FNM: No conflict with Pintard

Wed, Mar 30th 2016, 02:25 PM

As speculation surrounds the involvement of Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis and former Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Michael Pintard with two "gang members" at the center of an alleged murder-for-hire plot, the Free National Movement (FNM) yesterday refuted any suggestion that it is in financial conflict with Pintard.

In a statement, the FNM said Pintard honorably resigned as chairman and from his Senate post following a "vicious assault by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) of his reputation and that of the FNM".

The FNM indicated that the barrage of false aspersions has continued against its former chairman since his resignation.

"Despite having done the honorable thing and resigned, so as to address the rumors and innuendos in the public domain our former chairman continues to be the object of a relentless smear campaign, attacks and invasion of his privacy," the FNM said.

"Among the wide range of [untruths] and false innuendos directed at Mr. Pintard has been the lie about the FNM being in conflict with Mr. Pintard concerning financial matters. This is not so and there is absolutely no truth to this suggestion."

Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard, along with lawyer Keod Smith have been named in an alleged murder plot against certain members of environmental group Save the Bays as a part of a writ filed in the Supreme Court. Nygard and Smith have denied the allegations.

Since then, multiple members of Parliament have accused Save the Bays of being a political organization that has used millions of dollars to destabilize the government, and the FNM is entangled in the plot. They also said in Parliament that Nygard's billionaire Lyford Cay neighbor Louis Bacon is the financier for Save the Bays. He is also named in the affidavit as a target of the alleged murder plot.

In Parliament last week, Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald charged that the background to the plot is that the FNM needs money to run its political campaign.

Court documents identify Pintard, who is affiliated with Save the Bays, as the individual who uncovered the alleged criminal conspiracy following meetings with two "gang members" who were allegedly paid to carry out the plan.

Minnis recently revealed that he met with one of the alleged gang members where he was told about a plot to set Pintard up. The revelation has fueled numerous questions in various circles about the FNM's involvement in the matter.

"By resigning, Mr. Pintard followed the honorable path, so as to ensure that the baseless allegations made against him by the PLP and others would not be a source of distraction for our FNM party as we seek to replace the PLP and create a new and better Bahamas," the FNM said.

"We fully expect that the vicious accusations against Mr. Pintard will in time be shown to be completely false and politically motivated."

The FNM pointed out that videos which accompany the court documents purport to show Nygard meeting with the "gang members" in which he asserts that he contributed millions of dollars to the Progressive Liberal Party's (PLP) 2012 election campaign with the expectation of certain promises being fulfilled.

Prime Minister Perry Christie again addressed the matter in the House of Assembly last week. He insisted that his conduct in all of the matters relating to Nygard "will speak for itself". He said that will be tested by the court.

By Royston Jones Jr.

Guardian Staff Reporter

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