Barrister-at-law Anslem Clouden has again called on Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell to demit office while Barbadian jurist, Dr. Richard Cheltenham investigates him for alleged wrong-doing with German fraudster, Eric Resteiner at a private home in Switzerland in June 2000.

According to Clouden the Commission of Inquiry to be conducted by Cheltenham, starting in St. George's on Monday will be prejudiced by Dr. Mitchell holding onto the Prime Ministership of the country. He told GRENADA TODAY that the Office of Prime Minister of the country is being brought into ridicule by Mitchell's insistence on staying on the job while a criminal investigation is being conducted against him.

Dr. Cheltenham was appointed by Governor-General, Sir Daniel Williams as the sole Commissioner to look into allegations that Dr. Mitchell accepted US$500, 000.00 from Resteiner in exchange for a diplomatic appointment. Dr. Mitchell has consistently denied the charge, saying that he received "approximately US$15, 000.00" from the German to cover the expenses of a trip to Europe and Kuwait.

Clouden said that when former Prime Minister Sir Nicholas Brathwaite was forced to investigate his then Health Minister Kenny Lalsingh, he removed him from his post in order to ensure that the probe was not prejudiced. Lalsingh was investigated for wrong-doing in connection with the questionable importation of some radio equipment in the 1990-95 period for a journalist to use on a private radio station.

The outspoken Clouden also pointed to the resignation in Trinidad and Tobago of the Works Minister who is being investigated for allegedly receiving a bribe in exchange for granting a lucrative contract to an official of the ruling People's National Movement (PNM).

The lawyer suggested that Resteiner and his former Chief of Security Timothy Bass who allegedly video-taped the money exchange will be reluctant to give evidence to the commission if they are not given prosecution from immunity by the Government of Grenada.

He claimed that former Attorney-General Raymond Anthony had been taking the necessary steps on this score with the U.S State Department in order to facilitate the work of Commissioner Cheltenham. Resteiner is currently held in custody at a U.S jail awaiting trial on fraud-related charges while the whereabouts of Bass are unknown.

Clouden said that if the U.S government gives access to Resteiner then Mitchell's lawyer Ramesh Maharaj of Trinidad, as well as Legal Counsel to the Commission, Dr. Finton Ramsahoye of Guyana would be afforded an opportunity to cross examine him.

He pointed out that with "Resteiner being in federal custody, certainly he cannot leave the United States of America to travel to Grenada, nor could Bass." Clouden was confident that lawyers for both men would advise them not to speak to the commission unless guaranteed immunity from prosecution.

"The first thing that must happen before the commencement of this hearing is the Government of Grenada through the Director of Public Prosecutions, in this case the Attorney General (Elvin Nimrod) must grant immunity from prosecution to both Resteiner and Bass", he said.

"If this is not done and certain admissions are made by them, they themselves will be liable for criminal prosecution by the Government of Grenada", he added.

Clouden also referred to the Bi-Literal Extradition Treaty made between Grenada and the United States in which both Bass and Resteiner could be extradited to Grenada to stand criminal charges, if an admission is made by them without immunity to the alleged $500, 000.00 bribe.

The treaty provides for a penalty in excess of one year for convicted persons. Clouden believes that the moves made by sacked A.G, Anthony was the real reason for him getting the "cold shoulder" by the Mitchell Government, and the insistence of replacing him in the position by controversial Jamaican attorney, Hugh Wildman.

He said that Anthony was moving in the direction to secure immunity for Resteiner and Bass in his capacity as Attorney General, and to have Cheltenham interview the two chief witnesses. He indicated that the Mitchell Government felt that Anthony was moving to aggressively on this path and wanted their own man (Wildman) in the AG position. The Jamaican Lawyer is now

Clouden was also critical of the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry, stating that it was far too wide and needs to be narrowed down. He also said that there is need for three commissioners to investigate the "$US500, 000.00 briefcase" inquiry because of the criminal nature of the investigation.

Meanwhile, an official statement in St. George's indicated that former school principal Glenda Mason-Frnacis who was appointed as Secretary to the commission has tendered her resignation to Sir Daniel.

She has been replaced by former bank worker, Hillary Mc Neilly, a sister to David Lander who is closely associated with Mitchell's ruling New National Party (NNP) administration.