A senior Civil Servant giving evidence at the Commission of Inquiry looking into allegations of financial wrongdoings involving Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell admitted being duped by the qualifications of Grenada's Ambassador at Large, Eric Resteiner.

The Commission, headed by Barbadian jurist Richard Cheltenham is currently holding oral sittings at the Grenada Trade Center in St. George's. Resteiner became an economic citizen in 1999, was appointed Trade Counsellor for Grenada in February 2001 and had his diplomatic status revoked one month later.

Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nordica Mc. Intyre admitted being very impressed with his qualifications. Resteiner, who is from Michigan in the United States had on his curriculum vitae that he was the owner of several expensive items including helicopters, a private jet, yacht and houses.

He also said he was the recipient of a doctorate from the Palm Beach Theological University in the United States which proved to be inaccurate according to the Florida Department of Education. The Department said that such a University does not exist in the United States.

Mc. Intyre who is now the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Legal Affairs told the Commission that in reviewing Resteiner's curriculum vitae before his appointment, she found his record to be very impressive especially the part that dealt with him attending religious school.

The senior Civil Servant told the Commission that when Resteiner's application was being processed she was not presented with copies of the due diligence report on his background. She said all the information she received from the application that was submitted by former Executive Director of the Grenada International Financial Services Authority (GIFSA), Michael Creft was the curriculum vitae and oral communication from the GIFSA boss about Resteiner's being a successful businessman.

Mc. Intyre told the Commission that she had never met the former Trade Counsellor/conman but did received a telephone call from him inquiring about his diplomatic status taking too long to process.

She admitted that things should have been done better at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as they relate to investigating the background of persons making application for diplomatic posting. The Permanent Secretary stated that the system depended too much on international law enforcement agencies such as the U.S Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Interpol.

She was asked by Commissioner Cheltenham about the qualification of the people appointed to the diplomatic circles for Grenada. Mc. Intyre pointed out that what she knows is that those individuals are successful businessmen in their own country and with clean police record.

Governor General Sir. Daniel Williams ordered the Inquiry following allegations published in the April 30, 2004 Offshore Alert newsletter in Miami, claiming that Dr. Mitchell had accepted US$500,000.00 as a bribe from Resteiner in exchange for his appointment as Trade Counsellor for Grenada. The incident is said to have taken place in Switzerland in June 2000 and was video-taped by Resteiner's Chief of Security, Timothy Bass.

Commissioner Cheltenham has indicated that he is still to receive firm assurances from Resteiner and his lawyers whether the conman would give evidence before the inquiry.