Commentaries, Local News

A matter of nearly half a million in Grenada

By CARIBUPDATE NEWS SERVICE

ST GEORGE’S, GRENADA: The opposition here has claimed that a top minister in the Tillman Thomas administration has received the equivalent of almost half a million EC dollars through a bank transfer.

There has been no outright denial of the claim by government officials that the transaction has been made – only that there was “no under hand dealings”.

Both Prime Minster Tillman Thomas and Information Minister Glen Noel have challenged the opposition to “prove any underhand dealings”.

They have however stayed clear of an outright denial.

Thomas said “he is not aware of a transaction from Saudi Arabia”, but that it will be “normal” for political parties to receive donations.

Noel said “if any transactions were done, it will be above board.”

Their first reactions came nearly a week after opposition leader Dr Keith Mitchell made the claim.He again restated it at a rally Sunday of his opposition New National Party, claiming he had “solid proof” to back up his claim.

“Whatever money that comes through will come through a natural process in terms of account and be declared,” Grenada’s Information Minister Glen Noel said in response.

“I don’t know there is any wrong doing on anybody’s part,” he told the Grenada Broadcasting Network.

Speaking to another local TV station, Prime Minister Thomas, downplayed the accusations.

“It is usual that officials in political parties received contributions and donations for their organizations,” he told MTV News.

“But I don’t know the basis of the allegations,” he added.

Opposition sources claim confidential documents they have seen inidicate the payment was for “legal fees.”

“If NNP has information that they feel that something needs to be investigated, they could make a report to the FIU (Financial Investigative Unit),” the Prime Minister said.

In comments on Sunday, opposition leader Mitchell called on the FIU to formally investigate the transaction.

“The NNP will be looking for company, but we do not want to be in company with them on the issue of corruption,” Noel said, in referring to allegations of corruption which dogged the previous Mitchell administration.

“I will dismiss it (the claim of wrongdoing) and to say that any financial dealing that will take place with any official of the government, essentially will be above board,” Noel said.

“The government’s response to the allegations is very curious, coming from an administration that wants everybody to believe they are holier than thou,” Delma Thomas, an official of the NNP said Tuesday. “Prime Minister Thomas still has to explain who sent the money and for what. Saying it is normal for political parties to get donations is not enough,” she added.

“I have never heard of an individual minister getting half a million dollars sent to their account as something normal,” the opposition official said.

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