The new Grenada government has turned down a request for the State owned vehicle assigned to the Embassy in New York to be used to pick up ex Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell when he landed at JFK International Airport last Friday night.
It is believed to be the first trip to the United States by Mitchell since he lost power on July 8 to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of attorney at-law, Tillman Thomas.
Prior to the trip, the ex-Prime Minister was engaged in heated exchanges with the new rulers in St. George's who canceled his diplomatic passport which carried visas to several countries including the United States.
Mitchell reportedly travelled to Bridgetown, Barbados a week ago to obtain the visa to make the trip to New York. Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that the request for use of the embassy vehicle for the ex-Grenadian leader was made to the Foreign Ministry in St. George by departing Consul-General at the New York Mission, Allen Mc Guire.
A source who asked not to be named said that Mc Guire was told that he could use his own personal vehicle to pick up Mitchell at the airport and not the one owned by the State.
He spoke of the request being unusual in light of the fact that Prime Minister Tillman Thomas was in New York on an official visit. PM Thomas is due to address the U.N General Assembly on Friday in his maiden speech to the world body.
Mc Guire is due to depart from his posting at month-end to make way for Derek James, a member of the Congress party. The Public Service commission (PSC) has reportedly despatched a letter to Mc Guire informing him of the termination of his employment at the New York position.
There are unconfirmed reports that the outgoing Consul-General had expressed a willingness to remain on the job to serve under the Thomas-led administration.
Meanwhile, the Grenada government has appointed New York-based George Mc Leish as its new envoy to Caracas, Venezuela.
A government insider told this newspaper that Mc Leish will hold the post of Minister/Counsellor to take charge of the embassy from Ambassador, Richard Mc Phail who landed the post under the old regime.
He said it is possible that Mc Leish might be considered at a later stage for the post of full-fledged Ambassador to Venezuela. Mc Leish is said to be very fluent in Spanish after studying in Cuba for a number of years in the 1980's.
