ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, DECEBMER 22ND, 2008_ Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas has reassured the nation that his National Democratic Congress Administration’s is committed to uphold the constitution and the rights of citizens guaranteed under that constitution. The Prime Minister’s statement follows comments on the recent release from prison of three former Grenada government and army leaders, Hudson Austin, Colville Mc Barnette and John Ventour. Prime Minister Thomas said his government will not “play politics” with people’s freedoms and vowed to uphold the independence of the judiciary. “We have taken an oath to uphold and defend the constitution of Grenada and we take this seriously. This administration will not stand by while the rights of our citizens and the judicial process are disregarded as we have seen in previous years,” the Prime Minister said. He said the constitution gives clear direction of the separation of powers within the three arms of government; the judiciary, the executive and the legislative. Prime Minister Thomas said his government will stand by those directions. “We will not interfere in the decision making process of the judiciary. We respect the independence of the judges and their functions. Our government will not try to influence judges and their decisions nor will we try to determine who should be appointed to positions in the judiciary nor how they are appointed,” the Prime Minister, who is also Minister of Legal Affairs said. He noted that the administration’s position cannot be compared with the former New National Party government which openly challenged the decisions of judges and attempted to foist some persons into senior positions in the judiciary in Grenada. He pointed to the former administration’s disregard for the recommendations of Justice Francis Bell on the review of the cases of Colville Mc Barnette and John Ventour on the basis of their health. He added that Justice Bell had also recommended for Hudson, “special remission” for his exemplary conduct and service to the prison and to the Grenadian community following Hurricane Ivan. The three men were release from Prison on Thursday following a review by the constitutionally mandated Committee for the Prerogative of Mercy and as a result of the recommendations of Justice Bell in July 2007. INSIDE GRENADA NEWS