Opposition Senator George Prime has expressed disappointment with a decision made by President of the Senate Leslie-Ann Seon not to allow a Motion tabled by him to appear on Tuesday's Order Paper for debate.

Speaking on the Adjournment, Prime said he is aggrieved by the decision since the Senate is a place where the public business must be discussed. The Motion which was submitted on May 26 sought to get Parliamentary approval for the setting up of a committee to look into allegations made in Offshore Alert about Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.

The publication claimed that the Grenadian leader accepted a bribe of half a million US dollars from German fraudster Eric Resteiner in exchange for a diplomatic posting.

Dr. Mitchell has since denied the allegation in an address to the nation and said that he did nothing inappropriate in that he had only received $15.000 US. The Grenadian leader said the money was to cover for an investment trip he took to Europe and the Middle East on behalf of the country.

Prime told the sitting that besides engaging in debate the role of the Senate should be to scrutinise and examine things and so Senators must be allowed to do so. This newspaper was able to obtain a copy of the Motion which was submitted to Clerk of Parliament Kenneth Hobson.

It said Pursuant to the above captioned subject matter and in accordance with Standing Orders No 22, I hereby table the following Motion in my name and request that it be placed on the Order Paper for the upcoming sitting of the House of the Senate.

Whereas in his national address on Wednesday may 19th 2004 the Prime Minister stated that he was given approximately $15.000 in cash by a German national Herr Eric Resteiner.

And whereas the Prime Minister stated that the payment was to meet his expenses and that of his delegation on an investment promotion trip.

And whereas national doubts have arisen with respect to the amount of money received and the purpose for which the money was paid. And whereas the Prime Minister a former Minister of Finance, ignored the obligation in section 75 of the constitution to ensure that the monies paid to him should have been passed through one of the funds established by Parliament to avoid the situation which has risen.

And whereas the conduct of the Prime Minister has compromised the integrity of his office and raised serious questions about the ability of the Prime Minister to function in international conferences.

Be it resolved:

That a joint committee of Parliament appoints a panel chaired by eminent jurist to fully investigate this matter and to table a report in Parliament within 90days of its appointment.

That the aforesaid Committee shall be made up of five(5) members, one of whom shall be the Leader of the Opposition and one other Opposition Member and the Leader of Government Business and one other Member of the Government's side in the House of Representatives and one Member of the Senate who shall not be either a member of the Government or Opposition side in the Senate.

Be it further resolved:

That the panel shall have the powers to summon witnesses, examine documents and to do all such other things as is necessary to uncover the truth.