More trouble in Grenada’s democracy
by Leroy Noel
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
ST GEORGE‘S, Grenada: There are signs that
Grenada’s democracy is becoming more fragile than it has ever been in the last
twenty years.
Four opposition Senators along with a
farmers’ representative in the Senate have taped their mouths during the major
part of the sitting of the Upper House of Parliament Tuesday protesting
against the failure to have a motion on the order paper. The opposition
Senators as well as others representing various interest groups say they are
surprised that a motion sent to the clerk of parliament calling for an
investigation into allegations of bribery by Prime Minister Mitchell was not
on the order paper during Tuesday’s meeting.
Senator Chester Humphrey reminded the Senate that the cabinet including the
Prime Minister is accountable and responsible to parliament and it is well
within the domain of Senators to bring the motion.
He added that Parliament must be able to scrutinize its members as well as
their actions since this is part of any democratic process.
The motion calls for a joint committee of parliament to appoint a panel
chaired by an eminent jurist to fully investigate the issue surrounding the
Prime Minister and to table a report in parliament within 90 days of its
appointment. It further adds that the
committee shall be made up of five members, one of whom shall be the leader of
the opposition and one other opposition member, the Leader of Government
Business and one other member of the government’s side in the House of
Representatives, one member of the Senate who shall be either a member of the
government’s or opposition’s side in the Senate.
The motion is also seeking to give powers to
the panel to summon witnesses, examine documents and to do all such things as
is necessary to uncover the truth. The
motion, which was tabled by Labour’s representative in the Senate, Senator
Chester Humphrey, indicated that doubts have arisen with respect to the amount
of money received and the purpose for which it was paid and the Prime Minister
who was a former Minister of Finance ignored section 75 of the Constitution to
ensure that monies paid to him pass through one of the funds established by
parliament to avoid the issue that has now arisen.
The motion further states that the conduct of the Prime Minister has
compromised the integrity of the office and raised serious questions about the
ability of the Prime Minister in international conferences.
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