FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson yesterday said he does not “know if the FNM can take any more of this” in response to Free National Movement Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis’ controversial admission that he met three times with Livingston “Toggie” Bullard, a “gang member” accused in affidavits of being hired to commit criminal acts on behalf of Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard.
At a time when the FNM wants to make forceful arguments for why it should replace the governing party, Mr. Watson found himself exasperated yesterday over the fact that his party’s leader is once again at the centre of controversy.
He told The Tribune he would “not settle for” Dr. Minnis’ explanation about his meetings with the criminal. “I would have to get more explanation,” he said.
He suggested that the FNM would deal with the matter internally, saying: “I may have to get involved later on this matter. It’s extraordinary for a leader or any member of Parliament to meet with criminals. That’s the police’s job.”
He added: “And if he did meet with them, he should’ve gotten all the facts. If someone say your party chairman in trouble, you have to get all the facts.”
Dr. Minnis has had a tumultuous stint as leader of the FNM. His leadership of the party has been questioned and some have lobbied behind the scenes to have him replaced by Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, the party’s former deputy leader.
Asked how the FNM will deal with this latest controversy, Mr. Watson said: “I don’t know if the FNM can take any more of this. His first statement in the House of Assembly indicated that he was protecting Pintard and that Pintard did something courageous. Now all of a sudden he kicked Pintard to the kerb, saying he warned Pintard not to get involved in the matter. So which is it?”
“In a few days I think we’ll speak more clearly on this subject,” he said.
On Monday, Dr. Minnis admitted to The Tribune that he met with Mr. Bullard. Dr. Minnis said Mr. Bullard wanted him to pass on a warning to Mr. Pintard that he was about to be allegedly “set up” by a high-ranking member of the government and others. Last night in the House of Assembly, Dr. Minnis named Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis as the person behind the alleged “set up”.
Dr. Minnis said he never discussed Mr. Nygard with Mr. Bullard, adding that he did not hear of the alleged murder-for-hire plot until The Tribune published the claims in an affidavit filed on March 9 in the Supreme Court by directors of Save the Bays (STB).
He added that Mr. Bullard visited him twice more to give him fish caught on a trip, and on one of these occasions spoke to his wife. The visits occurred at Dr. Minnis’ home. His revelation came hours after Michael Pintard resigned as FNM chairman and senator because of concerns over his involvement in in the court action against Mr. Nygard.
His admission prompted critical reactions from some observers wondering why Dr. Minnis met with Mr. Bullard and why he did not make this information public sooner.
In the STB affidavit, Mr. Bullard and Mr. Davilma claim that Mr. Nygard paid them to stage several hate rallies and commit criminal acts such as arson and harassment against members of STB and others. They also alleged that Mr. Nygard hired them to kill his opponents.
The criminals were tracked down with the help of Mr. Pintard, according to the affidavit by US investigator John Joseph DiPaolo, which noted it was Mr. Pintard who alerted STB Director Fred Smith that the men were behind protests against the group.
In a counter affidavit filed by Mr. Nygard on Monday, it is alleged that the men were paid millions for “false testimony.” It is also alleged that Mr. Pintard negotiated their payment and, along with Lyford Cay billionaire Louis Bacon, is trying to implicate Mr. Nygard in a murder plot.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
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