Clouden: PM Mitchell Should Return the Money

Grenada's most outspoken lawyer, Anselm Clouden says the New National Party (NNP) Government of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell has definitely lost the moral and political authority to continue to govern the country and should immediately call fresh elections.

His statement came in the wake of fresh allegations linking Prime Minister Mitchell to the receipt of EC$50, 000.00 in cash from the collapsed First International Bank of Grenada (FIBG).

Former Regulator of the island's Offshore Banking Sector, Michael Creft testified in a criminal case in the United States against four First Bank officials that he collected $100, 000.00 from the bank and handed over half in cash to the Grenadian leader for the 1999 general elections.

Another cash payment of $25,000.00 went to former Treasurer of NNP, Anthony Joseph who was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Grenada International Financial Services Authority (GIFSA).

The authority was the statutory body established by the Mitchell government to regulate and promote the offshore sector on the island.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Clouden called on Prime Minister Mitchell to do the honourable, proper and decent thing by contributing the money that his party received to a fund that was set up in Oregon in the United States for the victims who were defrauded of well in excess of US$170 million in the FIBG fiasco.

Clouden who played a pivotal role in the licensing of some of the offshore banks sought to clear Creft of any wrong doing on his part.

He described the former Regulator who returned to the island to serve after a lengthy stay in Canada as a hardworking, industrious gentleman.

"From time to time, I am advised that he (Creft) acted on instructions, and in his testimony before the... United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Mr. Creft made it abundantly clear that he, in the capacity as Regulator, was required from time to time to donate large sums of money to the political directorate of the NNP Party," Clouden said.

"It is very, very unfortunate that in the discharge of his duty as Regulator he was more or less forced into giving large sums of money to the NNP Administration for their political campaign," he added.

Clouden charged that the NNP has now "thrown Creft to the wolves" in light of his blowing the whistle on Prime Minister Mitchell in the U.S court.

"They (NNP) have used him, abused him and thrown him to the wolves. But he has spoken the truth, and it is now from the New National Party and the Prime Minister to do the proper thing and return those monies to the victims of the fraud," he told reporters.

Clouden linked the First Bank transactions of funds to NNP to the charges of Criminal Libel brought against Editor of GRENADA TODAY, George Worme by Prime Minister Mitchell.

That libel suit stemmed from a letter carried in the newspaper which stated that persons were bribed during the campaign of the 1999 general elections with money contained in NNP jerseys.

Clouden who represents Worme said that during cross examination of Dr. Mitchell a letter dated February 9th, 1999 which he (Mitchell) wrote to David Rowe thanking him for the support given to the NNP during the political campaign was raised before Chief Magistrate, Patricia Mark.

Rowe was at the time Chairman of Cambridge International Trust Limited and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of First Caribbean Bank. He is now a convicted felon.

Cambridge International Trust and Cambridge International Bank were subsidiaries of First International Bank.

According to Clouden, Dr. Mitchell admitted to writing the letter that was sent to Rowe. "I tried indefatigably, in cross examining the Prime Minister in the George Worme matter, to determine from him how much money Rowe had contributed to the (1999) political campaign," he said.

The Grenadian leader denied on oath handling any of the funds handed over to the NNP for its landmark 15-0 clean sweep of the polls in the '99 election. Clouden said Dr. Mitchell told the court that he could not recall how much money Rowe gave to the NNP, and that he had no books as to the quantum.

The outspoken lawyer accused NNP spokesman, Terrence Forrester and former Treasurer Anthony Joseph of not speaking the truth on the First Bank money issue.

"We all know that they are not speaking the truth because here is the Prime Minister thanking Mr. David Rowe, who as I have indicated, was at one time the CEO of First International Bank for making campaign contributions to the New National Party," he said.

When asked by a GRENADA TODAY Reporter if the Prime Minister committed perjury on the witness stand, Clouden said this is a matter that will be dealt with. He said the case is still ongoing at the Magistrate's Court and is scheduled to recommence on September 20.

"The Prime Minister has not attended for the past year, but we are hoping that we will get the case on its feet on the 20th of September at which time those matters will be raised," he remarked. Dr. Mitchell is still on the witness stand, and Clouden said it is his intention to rehash the "Thank You Letter" written by him to David Rowe.

Clouden also disclosed that he will now be seeking judicial review of the Chief Magistrate, Patricia Mark's decision not to admit the David Rowe letter as part of the documentary evidence of the case against Worme.

The outspoken lawyer also drew to the attention of the media a judgement coming from Justice Mann in a matter concerning Lawrence Jones, an English Barrister which shows a pattern of the NNP officials taking bribes.

Clouden said that it is rather instrumental that in Hugh Wildman's petition to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council against the Judicial and Legal Services Commission's decision not to recommend him to the Governor General as Attorney General of Grenada, he (Wildman) was alleging that Jones via an e-mail dated June 8th, 2000 had played a significant role in the Commission's consideration not to advise the Governor General to appoint him as Attorney General.

A portion of Jones' e-mail says, "I have built a strong relationship with Hugh Wildman, Grenada's Director of Public Prosecutions. If you are not familiar with Mr. Wildman, it was with his support and co-operation that we were able to keep the FBI from obtaining a search and seizure warrant for First Bank's premises late last year. Mr. Wildman is expensive, but he has the ear of the Prime Minister and is, therefore, invaluable to us."

According to Clouden, that e-mail had surfaced in proceedings between Mr. Jones and his former partner which were heard in the Chancery Division of the High Court in London by Mr. Mann G. in April 2004.

In his judgement, Mann G. said of the e-mail, "It frankly smacks of bribery and took into account Mr. Jones' refusal to recognise that obvious fact." Clouden stressed that all of this tie into a grand conspiracy by not only the higher echelon of the NNP in dealing with First Bank, but also with the obstruction of the FBI to come in on a timely basis to seize the files of First Bank.

"I have undertaken and consider it my bounding duty to disseminate to the people of Grenada all relevant information touching and concerning the activities of First International Bank as it relates to the monies that were given to officers of the New National Party," he said.