BROOKLYN, N.Y. - About 10 months following the death of former Grenadian ambassador-at-large to the U.S., Bartholomew Lawson, the post is set to be filled by another non-Grenadian.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister DR. Keith Mitchell has confirmed a Hardbeatnews exclusive that surprisingly named New York businessman Michael Melnicke as the replacement.

Nancy McGuire told HBN that the appointment has already been "approved by cabinet and a formal letter will be sent out soon" to Melnicke. Asked why the owner of a chain of nursing homes in New York was selected over other Grenadian nationals, including Caribbean & American Chamber of Commerce President Roy Hastick, McGuire said, Melnicke is "a very good friend of the country and has already started work in the field of health care and education".

She pointed out that "ambassadors-at-large are usually non Grenadians" and the late former ambassador-at-large was a perfect example of that. Hastick, a Grenadian national, had told HBN earlier this year that he was offered the post by Mitchell and was contemplating the offer.

Reached at his office for comment yesterday, the CACCI head seemed clearly baffled by the news and declined to comment until he had investigated it further. The community leader also clearly did not know Melnicke and had never heard the name.

Grenada's Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas was also stunned when reached in Grenada, stating that he had no knowledge of the appointment. But another Grenadian national and local talk-show host, John Crow, told HBN, "We need all the help we can get in Grenada. The only colour that is important to us in Grenada is green, as in money. If this guy can deliver, and the children of the country can be helped and everything is above board and legal, they could make him Prime Minister for all I care".

Melnicke is president of the Hemstead Park Nursing Home and sits on the boards of the National Parkinson's Disease, Yeshiva College and Island Medical Center.

He also is Treasurer of the Israel Humanitarian Foundation, one of the top U.S. philanthropic supporters of Israel and is a member of the Arthur J. Goldberg Honor Society and Partners for Israel's Future.

During Mitchell's March visit to New York, Melnicke had met with the Grenadian Prime Minister and had reportedly taken him to meet Stephen Greenwald, president of the Metropolitan College of New York. Melnicke also sits on the board of the college.

By April 28, the Mitchell administration announced that 10 full-time tuition scholarships will soon be offered in the name of Prime Minister Mitchell to Grenadian students. Greenwald, Melnicke and Grenada's Ambassador Denis Antoine, were all reportedly present on the island for the announcement.

An ambassador-at-large acts as a representative for their respective country, helping to boost investment and promotional opportunities. The appointment comes as another "roving ambassador - German national Eric Resteiner - was charged by the United States Attorney of Massachusetts in March "in an indictment with wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering".

KYC News in an article, published by Offshore Alert on April 30. reported the connection between Resteiner and the Mitchell government.

But the Grenada Office of the Prime Minister statement claimed Resteiner, 44, who is referred to as "Dr. Resteiner", was appointed a "trade counsellor" in 1999 but had his appointment revoked by the island Cabinet in 2001. The U.S. government says the alleged fraud was perpetrated from 1997 to 2000.