St. George’s, May 27, 2012 – Leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, has said that he is prepared to make available information pertaining to the transfer of funds to Grenada from a Saudi Arabian donor.
The money transfer was made public May 15 by opposition leader Keith Mitchell during a debate in parliament, and repeated at a political rally of his New National Party.
Mitchell, a former prime minister, claims that he has “solid information of a very top, top government minister who has collected US$150,000 in his own bank account.’’
The cash, according to Mitchell, “came from Saudi Arabia to the Republic Bank. These are facts.’’
Days after Mitchell’s initial charge, Prime Minister Thomas told a Grenada television station that, “he is not aware of a transaction from Saudi Arabia,’’ and that he had not received “any money from Saudi Arabia.’’
However, he added that it would be “normal” for political parties to receive donations.
The issue was raised with the prime minister in a recent television interview with Ray Roberts, director of the Government Information Service.
“Your party would not have been the first party to receive any contribution,’’ Roberts commented.
“No, that is normal,’’ Thomas responded. “The difference may be that a contribution came through a banking institution. I see nothing wrong with that, once it comes from a legitimate source. That’s part of the democratic process.’’
Mitchell alleges that EC$100,000 of the US$150,000 was paid to “a close political friend’’ of the NDC. The payment is said to have been for “legal fees’’.
The former prime minister is demanding an investigation by that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Royal Grenada Police Force. Thomas is not perturbed by a possible probe of the matter.
“I have nothing to worry about,’’ said Prime Minister Thomas. “If they ask for information, it could be made available at any time.’’
The Grenadian leader insisted that, “all the transactions I have done are above board; any transaction is done legitimately, through a banking institution. There is nothing to hide. There is no red flag. If anybody has any evidence that any law has been broken, they could go to the FIU and ask them to conduct an investigation.’’
Thomas maintains the suggestion that it was political party “contribution,’’ saying that “from time to time, any political organization would get contributions.’’
If there is a person who “wants to make a contribution to a political organization, and make it through an individual within the organization – a trustworthy individual – I see nothing wrong with that,’’ said Thomas.
As a party, the NDC has so far made no official comment on the Saudi Arabian money transfer.
But when contacted, several members of the executive of the National Democratic Congress said they had no knowledge of the US$150,000 transaction, which the NDC leader has indicated was a contribution to the party.
