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Courtney Weatherburne reporting
With his wife, daughter and supporters behind him, Frank "Papa" Mena grasped the bible in his right hand, raised it in midair and recited his promise to his people.

Frank Papa Mena, UDP Area Representative
"I Frank Mena do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize."

After the declaration, Mena's appointment as the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security was crystallized by a signature and a firm, congratulatory handshake.

Now that the brief ceremony and the recital of the pledge is over - the work must begin.

Frank Papa Mena, UDP Area Representative
"One of the things that I discussed with the Minister yesterday Hon. Saldivar, we spent some time yesterday morning just briefing - the relationship with police and community has to be improved and while there are great work that has been done on that, we need to develop that level of trust and it as to be a working relationship and not us and them. There are a number of initiatives going on, but I mentioned to him how much attention and interest we would have to do to ensure that there is a great relationship to maximize the ability and resources, and I am talking about the human resources within the department."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Could you talk to us about some of the security issues that those villages faced and of course that you will address in this position?"

Frank Papa Mena, UDP Area Representative
"We did a couple of consultations prior and one: that they were really asking for some police outpost in these villages. You know the respond would be in the case of Sarawee, 4 miles, in the case of Hope Creek, it would be as much as 9-10 miles and so we need to put some outposts up in those area. Again, in the case during the campaign there were some areas that had poor lighting. Again, some studies has to be done to see the co-relation that exists with proper lighting and crime. There has to be some studies and the result of that, we should be able to see how we go forward based on the findings. It's a learning process and I am willing to learn. I don't come with any pre-conceived thing. I am not into that. I am humble and I am ready to learn. I will learn from everybody. I come into this and my people expect me to defend, but at the same time they know it's a learning process. I know it's a learning process and I am humble by it - I am ready to learn everything to ensure that we put the best foot forward."

Apart from taking up the Minister of State's role, Mena's main focus is Dangriga.

Frank Papa Mena, UDP Area Representative
"I want to stand firm on the position of the area representative first, because we need the attention, we need time and we need to uplift Dangriga, Sarawee and Hope Creek."

With that spirited cheer, the rumble and clatter of the drums, the steady sway and shimmy of the dancer's hips - began.

For now, it's time to celebrate, to rejoice - evoking the energy and intensity from Wednesday's bye-election, carrying it down the path from the Government House unto the streets of Belmopan and BACK to the culture capital - but in that southern town they're expecting work, not winding in the streets.

Mena will be sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives at a later date.