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HOME	OCTOBER 01st, 2005

Whatever is in the dark will one day come to light.

As Grenadians, we have often heard these words uttered by the old folks in our midst to send certain messages to some of us who are prepared to listen and heed good advise when given.

Many in our midst were very suspicious about the Commission of Inquiry that was set up by Governor-General, Sir Daniel Williams to investigate allegations that Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell accepted a bribe of US$500, 000.00 from German fraudster, Eric Resteiner in June 2000 in St. Moritz, Switzerland in exchange for a diplomatic appointment.

The Prime Minister has consistently denied the allegation but accepted that he did receive the sum of "approximately US$15, 000.00 from Resteiner to cover the expenses of as trip he had undertaken to several European States and Kuwait.

That in itself is wrong. No Prime Minister worth his salt and committed to good governance, accountability and transparency would accept money from the likes of Resteiner and company in a private home in a far away place like Switzerland. The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) called for a police investigation into the allegations that was first reported in the Miami-based Offshore Alert magazine that is published by British-born journalist, David Marchant.

Sir Daniel for reasons best known to him decided to set up a Commission of Inquiry and appointed former Barbados government minister, Dr. Richard Cheltenham as sole Commissioner and Queens Counsel, Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye who was born in Guyana as Legal Counsel to the Commission.

GRENADA TODAY was prepared from the onset to adopt an open mind to these two gentlemen who are known regionally in the legal profession. However, recent developments have forced us to relook the commission and to wonder whether it is nothing but a farce that was deliberately set up to exonerate the Prime Minister.

This newspaper has in its possession the copy of a document that was filed in the Supreme Court Registry by barrister-at-law, Michael Sylvester, acting as legal counsel for Dr. Cheltenham in a matter brought by Leader of the Opposition, Tillman Thomas.

The essence of the matter is that Mr. Thomas is challenging a decision by Commissioner Cheltenham to deny him full legal standing in the inquiry being held at the Trade Center at Grand Anse, St. George's.

The document as filed by Sylvester in the Supreme Court Registry appears on the face of it to have been prepared for Cheltenham's defense by Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye who is supposed to be the Legal Counsel on behalf of the people in the inquiry.

What we noticed is that the top of the page carried some rather interesting markings such as a fax number 246-427-7782 and the name Ramsahoye. This newspaper carried out an investigation and found out that the telephone number listed in the document is made out in the name of Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye, Rosedale, 1st Ave, Marine Gardens, Christ Church, Barbados.

Our investigations indicate that the said telephone number is used as both a regular telephone and fax line. As indicated above, it appears on the surface that Dr. Ramsahoye prepared the legal defense for Commissioner Cheltenham and gave it to Sylvester who then filed it in the court registry.

Every Tom, Dick and Harry know in Grenada that the said Sylvester is associated with Prime Minister Mitchell is several legal matters that the Grenadian leader has brought against persons in this country. There is the old and abused saying that we all know about and that is - justice must always be seen to be done.

The ordinary man on the ground might not be wrong in concluding that the Commission of Inquiry is a grant cook-up and the facts now coming before our very eyes point in this direction. And the situation is compounded by the reports making the rounds that Dr. Ramsahoye was driven last week by the well known character, Special Prosecutor Hugh Wildman to the hearing of the court case brought by the Opposition Leader and heard at the high court sitting at the Trade Center.

The people are not fools and will in time come to their own conclusions on the Commission of Inquiry in so far as the role are concerned of Keith Mitchell, Sir Daniel Williams, Richard Cheltenham, Fenton Ramsahoye, Hugh Wildman, Ramesh Maharaj and Michael Sylvester.

GRENADA TODAY has lost any faith and confidence in this Cheltenham inquiry and see it as turning out as nothing but a game being played out to achieve the ultimately objective - exonerating Keith Mitchell.

It is our sincere hope that the Leader of the Opposition who played a pivotal role in forcing the hands of the Governor-General now go back to Sir Daniel in whatever form and request that the Cheltenham Commission of Inquiry be scrapped. The truth of what took place in St. Mortiz, Switzerland will only be known when a new government is put into office to do what is right and proper.