MAY 22

Political Leader of the People's Labour Movement (PLM), Dr. Francis Alexis has added his voice to the alleged financial transaction in Switzerland between a Grenada delegation involving the Prime Minister and a suspected German fraudster.

In a release issued Monday, Dr. Alexis who is also a noted constitutional expert called on Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell to clear the air on the issue of the money. "Since Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell admits he did pick up money from Eric Resteiner in Switzerland, questions of accountability regarding that money arise", the PLM Leader said.

Dr. Alexis notes that the Government Information Service (GIS) in a media release noted that Ambassdors-at Large and similar operatives of the ruling New National Party (NNP) often provide monies to finance Grenada's public expenditure and implied that the Resteiner money was of this kind.

That being so, Alexis points out, receipt and channelling of the Resteiner money had to be in compliance with provisions laid down that all revenues or other money received by Grenada shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund, or some other fund established by law for specific purpose, withdrawal from which is regulated by the Constitution.

According to the PLM boss, the Prime Minister should show how and when Resteiner money was paid into the Consolidated Fund, or such other public fund. "Such proof by Mitchell should be backed-up by appropriate entries in the national public accounts of Grenada", he added.

The news about the money was first published in the Miami-based Offshore Alert magazine of David Marchant. It quoted Dr. Mitchell as denying that the money was a bribe to facilitate a request by Resteiner to get a diplomatic appointment with the Grenada government. The Grenadian leader is said to have instructed lawyers in the United States to file a lawsuit for libel against Marchant and his publication.