Over
the past decade, the island has witnessed a growing trend towards
corruption at very high levels within the State.
Our country is now ranked with Antigua under the previous regime
as perhaps the most corrupt island in the sub-regional grouping
known as the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
And it is generally agreed that if corruption is allowed to go
unchecked that before too long the entire society can become corrupted
and the cancer will eat away at the very heart and soul of the
nation.
Any new government in the Spice Isle will be faced with a herculean
task of managing a corrupt-free country given the level of corruption
that has been taking place since 1995. Grenada has attracted worldwide
attention with the corrupt scam that left hundreds of American
and Canadian citizens holding an empt purse with the collapse
of the First International Bank of Grenada (FIBG).
It was the notorious First Bank that pumped millions of dollars
into the ruling New National Party (NNP) of Prime Minister Dr.
Keith Mitchell to help it secure a 15-0 victory over its opponents
in the 1999 general elections.
The same Keith Mitchell is now the central figure in a one-man
Commission of Inquiry looking into allegations that he accepted
a bribe of US$500, 000 from one Eric Resteiner in Switzerland
in June 2000 in exchange for a diplomatic position with the Grenada
government.
The public-at-large are fully aware that Resteiner is a crook
and con-man and is currently held in a U.S jail in connection
with a number of fraud charges laid against him. The main opposition
National Democratic Congress (NDC) is seen as the political party
with the greatest potential to unseat the NNP in the next general
election and bring an end to corruption on the island.
The Congress has been promoting itself as the "alternative
Government" and waging its own anti-corruption battle with
the Mitchell regime. However, there is an urgent issue that smacks
of corruption within the NDC itself and which needs some urgent
attention if that party is to lay claim to the seat of government.
It involves a very senior member of Congress.
GRENADA TODAY has brought the matter to the attention of certain
members of the hierarchy of the party with a view to getting them
to carry out a full-scale investigation into these allegations
of financial impropriety against the individual. This newspaper
is warning the NDC that if as a party it fails to do something
about the situation within the next few days then we would be
left with no other choice but to do what we consider to be in
the best interest of the nation.
It is generally known that an accused person is not deemed to
be guilty of any crimes allegedly committed until he is convicted
by a legally constituted body. We urge the Congress party to call
in the individual and in a very blunt and frank manner bring to
his attention the many allegations of wrong-doing being made against
him by persons both within and outside his constituency.
The NDC cannot continue to attack the NNP for corruption if its
fails to deal with alleged corruption within its ranks. This is
an opportunity for the party to take the moral high ground and
demonstrate in a concrete manner to the people of the Tri-island
State that it will implement a zero tolerance level to corruption
whether in or out of government.
There must be no attempt at cover-up because GRENADA TODAY would
expose anyone within the NDC that attempts to tamper with the
truth. As such we call on the Political Leader Tillman Thomas
to do what is right and proper and institute a high-level investigation
into the many allegations being made in the country against this
senior member of his executive.
Do we need to remind Mr. Thomas of the position adopted by then
NDC Boss and Prime Minister, Sir Nicholas Brathwaite when Kenny
Lalsingh the newly elected President of the Senate was engulfed
in the so-called "health disco" scandal as Minister
of Health?
Mr. Brathwaite also put his feet down on another minister of government
who threatened a radio personality during his stint as Prime Minister
in 1990-95. Sir Nicholas moved against this particular minister
who did not know that his exchange with the radio personality
was taped.
The then Prime Minister could not believe the language that was
being used by one of his ministers. This is the kind of legacy
that Mr. Brathwaite left behind to be followed by others not only
in the congress party but elsewhere who are trying to occupy the
Office of Prime Minister of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
The NDC as a political party should use the current situation
that is unfolding in its midst to deal firmly, decisively and
resolutely with anyone within its midst who are violating the
sacred trust placed in them by the people. The party would definitely
emerge stronger and with a much better image in the eyes of the
public.
