Grenada Commission of Inquiry announced

by Leroy Noel

Friday, August 6, 2004

ST GEORGE‘S, Grenada: After months of public pressure for an investigation into allegations of bribery by Grenada’s Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, the country's Governor General, Sir Daniel Williams, on Wednesday announced the details of an official Commission of Inquiry into the matter.

Barbadian jurist Richard Cheltenham has been appointed to look into the allegations of wrongdoing against Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.

Sir Daniel said that Cheltenham, a one-time Barbados cabinet member, will be sworn in as the Commissioner within two weeks, and after that the schedule for the Commission will be established.

Sir Daniel termed Cheltenham a prominent and highly respected Caribbean jurist, who is regarded as a specialist in the area of commissions of inquiry and has been a member of the Privy Council since 1996.

Under the terms of the Commission, Cheltenham will inquire into the circumstances surrounding the appointment of German fraudster Eric Resteiner as a Grenadian diplomat, as well as the allegations that Prime Minister Mitchell received a half million dollar bribe in return at Resteiner’s home in Switzerland.

He will also look into procedures for the reimbursement of funds for expenses for official travel since the Prime Minister Mitchell in a national broadcast said the money he received was approximately 15 thousand dollars, and was reimbursement for legitimate expenses on behalf of the state.

It was also announced that Guyanese lawyer Finton Ramsahoy will be the special legal counsel to the Commission, while former Grenada school principal Glenda Mason-Francis, will serve as Secretary.

Miami-based financial newsletter Offshore Alert first published the allegation that Dr. Mitchell may have received US$500,000 from Resteiner.

Resteiner was a former diplomat who held the post of Trade Counsellor.

Dr. Mitchell in an address to the nation in May said what he actually did was perfectly legal, moral and above board, saying there is nothing irregular, immoral or clandestine about it, contrary to what the political opposition in Grenada would have people to believe.

He told Grenadians, "What are the issues in this particular case? I received approximately 15,000 U.S. dollars from the former Trade Counsellor while in Switzerland. I had already travelled from Grenada to Paris. I had used my own credit cards to finance the trip for my delegation and myself. This was in keeping with the Cabinet conclusion that the expenses would be reimbursed, in accordance with the offer from the Trade Counsellor to finance the expenses of the investment promotional trip."

He added, "Fellow Grenadians, I reiterate that the sum I received was approximately 15,000 U.S. dollars. This can easily be verified by the receipts, which I have in my possession and will make available to my attorneys.

Regarding the fancy-named briefcase, (Louis Vuitton) I have never had it. Therefore, it must be a figment of the imagination of my detractors. The only briefcase I can speak of that I had in my possession was my own, which was already filled with documents and personal effects for my official visit".

But the Prime Minister's address sparked more questions than answers. 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 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 name, 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.

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.

This "briefcase story" as is now called in Grenada has caused much controversy which led to the detention of several persons including a journalist.

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