Former Barbados government minister, Richard Cheltenhamhas been named by Governor-General Sir Daniel Williams as the sole commissioner to investigate the 2000 Switzerland Briefcase issue involving Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.

Sir Daniel also said that Guyanese jurist Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye will lead evidence as Counsel to the Commission while former headmistress Glenda Mason-Francis will serve as the Secretary.

Dr. Cheltenham is a senior member of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) of Prime Minister Owen Arthur. Prime Minister Mitchell has often boasted of his "close and personal" relationship with Arthur since their days at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

However, well-placed sources have said that Dr. Cheltenham is a respected legal luminary and can be expected to discharge his duties in an impartial manner.

"I have never heard anything negative about him. What I know of him is that he is a no-nonsense person", said a Barbadian living on the island.

Following is the release issued by Sir Daniel on the Commission of Inquiry.

Citizens and Friends of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique, over the past several weeks, I have noted public statement in various quarters, and particularly, those statements that have called for some kind of appropriate investigation into allegations of financial wrongdoings, in connection with the promotional trip to certain European Union Countries and Kuwait in June 2000 by the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell.

On 2nd July 2004, the Office of the Governor-General indicated in a Press Statement, that I had decided to hold a Commission of Inquiry, under the Commission of Inquiry Act, Chapter 58 of the 1990 Revised Laws of Grenada.

Under this Act, I wish to announce, the appointment of Dr.THE HON. RICHARD LIONEL CHELTENHAM, QC, JP, as sole Commissioner of this Inquiry.

Dr, Cheltenham, a Barbadian, is a prominent and highly respected Caribbean Jurist. He has practiced in most of the jurisdictions of the Eastern Caribbean, and before the Privy Council.

In addition, he is regarded as a specialist in the area of Commissions of Inquiry. He participated in several Commissions of Inquiry in the region - the most recent being the Inquiry into the Medical Benefit Scheme of Antigua & Barbuda -as Commission Council.

Since 1996, he has been a member of the Barbados Privy Council. Dr Cheltenham served also as a member of the Barbados House of Assembly for twenty-three (23) years. During that period he held ministerial appointments in the areas of Agriculture, Energy, Tourism, International Transport and the Environment. He held office under three (3) different Prime Minister. Some eighteen (18) months ago, he retired from competitive politics.

Dr. FENTON H.W. RAMSAHOYE will lead evidence as Counsel to the Commission. A practitioner for over fifty (50) years and a former Attorney-General of Guyana, he is considered also as an outstanding Caribbean Jurist.

He has practiced extensively across the region and his experience includes appearances before Commissions of Inquiry. Since the early 1960's he has been regular in appearances before the Privy Council in London, and for this year he has already made six (6) appearances.

The Secretary of the Commission will be MRS. GLENDA MASON-FRANCIS, BA. O.B.E., who retired from the Public Service after a long and distinguished career, which includes the last fifteen (15) years of her service as Principal of the Anglican High School.
I have established that the Terms of Reference of this Commission are as follows:

1. To inquire into: -

(a) The circumstances surrounding the appointment of Eric Resteiner as a diplomatic representative of the State of Grenada;

(b) The Criteria employed and the protocol governing the appointment of non-Grenadians as representative of the country;

(c)The truth or otherwise of allegations published in the issue of the 30th day of April 2004 of the publication known as Offshore Alert in Miami in the State of Florida in the United States of America that the Prime Minister of Grenada, the Hon. Dr. Keith Mitchell, M.P., accepted the sum of US $500,000.00 as a bribe from one Eric Resteiner in consideration of the appointment of the said Eric Resteiner as a diplomatic representative of the State of Grenada;

(d) The statement made by the Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Keith Mitchell, M.P., that he received the sum of approximately $15,000.00 US from one Eric Resteiner as reimbursement for expenses duly incurred by the said Prime Minister on behalf of himself and other officials of the Government of Grenada on official business of the said Government on a visit to certain European Countries and Kuwait;

(e) The Procedures for the payment or reimbursement of the authorised expenses of Ministers of the Government and other public officials incurred in connection with officials travel and other expenses incidental to and in connection therewith;

(f) To identify deficiencies (if any) in the functioning of the public administration of the Country as result of the inquiry into the matters identified herein and to make such observations and recommendations for the correction of deficiencies (if found necessary) and for the improvement and strengthening of the system of public administration

The Commission will be open to the public, and will sit at the Northern Section of the Parliamentary Chambers at York House, St. George's.

Persons willing to give testimony before the Commission are advised to come forward.

The dates, times and procedures of the hearing will be announced by the Commissioner, upon swearing his Oath of Office which I expect to take place within a fortnight.

Fellow Citizens, it is the wish of my office that the proceedings of this Commission will bring quick and fair conclusion to the matters investigated which have caused much public disquiet and concern.