No evidence against Grenada PM

These were the views articulated by Mitchell’s lawyer, former TT attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, who also said the Commission would be wasting Grenadian taxpayers’ monies by visiting a man incarcerated in a Miami jail who claims to have a videotape of the alleged transaction between Mitchell and Restiner.

Maharaj told Newsday that the Commission held hearings into the matter in Grenada over the last week and those hearings were broadcast live on television. During the hearings, Maharaj said the police officers who accompanied Mitchell to the Switzerland home of Restiner indicated that they handled the Grenadian prime minister’s briefcase and their evidence exonerated Mitchell of any wrongdoing. He added that their statements were supported by statements from the Grenadian ministries of finance and foreign affairs.

Maharaj said the evidence clearly shows that Restiner received his ambassadorial appointment in September 1999 through the proper channels. The evidence, Maharaj continued, further shows that the Grenadian Cabinet approved Mitchell’s trip to Switzerland in June 2000 on the condition that Restiner stand the cost of the trip.

Maharaj said both he and counsel for the commission, Dr Fenton Ramsahoye SC, agreed that the evidence has cleared Mitchell of any wrongdoing and the Commission of Inquiry should be terminated. However, Maharaj said Commissioner Dr Richard Cheltenham QC, said he wanted to go to a Miami prison to interview Thomas Bass who claims he was Restiner’s driver and who claims to have a tape of the alleged transaction between Mitchell and Restiner.

Noting that the Commission of Inquiry into the allegations against Mitchell had begun just before Grenada was devastated by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, Maharaj said there had been sufficient time for Bass to provide the commission with the alleged videotape but he had not done so to date.

Maharaj added that other evidence has already established Bass’ unreliability as a witness and the commission would be wasting at least US$300,000 to $400,000 to go to Miami to interview Bass.

The former AG said those monies would be better spent in helping ongoing rebuilding efforts in Grenada. Public pressure is rising in the Spice Isle for the Commission of Inquiry to be terminated.

Maharaj however added that Cheltenham still plans to go to Miami but is yet to indicate when that would be. Maharaj added that the course of action which Cheltenham was suggesting is unheard of and he (Maharaj) would not accompany him to Miami should he (Cheltenham) decide to go.