal Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"It doesn't help, but I don't think it's a vote of no-confidence."
Jules Vasquez
"There is a factual element in what they are writing that no convention has been held in that constituency, so Pawpa Mena as per the party's requirement has not been firmly established as the candidate."
Micheal Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"Well all of that is in the discussion and all of that will be settled, I am confident."
Jules Vasquez
"Is Mr. Mena still interested in running? There were rumors that he might not be willing to do so under Patrick Faber's leadership."
Micheal Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"Rumors, you said. We don't go on rumors. I had a discussion with Pawpa yesterday, those discussions will remain private but the public will know sooner rather than later exactly what the position of the party is going forward with the divisions other than Pickstock and Orange Walk North."
Jules Vasquez
"It's indeterminate at this time then?"
Micheal Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"I don't know if it's indeterminate. The party has every expectation that he will be the candidate, until he writes me and tells me otherwise, that's what I have to assume."
Mena won his first election, a bye-election in July 2015, and then won the general election in November of that year.
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