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HOME	JANUARY 15th, 2005

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The New York-based Grenada Disaster Relief Organisation (GDRO) might be inclined to go public with a disagreement with the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government in St. George's.

Some of the leading members of the organisation have accused the regime of trying to take control of over $200, 000.00 U.S which the group has in an account at Chase Bank in New York.

A spokesman for GDRO told GRENADA TODAY that he has run out of patience with the tough position of government and would like to take it to Grenadians in New York. He called for the holding of a public meeting in the United States to explain the situation to the people who contributed money to the fund.

"If we are doing something wrong they will let us know", he remarked. "I am hopeful that an amicable resolution to this impasse will be met soon so as to put this behind us", he said.

This newspaper was told that the problem between GDRO and the Mitchell government started when the New York group took a decision to send some of the funds collected for use by the Grenada Red Cross and for rebuilding homes of Senior citizens on the island.

Government has reportedly instructed its diplomatic mission in New York which is responsible for signing cheques for the fund account to "put a hold" on the release of money to officials of the newly established organisation.

GDRO officials have maintained that the funds collected through the efforts of the organisation do not belong to the Government of Grenada.
The spokesman said that one of the other options being considered is to approach government directly and make a case for the the funds held in the account to be released to "a cause that benefits the most deserving in the society".

There is need, he said to explain to government the nature of the account "and the accountability we have to give to the donors". According to the official, it is time for the administration in St. George's to understand "the importance of not playing politics when people are still in need".

He said the reality of the situation is that there are "potential consequences" if the government becomes the administrator of these funds held in the bank in New York. He spoke of difficulties in soliciting more help from Grenadians living in the Big City, and the danger of loosing good people to continue the fund-raising efforts, plus the inefficiency of government bureaucracy in utilising the funds raised.

GDRO is headed by Derek James who is known to be politically close to the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Grenada.