Rev. Pena represented T&T as special envoy of PM Manning: Express report

The Trinidad Express reported on Friday that Juliana Pena, who is linked to a "mystery" church in Arima, met with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe in 2005 in the capacity as a "special envoy of Prime Minister Patrick Manning".

It quoted a report from the Zimbabwe Herald, dated July 22, 2005, which stated:

"President Mugabe yesterday met a special envoy of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, PM Patrick Manning, at State House...Speaking after the meeting, Reverend Juliana Pena, of the Lighthouse of the Lord Jesus Church, said she had come to Zimbabwe to share with the President a vision that she had received from God, in which he revealed his desire to see change in Africa."

The Express asked government officials Thursday about that visit and under what circumstances would Pena be representing the country in such a capacity.

Energy Minister, Conrad Enill didn't know and told reporters, "I don’t understand why I would have knowledge of matters of that nature." He noted that he could speak about energy matters.

He stated that "in the normal course of activities these matters come before Cabinet, if it follows the course of policy, if there is a rationale we approve it. And we move on." And he referred the paper to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Express said it could not reach Foreign Affairs Paula Gopee-Scoon to clarify the matter.