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Alleged Contract Killer Says He Made It Up; UDP’s Pawpa Mena Still Uneasy
posted (April 4, 2014)
Earlier this week we told you about the disturbing report of a death threat against UDP Standard Bearer for Dangriga, Frank "Pawpa" Mena. A Dangriga resident named Jermaine Miranda told police that no less than the clerk of the National Assembly, Eddie Webster had contracted him to kill Mena. The charge was outlandish in the extreme since both men are prominent UDP's in the town. Well, today we learned that Miranda has withdrawn the allegation. He tells the police he made it all up. But, that doesn't make it all just go away, because there's still a great sense of disquiet since the story is not the kind that just gets pulled out of the air. Today all sides: Mena, Webster, the accuser Miranda and the Speaker of the House Michael Peyrefitte met with the officer commanding for the Southern formation Senior Superintendent Robert Mariano to try and clear the air. That meeting happened at 11:00 and 7News was in Dangriga when it was finished an hour and fifteen minutes later. We spoke to Peyrefitte and Mena:..

Hon. Mike Peyrefitte, House Speaker/Attorney
"We cannot get away from the fact that Mr. Webster is the clerk of the National Assembly and when I heard the matter on the news and clearly it was troubling to him understandably and it was affecting his work, so I decided I had to get involve and try in some way to accompany him to visit the police station. I made a call as well to Mr. Pawpa Mena and Superintendent Mariano and we agreed we will meet here to discuss this matter along with the person who allegedly made the report against Mr. Webster. We met and the young man was present in the meeting and he stated categorically that the entire matter was mischievous, that he was trying to create some problems and when we ask him to what benefit he refused to answer."

"It would be difficult to force him to say what led him to do that and we can't do that, but he stated categorically that he is sorry for what has happen to both sides but that he wanted also to be a part of the meeting to clear up any misunderstandings that the two sides may have."

Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Std Bearer - Dangriga
"Sleepless nights for me and the family. Police has detained the young man and they call him up as a part of the meeting with the Speaker and Mr. Webster and he is saying that out of the blues he has come up with a story like that."

Jules Vasquez
"He is admitting that he has concocted the story?"

Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Std Bearer - Dangriga
"He said that he came up with a story like that, so it's worrisome. I move anywhere in Griga and to think that people are thinking like that it concerns me you know."

Jules Vasquez
"Are we anywhere in that meeting in finding a resolution because.....?"

Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Std Bearer - Dangriga
"Yes, we had a real hard to hard talk and I think it's just a matter that we re-establish trust with each other and try forward. I am really concern when something like that, I mean, it's my life."

Jules Vasquez
"However, you don't think or do you think that Eddie Webster is behind it?"

Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Std Bearer - Dangriga
"No, I really - the story is too abstract, but if your name gets call in those things, the story is weird and I don't think Mr. Webster - I wouldn't want to think that the man would go down that road. But if the youth calls my name in things like that then all I want to do is to establish what is going on; if it is out in the streets the youth are vibes up and look at me like that then I have to start get a little bit more concern."

Hon. Mike Peyrefitte, House Speaker/Attorney
"Of course I had a separate meeting with Mr. Mena and Mr. Webster to as three gentlemen to try and hopefully we see ourselves as brothers and not enemies."

Jules Vasquez
"There is a little factionalism in the UDP in Dangriga."

Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Std Bearer - Dangriga
"Yes, but that's not here or there. Everywhere people will have a different perspective on things. I don't spend my time with negative energy Jules, you know me from foundation. It doesn't matter how many attack I get verbally, I don't waste my time with that because I am focused, so its politics and people will have different views, different ideas. They will use different transportation to go to the same spot. I don't sweat that, but I am focus on what I am focused and maybe this a distraction, but it's a cruel one that caught me - it's a real side punch."

Jules Vasquez
"So you have to change up a little bit?"

Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Std Bearer - Dangriga
"I don't think so. I will not become a prisoner in my community. If the youth who is mention it really or their idea is to knock me off - then let them go ahead."

Jules Vasquez
"But it doesn't add up because then it was he who made the statement."

Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Std Bearer - Dangriga
"Yes, but how the thinking came about? This is what concerns my family and I."

Jules Vasquez
"But obviously one would think that somebody has put him up to it."

Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Std Bearer - Dangriga
"I am lost brother, but I need to force myself to feel straight. Yes, but Jah knows."

Jules Vasquez
"Is there any sense of peace or calm or closure coming out of this?"

Hon. Mike Peyrefitte, House Speaker/Attorney
"I mean it's very difficult for either side to be calm or feel any closure. I mean its a serious thing to have somebody walk up to you and say that they've been offered money to kill you and it's a serious thing to hear that you have supposedly offered money to kill someone else, so I don't expect any of the sides to be completely calm and relax at this point. I would give it some time and hopefully the hot sun and fresh sea air for Easter will have everybody be calm and nice and we can sit down and talk about this."

Senior Superintendent Mariano couldn't be found at the station right after the meeting and he did not answer our calls or our text messages asking for a comment.

Jermaine Miranda was taken back into police custody and he may be charged for making a false statement or a mischievous act. A rare release from the office of the speaker of the House of Representatives was issued this evening. It says that that according to Mr. Mariano, Miranda will be charged for making a false declaration to the police among other offences.

The release discloses that the meeting was attended by all those persons we already told you about, but also present were Moises Lopez, Reverend Frederick Francisco, and Senior Justice of the Peace, Antoniette Webster.

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