The renomination of North Andros and Berry Islands MP Vincent Peet is in jeopardy as a result of an issue involving $180,000 in client funds, The Nassau Guardian confirmed.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is "concerned" about the matter, Peet acknowledged yesterday. Senior members of the party want the issue resolved before deciding whether Peet will be chosen as the PLP's candidate for the constituency in the next general election, The Nassau Guardian understands.

Yesterday, Peet said there is no legal action pending against him over the matter and that he and his client are working on resolving the "misunderstanding".  "The matter is of concern to the party; the party understands that there is no pending (legal) action. It's just a matter of making sure it's dealt with and the party knows this matter is being dealt with," said the former Cabinet minister.  Peet later added that he has come to an agreement with the client who "understands that this matter has been addressed to his satisfaction".

He said that he could not reveal more details because he did not want to violate attorney-client privilege.  The lawyer added that while securing his party's nomination was vital to him, he was more concerned about settling the outstanding issue with his client.  "While the nomination is important to me, it's not the most important thing to me. The most important thing to me is to get this matter resolved, which is being done," he said.  Peet said he is also "extremely concerned" that information was leaked on the matter.  He told The Nassau Guardian that the details must have come from forces who are trying to end his political career.

"What's being done is to ensure that there is no nomination," he said. "The nomination is important; serving my people is important. This whole thing is one which has been leaked to destroy my career."  When asked if PLP Leader Perry Christie had been assured that the issue was being addressed, Peet said Christie was out of the country.  Christie spoke with The Nassau Guardian from Atlanta yesterday and said he was unaware of any client related issues that could block Peet's renomination.  He pledged to look into the matter upon his return to the capital on Monday.

"I don't know that there is a client that is owed money and that it's a problem," he said. With respect to those speculations, I'll have to get briefed when I return home. "He did say that all incumbents have to undergo rigorous scrutiny to ensure they are fit to run on the PLP's ticket.  "We are reviewing all incumbents and that process started last week," Christie said.   "We asked for all representations to be made with respect to anyone.  At the end of the process we want to know we made the right decision.  "You have to reach a point where you're satisfied the person is fit and proper to move forward.  Whatever exists, we will do due diligence and we will investigate and we will recommend.  That is the process of the candidate's committee."

The party ratified several incumbents earlier this year.  Christie said the PLP's candidate's committee met Wednesday night but because he is out of the county he could not report on what was discussed and if any issues about Peet were raised.  If Peet is ratified by the PLP, it is expected that he would face off against Minister of Education Desmond Bannister, who is currently MP for Carmichael.

Both Peet and Bannister were born and raised in Andros and continue to have close ties to the community.  Peet was embroiled in controversy in late 2006 when it was revealed that his chauffeur stole money -- which was in U.S. currency -- from his bedroom closet in 2003.
Peet maintained that he converted the money to U.S. currency in order to pay his daughter's tuition at a university in the United States.

Back in May, several members of Peet's own party voiced concerns about his renomination and worried that he, and several other controversial PLPs, could ruin the party's chances at the ballot boxes. Former PLP MP George Smith, former PLP chairman Raynard Rigby and former senator Philip Galanis wrote a letter to Christie which suggested they would lose the next election if the party ratified Peet and other MPs Shane Gibson, Obie Wilchcombe and V. Alfred Gray.

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