ALTHOUGH his many detractors have called it a case of “live by the sword, die by the sword”, still several people, including politicians with whom he shared a close relationship, are said to be running scared, after last Thursday night’s fatal gunning down of well-known wealthy PNM (Mayaro/Ortoire) activist/contractor Peter “Cola” Marine.

The 47-year-old father of one was gunned down near an abandoned house on the beach in Plaisance, Mayaro, sometime after eight o’clock the fateful night.

Marine, who was reportedly ambushed in the dark alley, is said to have received several gunshot wounds to his chest.

PETER “Cola”
MARINE ... sudden
rise from rags
to riches.

His body lay on the beach for several hours before it was removed.

TnT Mirror was told that the area took on almost a carnival-type atmosphere, with people climbing on top of one another to get a view of his body.

Marine, a top honcho of the Mayaro/Guayaguayare Unemployed Organisation and Concerned Citizens (MGUOCC), was also the right-hand man of embattled MP Franklin Khan, and worked closely with Councillor Matthew Pierre and other PNM activists in the area.

He also controlled several CEPEP projects and other energy-related jobs, both off and on shore in his Mayaro hometown.

Marine, who drove a luxury SUV, told Mirror, only recently, that he was the envy of many who had become jealous of his sudden rise from rags to riches.

Earlier this year, he completed his sprawling mansion just on the outskirts of Mayaro and about two weeks ago took in his 12-year- old daughter Atima to live with him, as he had always promised her mother, Sharon Adolphus from whom he had been separated.

“Cola was involved in so many nefarious activities, that his death could be connected to anything.

“He was not an honest guy. He was a bully and robbed plenty people the wrong way,” the woman went on.

“He always carried a gun, always threatened people and his name has been linked to murders and shootings in the area.

“He knew there was a bullet with his name marked on it, as there had been threats on his life.

“This is a case of them getting him before he got them.”

Marine had a criminal matter pending in the High Court.

“Because of the money he had, he felt he had all the power he ever needed and disrespected so many people,” she went on.

One woman, who saw his lifeless body sprawled on the ground, described it as a horror.

“There was a big hole in his chest. He lie down dead like a dog in the road.

“Where is all the money; where is his power?” she asked.

In a letter dated February 24, 2006, Marine wrote a strongly-worded letter to bpTT CEO Robert Riley, reminding him of the power of his organisation that caused a “shutdown (drilling rigs, platforms) for 21 days”, if his name was not cleared of “$50,000 issue to which it is stated I received money on behalf of fishermen …”

He even knocked bpTT for bypassing his group and instead giving assistance to another emerging group in the area.

It was compulsory that people seeking employment had to first go through MGUOCC.

“Anybody who tried anything different suffered,” she went on.

Many women complained that he demanded sex from them in exchange for jobs, allegations that he subsequently denied.

“Even the big oilfield contractors operating in the Mayaro/Guayaguayare area were afraid of him, because he could cause a disturbance.

Marine led several fiery protests in the area some years ago, as hundreds of unemployed people marched up and down the streets begging for jobs.

It caused employers hardship.

Adolphus told Mirror that although they did not live together, he looked after his daughter well.

“He made sure we were comfortable.”

“Atima is not taking it well. It was just after Easter she went to live with him.

“I don’t know how we will make out now,” she cried in a hoarse voice.