The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

CONCERNS have been raised among members of the public that Canadian billionaire Peter Nygard donated $5 million to the PLP’s election campaign.

In exchange for such financial backing, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn told House members yesterday that it is speculated that Mr Nygard, a resident of the Bahamas, was expecting certain approvals in return from the government.

However, since Mr Nygard’s relationship with the government has been the subject of intense scrutiny, numerous PLP MP’s have come to his defence. They say that over the years Mr Nygard has given generously to various causes, particularly sporting events. They insisted that Mr Nygard has been committed to nation building.

“Acts of charity,” Mr Lightbourn said, “do not entitle one to intrude into the affairs of this country.

“But word on the street is that Nygard financed the PLP to the tune of $5 million.

“If I give a political party $5 million you are looking for something in return and it is evident. And no doubt his shopping list would include citizenship, assistance with the acquisition of the sea beds surrounding his property at Nygard Cay and the stem cell research bill.

“If you are one of the persons who refuses to believe that Nygard financed the PLP in a major way you will have no doubt that he did after you have watched that production (Nygard Takes Bahamas Back – one of Mr Nygard’s own productions).”

But Shane Gibson, Golden Gates MP, denied that the PLP has received any financial donation from Mr Nygard.

“I just want to say that there is no $5 million donated to the PLP,” he said.

Mr Lightbourn urged the government to clarify Mr Nygard’s immigration status in the country after MICAL MP V Alfred Gray told reporters this week that the fashion designer was a Bahamian.

Mr Gibson said that to his knowledge, although Mr Nygard lived in the Bahamas for decades, he remained a permanent resident.

Regarding the eight and a half minute “Nygard takes Bahamas Back” video posted on YouTube last October, Mr Lightbourn questioned the perception that the featurette has created for the world.

“By his own statements and publications, he made it appear to all and sundry that he has the government squarely in his pocket.

“We have all seen the production of ‘Nygard takes Bahamas Back’ what is that all about?

“PLP Ministers of the government bowing and scraping like marionettes at Nygard Cay — the only thing that they didn’t do is kiss some gaudy ring on his finger,” Mr Lightbourn said.