Sir James denies Cocoa pay-off

Sir James Mitchell has categorically denied receiving “Cocoa Money” to seal a deal between the Government and Amajaro, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cocoa{{more}} to the international chocolate manufacturing industry.

In a “tell it all” interview, last Sunday evening with Jerry George on the ‘Up Next’ programme, aired on IK TV, Sir James denied receiving a 10 per cent fee to close the deal with the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves-led administration. He also denied using his daughter as the face of the agreement.

Sir James said he was informed by Lennie Daisley, a former Chief Agricultural Officer here, who contested the 2005 General Elections on a New Democratic Party (NDP) ticket, that Eustace was inquiring about monies received for securing the deal.

“Lennie Daisley, he told me that Eustace said so, and I heard subsequently that his wife, people told me his wife said the money didn’t come to me, it went to Louise’s account. All ah that without anybody calling me, you know,” said Sir James.

Sir James, who claims that he has an in depth knowledge of the cocoa industry, said having recognized its viability, he proposed at the NDP convention in July 2010, that the Party should explore the crop.

He said one month later, he had the opportunity to meet Nico Debenham, Amajaro’s Director with responsibility for traceability and the sustainable development of both cocoa and coffee, in Bequia.

Sir James said as soon as Debenham returned to the UK, he contacted him by e-mail on August 31, 2010, and informed him that he and his partners were interested in partnering with the farmers of St.Vincent and the Grenadines in cocoa production.

The former Prime Minister made it clear that Debenham’s interest was not in working with the NDP or ULP, but the farmers of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

Sir James said he received a subsequent e-mail in September from Debenham, informing him that Amajaro wanted to set a date to visit St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

On Sunday, December 12, 2010, one day before the last General Elections here, a team from Amajaro, led by the President of the company, visited this country, and met with Mitchell’s daughter Louise Mitchell-Joseph, Lennie Daisley and Ronald Providence. The team also visited several farm lands.

Sir James said the President of Amajaro expressed skepticism at setting up here, because of the topography of the country, but he convinced the President that local farmers were more than capable of handling the project, based on their success in bananas and the quality of our soil.

Sir James disclosed that at this stage, the Amajaro team said they needed to do a feasability study and requested a meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

According to Sir James, invitations were extended to both Eustace and Dr. Godwin Friday, Vice President of the NDP, to meet with the Amajaro team, but neither agreed to meet with the team. He said Mitchell-Joseph also e-mailed Eustace and told him that she had information that she would like to share with him, but got no reply.

“How can you start an agricultural project in a country like ours without getting permission of the government to bring in the plant?” Sir James asked.

He said that the cooperation of the government would also be needed with regard to other inputs.

The former prime minister said he was also accused of “leaving out” Lennie Daisley with regard to the project; however, it was Amajaro who asked to retain the services of Ronald Providence.

“They had met both Daisley and Ronald Providence, you know; they requested to meet with … Ronald Providence, the grandson of Teacher Providence.”

“Daisley had met the people, but they did not request his services,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell, however, said that at the end of the meeting between Amajaro and the Prime Minister, Mitchell-Joseph arranged for Daisley to meet with Amajaro.

Sir James also said that in the NDP’s 2010 Manifesto, in the Agriculture and Fisheries section, on pages 20, 21 and 22, not a word on cocoa is mentioned.