And while the city was being swept by a wave of blue of this morning and red this afternoon, history was being made in Dangriga. As we've reported, the UDP's mayoral candidate Frank "Pawpa" Mena was injured in a freak fire last week when a lighter burst into flames. Mena suffered first degree burns to 25% of his body is still in the hospital recovering, but very prone to infection. With his very vulnerable state, he was unable to make it to the town hall, so it came to him. 7NEWS videographer Fortunato Noble was there and here's the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
An ill "Pawpa" Mena couldn't rally his supporters on nomination day so at 1:30 pm a small group of his supporters went to him at the Southern Regional Hospital. Anthony Noralez is the Chairman of the UDP committee in Dangriga.
Anthony Noralez, UDP Dangriga Chairman
"We are here to show solidarity to our mayoral candidate Mr. Frank "Pawpa" Mena."
And since Mena couldn't make it to the town hall to be nominated, Assistant Registering Officer Noreen Fairweather went to him at the hospital. Fairweather and two registered voters from Dangriga went to Mena's bedside. His family did not allow us to a viewing window to see it, but it went quickly and without incident. Fairweather says the law allowed for Pawpa's nomination from his sick bed.
Noreen Fairweather, Assistant Registering Officer
"The laws make provision. We didn't have to do any major research. The Chief Elections Officer discussed this with the attorneys for the government
and they supported his position that the law is clear that we can use that part of the law where we can come to Mr. Mena in such an event and cause his nomination to us so basically the nomination officer came to him and there is provision in the law to do that. What we did this afternoon was the returning officer and myself along with the witness visited with Mr. Mena and we went through the process.
Obviously Mr. Mena is feeling a little bit…he is making history. It is a precedent. As far back as we are aware collectively, our heads cannot come up with any situation that has occurred before."
The history of today also wasn't lost on Mena's supporters.
Anthony Noralez,
"I have never heard anything of this sort and it seems to be the first time in the history of nominations in the entire country but we are still positive. Despite the circumstances under which the event happened, we are positive. The spirits are high, our candidate's spirits is high, our campaign continues every since he even got into the hospital. We've been doing a lot of positive things and he is aware of the situation."
Fortunato Noble,
How has this affect the overall performance of the party with regards to the election?
Anthony Noralez,
"I don't think it has any effect because as a matter of fact some of our supporters were even calling for the doctor to ban him up and bring him out. They wanted to see him out here but because of the health situation, he has to be here. If it had come worse to the worse, we would have had to take him out there for a few seconds and bring him back to the hospital if it came to the worse to worse. But in terms of affecting the campaign, it hasn't affected the campaign any at all. The canvassers, as you see them, are hyped up, our manifesto is out, our meetings continue, and we even had a meeting on Friday without his presence."
But even Noralez concedes that to secure a victory on March 1st, "Pawpa" Mena will have return to the campaign trail.
Anthony Noralez,
"The doctor told us that this week he will be out by the end of this week and he will be ready for March 1st, that is the word from his doctor. We are checking it on a day to day basis. Basically because of the nature of the burns, he can't be in contact with anybody but the doctor assured us that by the end of this week he should be out.
Dangriga is now a UDP town so hell what may we are looking for victory on the March the 1st and u can come and celebrate with us on March the 2nd."
Doctors hope that by the end of the week, Mena will be out of the hospital.
