HOME	JUNE 26th, 2004

JUNE 26

The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is concerned over the manner in which the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) is being used to give "partisan political advantage" to the ruling New National Party (NNP) government of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.

A spokesman for the party complained about the arbitrary use of the Special Branch of the police force to spy on the activities of the congress party. The official told GRENADA TODAY that the NDC had been reliably informed that a member of the Special Branch was despatched to the Point Salines International Airport (PSIA) last Thursday to question workers about an overseas trip made by a party delegation to neighbouring Barbados.

The delegation was headed by Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas, the Parliamentary Representative for St. Patrick East and included Nazim Burke, the Member of Parliament for St. George North-east, and Senator Arley Gill.

The congress party had sent a delegation to Barbados to brief the media there about developments in Grenada including an alleged US$500, 000.00 bribery payment to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell by German fraudster Eric Resteiner for a diplomatic appointment in June 2000.

Although Dr. Mitchell has denied the allegation, the NDC has repeatedly called for an independent investigation into the matter by a group of eminent Caribbean jurists. According to the official, the Special Branch officer who holds the rank of Sergeant was sent to PSIA within minutes of the NDC delegation boarding a LIAT aircraft to make the trip to Barbados.

"We understand that he (the Special Branch officer) wanted to know all who left for Barbados and when our members were coming back", he said. He spoke of workers at the airport calling senior members of the party to inform them of the visit made to the airport by the Special Branch officer.

When the NDC delegation came back home, a number of party officials were at the airport to ensure their safe return in the face of "rumours" that the Opposition Leader and his party could be detained for questioning.

The spokesman pointed out that the congress party is a legitimate political organisation and is not engaged in any illegal activities on the island. "We have done nothing wrong. We still maintain that the police force should investigate the money allegation matter against the Prime Minister and to see whether or not he (Dr. Mitchell) might have broken any of our laws.

"We say also that if the police could have investigated Michael Baptiste and charge him then the Prime Minister should also be investigated. The police force is said to be divided along partisan political lines.

One senior member of the Police High Command is reported as telling his juniors that he is the 16th Member of Parliament and owes his appointment to Prime Minister Mitchell.

During the campaign for the November 27 general election, Police Commissioner Fitzroy Bedeau was seen ringing a bell and shouting out: "You see us, look at us", as a motorcade with supporters of the ruling party left his hometown of Gouyave to attend a public meeting of the NNP.

The High Command is also said to be cautious in selecting police officers to send on duty at meetings of the Congress out of fears that some of the selectees might be supporters. A police insider told this newspaper that nearly 75% of the officers in the police force have switched their support from the NNP to the NDC in recent months.