ST GEORGE’S, GRENADA: GRENADA’S PRIME MINISTER Keith Mitchell clashed with leading opposition figures Friday over allegations of wrong doing in the first sitting of the country’s parliament since the controversy broke two weeks ago. Questions opposition leader Tillman Thomas hoped would have been answered at the sitting were not on the order paper, and it was promised that the questions would be dealt with at a next sitting. But that did not stop leading members of the opposition, including Thomas, Nazim Burke and Peter David to openly question the Prime Minister’s behavior, as well as recent developments they dubbed as attempts at intimidating the opposition and the media. In rebuttal, Prime Minister Mitchell once again said there was nothing wrong with his accepting 15-thousand dollars from Eric Resteiner on the controversial European trip four years ago. Mitchell told parliament that at the time Eric Resteiner was a legitimate representative of the country, but said he was subsequently fired when he got into legal troubles. “As far as I am concerned the only problem with this is that the gentleman involved was found out later to have transgressed against the laws of some countries. That is what is alleged,” Dr Mitchell said. The Grenadian leader once again denied the payment was a bribe, saying that it was for legitimate expenses. “The arrangement was perfectly normal,” Mitchell told parliament. “We did it the right way and we have nothing to be ashamed of.” Prime Minister Mitchell said several suits are being filed against a number of people, including local media houses and foreign journalists for their roles in publishing the bribery allegation story. Reports in Grenada say the Grenada Broadcasting Network, which is partly owned by government, will be among the entities to be sued. Senior opposition member Nazim Burke said in parliament Friday the prime minister’s explanations were inadequate, and his behavior on that European trip unacceptable. “It is our contention that as prime minister he ought not to receive …15 thousand dollars in cash in anybody’s home in Switzerland. That is wrong,’ Burke declared. Opposition Leader Thomas said threats of legal action against opposition parliamentarians and the local media smack of intimidation. “All dictators, Mr Speaker, in their last days, they infringe on the press,” he said. Thomas said the government went as far as influencing GBN not to carry Caribbean Report from the BBC during the height of the controversy because it did not want Grenadians to hear the coverage of the issue. David said government’s attempt at intimidation just won’t work. “Mr Speaker if the member for North West believes he can threaten all of us into silence, that is mistake he is making,” he declared. Three persons, including a reporter, were detained this week by police prosecutors who said they were investigating charges of “criminal libel” against the Prime Minister. The Grenadian leader however suggested in parliament Friday that while he cannot personally interfere in the work of the police, he is more interested in filing civil suits against those who he felt harmed his reputation. Sources say some senior members of the government had advised the Prime Minister to “back off” from the escalation after there was negative local reaction to the detentions this week. As rumors abound in Grenada that even members of parliament, including Opposition Leader Thomas, might be detained in connection with the ongoing investigations, a street protest has been announced for Saturday in the east coast town of Grenville. The opposition National Democratic Congress said it will be “a march against corruption and a protest against the attack on the press.” SOURCE: CARIBUPDATE.COM