Pintard hits back at govt

Thu, Mar 17th 2016, 07:35 AM

Following a call by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) for his resignation, Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Michael Pintard declared yesterday that he will not allow the government to make him a scapegoat in the controversy surrounding an alleged murder plot against certain members of the Save the Bays environmental group.

Pintard has been criticized for allegedly knowing of potential criminal matters but failing to report them to the police. Pintard is affiliated with Save the Bays. He said while the question of his resignation has not even arisen within his party, if there is a "price to pay" he is prepared to pay it.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts called for Pintard's resignation on Sunday and questioned why he had not been fired on Tuesday.

Pintard shot down rumors yesterday that he resigned.

"The subject has not even come up in the party," Pintard told The Nassau Guardian.

"I mean it has not even arisen and Mr. Roberts, who has been the subject of... accusations in the public domain, managed to survive as chairman of the PLP and he has the nerve to target me, who simply pointed out to friends and colleagues, that there were individuals who sought me out and reported that they themselves were responsible for organizing hate rallies.

"...So if I am to be castigated for simply conveying that message and facilitating those discussions, if there is a price to pay, it is a price I'd be willing to pay again. So I have no difficulty in introducing to my colleagues, my friends, persons who... have sought us out. I didn't pursue them. I didn't know who they were..."

An affidavit filed by a foreign investigator hired to probe the case identifies Pintard as the individual who uncovered the alleged criminal conspiracy following meetings with two "gang members" who were allegedly paid to carry out the plan.

Wealthy Lyford Cay resident Louis Bacon and several members of Save the Bays allege that Peter Nygard, a permanent resident in The Bahamas, and attorney Keod Smith plotted to have them killed. Both Nygard and Smith have strongly rejected to allegations.

Since the filings last week, there have been numerous questions in various circles about the FNM chairman's involvement in the matter. Yesterday, Pintard said governing members should be the ones facing the tough questions. He said the PLP and its operatives have "been extremely busy trying to smear me as they defend Peter Nygard."

"All positions I hold are temporary positions, and I could live without them," Pintard said. "What should be the greater concern is the permanent damage done to the country if we permit expats, if we permit... Peter Nygard to essentially (insulting) the leaders of the country and the leaders of the country to turn around and defend them."

Purported video recordings of Nygard belittling the prime minister and saying that he (Nygard) could win the election, went viral last week.

The recordings, along with the affidavit, have all been included in the writ that Bacon, Freeport lawyer Fred Smith, environmentalists Joseph Darville and Romauld Ferreira and Bain and Grants Town activist Rev. C.B. Moss filed in the Supreme Court against Nygard and Smith.

Prime Minister Perry Christie addressed the matter in the House of Assembly on Monday and again on Tuesday.

"Mr. Nygard was critical of me as I understood, if those tapes are authentic; critical of me because I did not do what he applied for in his words or what he was asking or what he wanted me to do, whatever the explanation is," he said.

"The purpose of that was that Mr. Nygard was critical and remains critical of what I did or did not do with respect to an application he made that is the subject of a court case where we were injuncted and is the subject of a police investigation."

Christie insisted that his "conduct in all of the matters relating to Mr. Nygard in an application will speak for itself".

He said that will be tested by the court.

Krystel Rolle-Brown

Guardian Staff Reporter

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