The Tribune

LAWYERS acting for Peter Nygard, the millionaire fashion designer, have denied allegations that he asked a group of men to disrupt a Freedom of Information rally ten days ago in downtown Nassau, after which two environmental advocates asked for police protection.

They were responding to a suggestion by Joseph Darville, a director of Save The Bays, that, when confronted, some of the men had claimed to have been asked to attend the protest in Charlotte Street on December 7 by individuals working for Mr Nygard.

“Our client did not pay anyone to disrupt the said rally and had nothing to do with the alleged demonstration or any threats or intimidation or mischief whatsoever by anyone in the situation outlined in the publication,” a letter from the legal firm Evans and Co to The Tribune on Tuesday said.

Mr Darville and fellow director Fred Smith asked for police protection after the rally was disrupted by what they said was a group of men, on a flatbed truck blaring music and carrying “menacing and defamatory” banners. Mr Smith described the disruption as “disgusting” and that he and Mr Darville now “fear for their lives”.

“A peaceful gathering in support of Freedom of Information was nearly hijacked by a bought and paid-for mob sent there to intimidate and cause trouble,” Mr Smith said in a statement.

“Considering the increasingly sinister tone of their messages, many of us are now very afraid. We call on the Commissioner of Police to intervene and protect us before someone gets hurt.”

A senior police officer turned the protestors away but they returned and Mr Darville confronted them. Photographs showed the men wearing shirts and waving placards bearing slogans about Louis Bacon, a neighbour with whom Mr Nygard is involved in a long-running dispute.

Police confirmed that the men had no permit to protest.