The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Cabinet Minister George Smith yesterday slammed Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard for allegedly seeking to “intimidate” Prime Minister Perry Christie, charging that the “arrogant, self-centred and amoral” designer should be kicked out of the country for his remarks.

Mr Smith said Mr Nygard has “long ceased behaving as a guest should” and that he has “no respect for Bahamian values and those in authority.”

Calling Mr Nygard’s remarks about Mr Christie “infuriating”, Mr Smith said he hopes the Bahamas “would soon see the back of him forever.”

Mr Smith also said remarks attributed to Deputy Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis by two criminals allegedly hired by Nygard to victimise his opponents as well as protect Mr Nygard’s interests as a major campaign backer of the PLP “should not be believed”.

“Nygard is a guest in our country,” Mr Smith, who served in the Pindling administration, said in a statement yesterday. “However, he has long ceased behaving as a guest should. He is arrogant, self-centred and amoral. His remarks were intended to intimidate the prime minister – this is unacceptable. He shows no respect for Bahamian values and those in authority.

“He should be instructed to leave the country,” Mr Smith added. “I hope the Bahamas would soon see the back of him forever.”

Mr Smith’s statements come amidst a controversy surrounding Mr Nygard’s alleged orchestration of a murderous plot against his billionaire neighbour Louis Bacon and lawyer Fred Smith, his chief opponents in an ongoing campaign against development at Nygard Cay.

Last week, court documents filed by Mr Bacon, Mr Smith and others connected to environmental group Save The Bays (STB) revealed that Mr Christie allegedly promised Mr Nygard that he would issue him a lease to build on government property.

In a covert video recording on May 10, 2015, one of 19 videos contained in the court documents, Mr Nygard lambasts Mr Christie allegedly for making “fake promises” over the issuing of the lease for which he claimed he had received authorisation nearly 25 years ago.

At one point in a subsequent May 12, 2015 video, Mr Nygard claimed that “everyone is frustrated with the PM” over the hold up over the lease, and said that he would meet with the prime minister and “lay down the law to him” on the matter.

In one of the videos, Mr Nygard is heard saying Mr Christie “lacks (expletive) courage.”

The court documents also reveal surprising details concerning the close relationship between Mr Nygard and the PLP, with Mr Nygard repeatedly referring to his considerable influence over top government officials and the impact he could potentially have on the PLP’s chances at securing victory in the next general election.

The court documents filed by the Save the Bays directors also showed that the two men allegedly hired by Mr Nygard to harass his opponents, Livingston “Toggie” Bullard and Wisler “Bobo” Davilma, claimed to have strong ties with Mr Davis.

According to the court documents, the two men were sent to Mr Nygard by Mr Davis to support the designer unconditionally as a major “sponsor” of the PLP. The men were also allegedly hired by Mr Nygard to threaten Director of Physical Planning Michael Major for not issuing the required licence.

Mr Davis has since confirmed to The Tribune that he has known both men since 2010, but was unaware of the allegations.

“I heard the recordings, as did a great many Bahamians,” Mr Smith said yesterday. “What disturbed me the most, from what I heard, was that thugs were discussing, in a vile and disrespectful manner, the two senior members of our government. This should annoy all Bahamians.

“The remarks attributed to the deputy prime minister by two criminals should not be believed. I know (Mr Davis); anyone who knows him would know that he would not talk or act in that manner.”

In 2014, Mr Smith spoke out against Mr Nygard’s application for Crown land, charging that Mr Nygard should “behave appropriately as someone who is a guest in another man’s country.”

At the time, Mr Smith found fault in what he said was Mr Nygard’s sense of entitlement towards Crown land in the country and expressed concern about the support he has received from some Bahamians.

While Mr Smith stopped short of blaming politicians in any way for Mr Nygard’s “sense of entitlement,” he said the fashion mogul should not take advantage of his personal relationships with government officials.