Article obtained from  ?Grenada Today
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.
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