The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

SAVE the Bays chairman Joseph Darville has hit back against accusations from some government ministers that the group is seeking to “destabilise” the government, calling the claims “absolutely ludicrous.”

He also revealed that while the Moore Charitable Foundation, founded by Lyford Cay billionaire Louis Bacon, does donate to the organisation, STB’s work is not directed by that funding.

Last week in the House of Assembly, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald accused the group of being nothing more than a “political organisation” seeking to “overthrow” the Progressive Liberal Party government “under the guise of an environmental group.”

He also read, and later tabled, private emails between members of STB as he made the claims. Mr Fitzgerald also said members of STB are paid handsomely for their work - some taking home six-figure pay cheques.

In a statement released on Saturday, which suggested that private email accounts had been hacked, Mr Darville hit back at the claims.

“I have done absolutely nothing to cast any disgrace upon my country,” Mr Darville said.

“I have never been or ever will be involved in any covert activity to destabilise my government or country; for anyone to think or dream up otherwise would be absolutely ludicrous. My government, whatever government it be PLP or FNM, is my government and I will do openly everything in my power to see that it responds responsibly to the need of our people and our nation. If at times that seems anti-establishment, so be it.”

Last Thursday, Mr Fitzgerald also accused the group of being involved in a “hustle” to entrap Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard - Mr Bacon’s neighbour - in a criminal plot.

Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell also spoke on the claims in Parliament, suggesting that some $8.25m has been filtered through various organisations connected with STB - locally and internationally - from 2013 to 2015.

The claims by both PLP parliamentarians come amidst a controversy stemming from an ongoing feud between Mr Nygard and Mr Bacon concerning STB’s opposition to ongoing development of Nygard Cay. Mr Bacon is one of STB’s directors.

Mr Mitchell sought to connect the dots as to how STB obtains its funding, claiming that the Moore Charitable Foundation, of which Mr Bacon is president, funds international environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance, which in turn funds Waterkeeper Bahamas, which in turn funds STB.

Mr Darville, in his statement, said while he does get money from the Moore group, it does not direct how the funding is spent.

“My personal remuneration is greatly appreciated for it allows me to carry on my work, even while retired on an NIB pension; the amount does not even approach being commensurate with my talent, training, degrees and critical work. I acknowledge and bless the Moore Charitable Foundation, for providing it and the amount to run the programme, where every single penny is spent in that regard and accounted for,” Mr Darville stressed. “However, let me add that I am under absolutely no obligation to be directed by the funding body as to how I operate the grant. My professional assistants and myself have absolute jurisdiction over this, without any outside interference, or promise.

“My life and work have always been an open book, and across those pages are written a solid history of divinely guided work and accomplishments.... I have absolutely nothing to hide. The defaming of my character by false and damning statements would profit those individuals naught.

“(Mr Fitzgerald) could have easily met with me face to face, or called me to get any facts with relation to my work. I would have told him exactly what salary I make and how much is allocated for the environmental education programme I operate. Both are modest amounts, nowhere near what may have been suggested by him in Parliament.”

Mr Darville also stated that he, unlike parliamentarians, did not have to publicly disclose his assess.

“If I were under any legal obligation to actually declare the amount I would gladly do so, with due respect to the rule of law, unlike a large number of members of Parliament who are under legal obligation to do so and do not. But you can still give me a call and I will give you the exact figures, for your personal satisfaction. However, I think it is well known by many of you, by virtue of our private calls and emails being hacked into.”

• See letters HERE