Prosecutor threatens to sue opposition leader

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (AP) - A government prosecutor yesterday threatened to sue an opposition leader, a day after opposition legislators taped their mouths shut to protest the government’s lethargy in investigating a bribery allegation against Grenada’s prime minister. Opposition leader Tillman Thomas claims he has documents to support an allegation made by Miami-based online newsletter Offshore Alert that Prime Minister Keith Mitchell accepted US$500,000 from a German-born man in exchange for a trade minister position. Mitchell denies the allegation, saying former trade counselor Eric E Resteiner offered to cover travel expenses for Mitchell’s delegation on a 2000 promotional and investment tour of Europe and Kuwait.

Resteiner gave Mitchell about US$15,000 for the trip without hope of personal benefit, the Government says. The former British colony’s government maintains such actions are common practice. The controversy, however, has shaken the Caribbean island nation. Four opposition legislators on Tuesday taped their mouths shut with duct tape to protest the government’s inaction over ordering an investigation into the allegations first made in the Offshore’s article’ published on April 30.