Former Trinidad & Tobago Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj has said that he is convinced that Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell will be vindicated at the end of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations that he accepted a $500,000 US bribe.

Maharaj, who will represent Dr. Mitchell at the Commission was at the time addressing a News Conference at his Port of Spain Offices.

He said he has examined the evidence in the matter and noted that there is a lot of independent evidence which will show that the allegations against Dr. Mitchell are untrue.

The former Trindada & Tobago Attorney General also told the Media that he believes that the people of Grenada and the Caribbean stand to benefit from an open and transparent inquiry.

Maharaj said he was heartened by the fact that Dr. Mitchell has agreed to subject himself to a Commission of Inquiry which will be investigating serious allegations made against him.

This, said Mr. Maharaj, is a first in Caribbean jurisprudence and speaks volumes about Dr. Mitchell's commitment to integrity in public life.

The Commission is scheduled to begin its work on August 27th. The date was announced Friday by Barbadian Queen's Counsel, Dr. Richard Cheltenham, shortly after he was sworn in as the lone Commissioner by Grenada's Governor General, Sir Daniel Williams.

Maharaj also told Friday's News Conference that he intends to approach the Commission to take the inquiry to the United States if it becomes necessary to take evidence from Eric Resteiner in prison.

Resteiner, who is the main person behind the allegations against Dr. Mitchell, has been jailed in the United States on money laundering charges.

Maharaj said that cross-examining Resteiner may become necessary because it is noteworthy that the allegations only commenced after Resteiner's appointment as Trade Counselor for Grenada was revoked by the Government of Grenada."