Opposition Leader, Tillman Thomas has called on Grenadians to help rescue the island from the bad image it is receiving internationally from the hands of the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration of Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell.
Addressing supporters of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a public meeting Sunday night in Grenville, St. Andrew’s, Thomas pointed to recent scandals that have surfaced involving both Dr. Mitchell and his deputy, Agriculture and Energy Minister, Gregory Bowen.
He was making reference to reports that the alleged video tape depicting Prime Minister Mitchell receiving money from international fraudster, Eric Restiener is currently lodged in a U.S court (see page 6) and the oil and gas bribery allegation involving Minister Bowen.
According to Thomas, the time has come for the people of the Tri-island State to “rally” together to rescue Grenada and to protect its democratic institutions from the type of government run by the NNP regime.
“We are faced with a crisis in governance in Grenada”, he said, adding that if it becomes necessary the people must take to the streets to protect the country’s image.
“If it calls for demonstration we must do it to defend what is going on in Grenada”, he added.
The Opposition Leader was critical of what he called “the dealings” that were taking place by the Mitchell government “behind closed doors at the expense of the people”.
Prime Minister Mitchell is accused of entering the luxury villa of Restiener in June 2000 and collecting a briefcase stashed with US$500, 000.00 as bribe payment in exchange for a diplomatic posting.
The Grenadian leader has pleaded innocent, saying that he received “approximately US$15, 000.00 from Resteiner to help cover the expenses of his delegation that was touring several European countries and Kuwait.
In the case of Deputy Prime Minister Bowen, he is facing a US$500,000.00 lawsuit from american oil investor, Jack Grynberg who has accused the Number Two Man in the Grenada government of wanting a bribe in order to facilitate the oil & gas exploration agreement.
The NDC boss took a swipe at Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General, Elvin Nimrod who was cited in a recent publication in the United States of not acting on an offer that was made to the island to obtain the controversial Switzerland video-tape.
Thomas accused Nimrod of propagating two sets of different laws in the country.
He recalled the efforts that were made by the NNP regime to investigate and charge former Opposition Leader, Michael Baptiste for allegedly accepting money from a Japanese concern as compared to the dragging of the feet on the Mitchell/Resteiner issue.
“We must condemn double standards. There must be one set of laws for all of us”, he told the gathering who clapped and cheered their leader.
Thomas warned Nimrod that he runs the risk of being investigated at the right time “for frustrating the legal system”.
“Nimrod should do what he has to do”, he remarked.
In remarks made after the meeting, Thomas said that Nimrod is in a position to make the necessary approaches to the U.S authorities in order to obtain a copy of the video-tape that was allegedly surrendered in a Boston Court by Resteiner as part of a plea bargaining in a multi-million dollar wire and fraud case filed against him.
In neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, the country’s Chief Justice has been charged with the criminal offence of attempting to pervert justice by trying to influence a Magistrate to give a particular ruling in a case brought against former Prime Minister, Basdeo Pandasy.
The NDC leader called on the various churches on the island, as well as the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, trade unions and non-governmental organisations to start voicing their concerns about recent developments in the country.
“We cannot permit those in office to do what they want”, said Thomas, a former political prisoner under the 1979-83 leftist rule of the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG).
The Opposition Leader also took issue with the two Ministers of National Security, Prime Minister Mitchell and Senator Einstein Louison for their total and complete silence on recent reports that a cache of arms and ammunition were stolen from the Richmond Hill prison.
He said the people have a right to know and be informed of what is happening in their country.
