ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: Moves are afoot in Grenada by the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to ask the United States Justice Department for assistance in relation to allegations that Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell received a US$500,000 bribe in 2000 from former German diplomat Eric Resteiner, who is now in prison in the United States on several counts of fraud. Initial contact has already been made with United States officials via its embassy in Barbados. The opposition believes that any inquiry to be conducted must involve Resteiner, who is a ward of the Justice Department of the United States, and its assistance will be vital. There are growing calls here for an independent inquiry that will once and for all throw some light in what happened at the home of Resteiner in Switzerland in 2000 when he was visited by the Grenadian leader. In an address to the nation Dr. Mitchell denied having received half a million dollars in a Louis Vuitton briefcase but admitted receiving approximately 15 thousand dollars. However during his first reaction to the allegation that appeared on Offshore Alert magazine he said he received approximately 10-12 thousand dollars. There are also mounting calls for the inquiry to be of a criminal nature so that its fruits can be handed over to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for possible prosecution. The government has indicated the Governor General will be instituting an inquiry into the allegation of bribery by the Prime Minister but the terms of reference are yet to be known. The opposition and other interest groups in the country believe that a bi-partisan parliamentary inquiry is the best route to take since the cabinet and its Ministers are accountable to parliament as outlined in the constitution. The allegation of bribery against the Prime Minister has politically fragmented Grenadian society and has reportedly tarnished the name of Grenada in the regional and international community. Also as a result of the allegation journalists have had to fight to exercise their right to a free media after they were threatened and at least one was detained for questioning. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com