The Tribune

PETER Nygard is a sex offender and he has been sent to prison.

He was convicted of four offences by a Canadian court. He is guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty.

This week, he was sentenced to 11 years in jail, although he has been given credit for time already in custody.

He could be eligible for parole in less than two years – but he faces more accusations elsewhere. Nygard is also accused in the US on federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, while there are a number of civil lawsuits he faces in addition.

His legal woes in Canada are not over either, with more sexual offence charges to be heard there after his cases in the US are dealt with.

You will notice one country not mentioned there. Ours.

There are a number of accusations of Nygard abusing women here in The Bahamas too. Some of those allegations even suggest that some women escaped his property – only to be taken back there by Bahamian police officers.

Nygard’s son, Kai Bickle, says the list of his father’s victims is long, and that most of the abuse happened here in The Bahamas.

And yet we have not brought him to face those allegations in our courts.

In November last year, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said he would search for the investigation files concerning complaints made by women in The Bahamas to see why charges were never brought against Nygard. We have yet to hear back about that search. No charges have been filed since that time.

Once, Nygard was feted by the powerful or would-be powerful in this country. A famous video showed newly minted PLP MPs at Nygard Cay, shaking Nygard’s hand and being introduced as ministers in the new government.

After Nygard’s conviction and sentencing, not one of those politicians has spoken out to denounce Nygard for his actions.

Recently, there was a back and forth between senior political party figures about whether the Grand Bahama Port Authority had donated money to the FNM – the authority says it has donated to both parties. That prompted a discussion about campaign finance legislation. Not one person has volunteered how much money Nygard donated to parties or individuals as part of that discussion.

Nygard was a cancer in our society who seemed to think he could pay his way to being allowed to do whatever he pleased.

He is a repeated sex abuser. He is a sexual predator. And we appear to have done nothing to bring him to justice for that.

If some of the allegations are true, such as those about officers returning women to Nygard’s property, then equally there are those right here at home who have been complicit or worse in allowing such abuse. None of those have been held to account either.

For years, Nygard acted with impunity. As far as Bahamian society goes, he still does.

Are we willing to accept that? Should those who showed flawed judgement in dealing with this alleged predator not at least stand up and call him what he was? Should they too not be calling for criminal action against this alleged abuser who used dollar bills to make his problems go away?

 Canada has held him to account. The US intends to follow. So why won’t we?