The dispute between Peter Nygard and Louis Bacon has led to a scandal in Bahamian politics. One member of the legislature has even stepped down.

Michael Pintard resigned on Monday as a senator and chairman of the Free National Movement (FNM). Court documents outlining an alleged murder plot against members of the Save the Bays environmental group identify Pintard as the individual who uncovered the alleged criminal conspiracy following meetings with two so-called gang members who were allegedly paid to carry out the plan.

Pintard never told police of the plot. He worked as a consultant for Callenders and Co. Callenders is run by Fred Smith, QC. Smith is a director of Save the Bays, the lobby group that opposes Nygard. The matter is being investigated by police.

Leader of the Opposition Dr. Hubert Minnis on March 14 told the House of Assembly that the FNM was instrumental in bringing to light the controversial allegations of the murder plot. He said the public would likely "congratulate" the opposition for the part it played.

Nygard suggested a quid pro quo in the affidavit filed by Save the Bays before the Bahamian Supreme Court. He said he donated millions to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). He expected certain things it appeared, based on the recordings associated with the affidavit.

Prime Minister Perry Christie has denied that he made any pledges to Nygard in exchange for the donation. The affidavit also suggests an affiliation between Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and two thugs - thugs who were making threats of death in recordings. Davis denies any wrongdoing.

When Pintard resigned on Monday, Minnis called for the resignation of Davis due to the alleged affiliation between him and those thugs in the affidavit. Minnis never said on March 14 that he had an affiliation with one of the alleged gang members too. It took questions from the media for him to disclose that to the Bahamian people.

Minnis told The Tribune on Monday that he met with Livingston "Toggie" Bullard. Bullard and Wisler "Bobo" Davilma are the two purported gang members at the center of this controversy.

Minnis told The Tribune that Bullard, his constituent in Killarney whom he said he met three times, contacted him to warn Pintard that he was about to be "set up" by a high-ranking member of government and others.

Minnis told that newspaper that he and Bullard did not discuss Nygard and that he was not aware of the alleged murder plot until the story appeared in The Tribune.

The opposition leader said he conveyed the information to Pintard.

According to that Minnis interview in The Tribune, three weeks after Minnis met with Bullard, the man called him after a fishing trip and Bullard dropped off some fish for the opposition leader and they had a casual conversation. Minnis further said that his wife, Patricia, was present and asked Bullard about his family. They met a third time, according to Minnis, when Bullard again brought him fish.

The interview did not say where these fish drop-offs occurred, but the reader is left to assume they happened at the leader of the opposition's home.

Minnis stood in the House on March 14 calling for a police investigation surrounding allegations against members of the PLP. Yet, he did not tell the House then that he had such a chummy relationship with one of the alleged gang members that the man routinely dropped fish off to him and they had casual chats.

Under the leadership of Minnis the FNM looks nearly as bad in this scandal as the PLP. Poor judgment by Minnis and Pintard has them affiliated in various ways with men who can be heard on recordings offering to kill people.

Minnis is now in the same situation as Christie and Davis. They all have much more to answer for in this sordid affair. Let us not forget that Minnis was publicly criticized last year for his conduct as minister of health during the last FNM administration.

The Public Hospitals Authority, an organization under his oversight then, was renting a building Minnis had an interest in.
The FNM used to constantly attack the PLP over its scandals, associations and questionable conduct. Under Minnis the party can't effectively do that anymore.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian