St. George’s, June 5, 2012 – A former minister, who served in the previous NDC government of 1990 – 1995, is completely supportive of current party leader, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, in the receipt of money from an overseas donor.

“I believe the Prime Minister,’’ said Phinsley St. Louis, who was referring to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in which Thomas admits to receiving US$50,000 into the leader’s personal account from “a friend of Grenada’’ whose “corporate residence is the British Virgin Islands.’’

However, St. Louis said that if it turns out that Thomas made a false statement in the matter, “he should demit office immediately and call fresh elections and don’t contest.’’

The money transfer has become a hot political topic since allegations were first made last month by the main opposition New National Party (NNP) and denied by Thomas.

NNP leader and former Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell, claimed that a top government minister had received US$150,000 from a source in Saudi Arabia.

Last week’s PMO statement said that Thomas, as leader of the National Democratic Congress, had received US$50,000 from the BVI.

“At every stage, it was the understanding and belief of Prime Minister Thomas, that these funds were intended to assist the NDC and for no other purpose,’’ the statement said.

St. Louis, who describes himself as a “founder’’ of the NDC, said he has a document to corroborate the Grenadian leader’s story and challenged the opposition to reveal their evidence of a US$150,000 donation from Saudi Arabia.

St. Louis, a former Minister of Works, said if Dr. Mitchell cannot present any evidence to back his allegations against Thomas, the opposition leader would be showing that he is not truthful and should not contest the next general election.

“Someone is telling a lie and I am saying it is not the prime minister,’’ St. Louis told broadcaster Lew Smith, host of GBN’s Monday night television program, Beyond the Headlines.

St. Louis and Kenny Lalsingh, an NNP member and former government minister, were the program’s guests.

Lalsingh accused St. Louis, who said he has “no problem’’ with the money transfer, of trying to cover up.

He questioned whether the money has been transferred from the prime minister’s personal bank account to the NDC’s; and whether the funds are linked to a proposed economic citizenship program of government.

By his action in the money transaction, the prime minister has put his reputation on the line, Lalsingh said.

“I’m sure the prime minister must be regretting that he allowed it to happen that way,’’ said Lalsingh. “The prime minister has lost credibility.’’