Grenada's PM leaves more questions than answers
by Leroy Noel
Saturday, May 22, 2004
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: More questions than
answers have popped up after Prime Minister Keith Mitchell addressed the
nation in an effort to explain why he received money from former diplomat Eric
Resteiner who is now in prison in Singapore.
Dr. Mitchell told the nation that he embarked, along with two policemen, on a
trade and promotional tour of several countries in Europe which was sponsored
by Resteiner. However, the question now being
asked in several quarters is why Dr. Mitchell would embark on such a tour
accompanied by two policemen with no one from tourism or the Industrial
Development Corporation. Deputy Political
Leader of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) George Prime
said he knows as a fact that there was another member of the delegation that
the Prime minister refused to maintain which according to him is very telling.
Dr. Mitchell during his address admitted receiving money but failed to say the
exact amount, he moved from his original estimate of between 12 – 14 thousand
US dollars to now approximately 15 thousand US. He also refuted claims that he
received the money in a briefcase. But Mr.
Prime said by accepting the cash as he did the Prime Minister succeeded in
compromising the office of Prime Minister and has lost the moral authority to
govern. Describing the Prime Minister’s
address on Wednesday night, Prime said it is unfortunate that he failed to
answer the key questions and noted that it lacked conviction, contrition,
filled with reproach and anger as well as panic and fear. He added that while
his party accepted the election’s result of November 2003 of 8-7 in favour of
the ruling party this does not mean it has to accept corruption.
Prime challenged the Government to convene Parliament now so that this issue
surrounding the money he received from well known fraudster can be debated. He
issued a call to the Grenadian people to stand up and demand accountability
from their leaders. Prime Minister Mitchell
on Wednesday night reported on the trip to Europe he made in June 2000.
Meanwhile the main opposition says the machinery is well in place to have a
massive meeting on Sunday where the Prime Minister will be tried publicly.
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