Grenada Commission of Inquiry resumes

Dr. Keith Mitchell

by Kishawn Thomas
Caribbean Net News Grenada Correspondent
Email: kishawnthomas@hotmail.com

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: The Commission of Inquiry probing allegations of financial wrong-doings by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell resumed on Monday at the Grenada Trade Centre.

The Prime Minister is being represented by Former Attorney General of Trinidad & Tobago Ramesh Maharaj. Maharaj said he intends to prove that the allegations made against the Prime Minister are false.

The Cheltenham Commission is probing the allegations of financial wrong-doings, in connection with the promotional trip to certain European Union countries and Kuwait in June 2000 by Prime Minister Mitchell. 

Dr. Mitchell has denied the allegations and claimed to have taken legal action against a Miami-based financial newsletter, Offshore Alert, which first published the allegation. Offshore Alert alleged that the Prime Minister had received some US$500,000 from one Eric Resteiner, but Prime Minister Mitchell dismissed that claim on numerous occasions, saying that he only received approximately US$15,000. From then until this present moment the Prime Minister has steadfastly maintained his innocence.

A government press release on May 10, 2004 stated, "The Government of Grenada is taking legal action against KYC News for an article published by Offshore Alert on April 30, 2004 about Prime Minister Keith Mitchell."

Mitchell subsequently refused to answer questions about the allegation in parliament on May 28, claiming the matter was sub judice because he had filed a libel action against Offshore Alert's publisher.

However, according to information currently available to Caribbean Net News, KYC News has never been served with a summons.

The Commission had been postponed after the destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan last year, and a Government Information Service (GIS) statement said, "The difficulty of finding a building to accommodate the inquiry" had also resulted in the delay in resumption.

Meanwhile, the GIS statement said that the secretary to the Commission, Glenda Mason-Francis, has resigned effective May 31 2005. It said the Governor-General has appointed Hillary McNeilly to replace Mason-Francis.

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