The Free National Movement said Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis has the party's "unequivocal" support as the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) attempts to "shamelessly, recklessly and unabashedly" smear him.

Minnis has come under heavy fire since his admission last week that he met with Livingston "Toggie" Bullard, one of two men identified as "gang members", who allege in court documents that they were hired by Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard to kill certain members of the Save the Bays environmental group, including Nygard's billionaire Lyford Cay neighbor Peter Nygard.

Nygard has denied the allegations.

In Parliament last Tuesday, Minnis admitted Bullard, whom he called a constituent, came to his residence and told him former FNM Chairman and Senator Michael Pintard was being set up. Minnis also said Bullard came to his home twice to bring him fish.

In a statement, the FNM pointed out that Minnis' name does not appear in any of the court documents. Court documents filed on March 9 identify Pintard as the individual who uncovered the alleged criminal conspiracy with Bullard and his alleged accomplice Wisler "Bobo" Davilma.

Minnis and Pintard have been criticized for failing to inform the police.

"No one said anything under oath or otherwise, against or negative about our party leader," the FNM said. "Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Deputy Prime Minister, the Honorable Philip Brave Davis, who seemingly, according to the various sworn affidavits executed in the Nygard/Bacon dispute, appears to be one of the consistent characters through all of them.

"We seriously doubt that is inconsequential or mere happenstance."

The party suggested Davis might have questions to answer "in the sordid affair".

Recordings have been released purportedly of meetings Nygard had with the two men. In the recordings, Nygard repeatedly called the names of Prime Minister Perry Christie and Davis. The gang members claimed to have close links with the deputy prime minister. Davis has dismissed the claims as 'political mischief'.

While he did not indicate whether he knows Bullard or Davilma, Davis said no one should be surprised that he has association with many young men with the "central purpose of getting them to understand that anti-social behavior and lives of criminality are harmful to them, their families and communities".

The FNM said it appreciated the "selfless and honorable" act by Pintard to resign.

Last Monday, Pintard resigned as FNM chairman and from the Senate, amid questions surrounding his role in the ongoing feud between Nygard and Bacon. Pintard said his resignation was not an admission of guilt about anything, but a move to ensure the FNM was not distracted from defeating the government.

"While we fervently hope, we do not expect nor anticipate that Deputy Prime Minister, the Honorable Philip Brave Davis, will act similarly," the FNM said. "The Free National Movement has always stood for the highest standards of accountability and transparency in government. It is a hallmark of who we are and have been since the inception of our great party.

"We are confident that the party will be vindicated in all of these matters."

Several government ministers have claimed that the controversy is a part of a heavily funded effort by Save the Bays to destabilize the government. Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald accused Save the Bays of being a political organization. Bacon denied this and insisted that he does not know the political affiliations of Save the Bays' members.

By Royston Jones Jr.

Guardian Staff

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