GRENADIAN GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS EXISTENCE OF RESTEINER TAPE

ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, APRIL 2, 2009 -- On 13th August 2008, Grenada’s Attorney General made a request to the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) for a copy of the video tape depicting the alleged money transaction between Eric Resteiner and former Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.

The USDOJ indicated that the video tape was in the possession of Mr. Resteiner’s attorney, who had no objection to the Attorney General of Grenada viewing the tape. However a copy would not be provided by Resteiner unless he received certain concessions from the United States government, a decision over which Grenada had no control.

The Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) traveled to Boston, USA, in early December 2008, where they viewed the tape, in reality a DVD, in the presence of an officer of the USDOJ and Mr. Resteiner’s attorney.

A precondition to the viewing of the tape was the execution of a confidentiality agreement to ensure the contents of the tape were not divulged or discussed.

Subsequent to that viewing and as a result of information separately revealed to the Attorney General by the USDOJ, the Attorney General, on the 17th February 2009, made a supplemental request to the USDOJ for further information, which was received on the 16th March 2009.

This additional information has been passed to the DPP who continues to investigate the propriety of the conduct of former Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.

The DPP has indicated that a successful conclusion to this investigation depends largely on the cooperation of Mr. Resteiner.