Opposition
Leader Tillman Thomas has despatched a letter to Governor-General
Sir Daniel Williams to find out the status of the Commission
of Inquiry into the US 500, 000.00 bribery allegations against
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell. The letter came a few days
after the Grenadian leader told a media outlet in the United
States that the inquiry has just about ended.
Sir Daniel
had appointed former Barbados Government Minister, Dr. Richard
Cheltenham to be the sole commissioner to investigate the dealings
of Dr. Mitchell on a trip to Switzerland in 2000 when he accepted
money from international con-man, Eric Resteiner. The inquiry
has not heard the evidence of several key witnesses.
Following
is the full text of the letter dated April 28, 2006 which the
Opposition Leader sent to the island's Governor-General:
His Excellency
Sir Daniel Williams
Governor General of Grenada
Building 5
Financial Complex
The Carenage
St. George
Your
Excellency:
Re:
Request for Resumption of Commission of Inquiry into allegations
of Financial Impropriety against the Prime Minister and related
matters
I write to you in my capacity as leader of Her Majesty's Opposition.
On August 13th 2004, you established a Commission of Inquiry to
inquire into the allegations of financial impropriety by the Prime
Minister of Grenada and related matters. Dr. THE HONOURABBLE RICHARD
LIONEL CHELTENHAM, Q.C. was named as the sole Commissioner for
that purpose.
In his statement at the opening session on the proposed procedure
for conducting the said Commission of Inquiry, on August 27th
2004, the Commissioner explicitly stated his "firm resolve
that this inquiry be conducted with thoroughness and fairness
to all participants and the public of Grenada."
Following that initial opening session, nothing noticeable or
tangible happened in respect of this Commission until June 13th
2005. Commencing on that day, the Commission held five (5) days
of public hearings (from June 13th to June 17th 2005, inclusive).
Notwithstanding these five (5) days of hearings, several material
witnesses both at home and abroad - including Dr. Keith Mitchell,
Mr. Eric Resteiner, Mr. Timothy Bass, Mr. David Marchant and Ms.
Joan-Marie Coutain - have not been heard from and several critical
documents have not been entered into the records of the Commission.
When the Commission of Inquiry was adjourned on June 17th 2005,
no date was given for its resumption and to date; no dates have
been announced for same.
The Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition and all Opposition Members
of Parliament are very concerned about the inexplicable delay
in resuming the Inquiry into the allegations of financial impropriety
by the Prime Minister of Grenada.
We note that in a recent interview conducted in the United States
of America, Prime Minister Mitchell is reported to have advised
the world that as far as he is concerned, the Inquiry is at an
end. We believe that the failure or refusal to resume the inquiry
is sending the wrong signal to the people of the country and the
international community who could be led to believe that the decision
to establish the Commission was merely a smoke screen designed
to quell the widespread anger, frustration and embarrassment that
was associated with the outbreak of these allegations in the Offshore
Alert on-line magazine in April 2004.
The allegation that the leading government official received a
half a million dollar bribe is indeed a very serious one. It rightly
deserves a full and complete investigation and subsequent report
on its findings by the Commission. Failure to do so can only drag
our institutions into disrepute.
In the premises, we wish to implore you to use your good offices
to ensure that the inquiry be resumed without further delay. I
look forward to the consideration of your office.
In the meantime, please be assured of my highest consideration.
Most
Respectfully,
Hon. Tillman Thomas M.P.
Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition
