By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BILLIONAIRE fashion mogul Peter Nygard pledged at least $45,000 to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in the early 1990s. And after highlighting his financial contributions to the party in a 1992 letter to Prime Minister Perry Christie, he requested that the then Minister of Agriculture, Trade and Industry use his position to help solve issues relating to his property and expansion plans, documents obtained by The Tribune show.

In the July 10, 1992, letter, the exposure of which promises to renew concerns about the propriety of the PLP and Mr Christie’s relationship with Mr Nygard, the fashion mogul wrote: “Obviously, this whole world is based on one hand helping the other and you know that I am prepared to do whatever is in my capacity to help out the Bahamas and the PLP party and of course yourself in any way I can.”

In the letter, Mr Nygard noted that he was given permission by the Department of Lands & Surveys to build “off” his Nygard Cay property onto the beach area, which is crown property. He asked Mr Christie to legally arrange to have that property included into his land and deeded to him.  

He also asked that the government give him a certification noting a name change of his compound from “Simms Point” to “Nygard Cay.”

He wrote: “I would also appreciate getting a certification of this change by the government so that by the time Forbes magazine comes to do a story for Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous ‘shoot’, that the name is official and he can use it in the promotion of the Bahamas and Nygard Cay.”

Mr Nygard also asked Mr Christie to help him solve the “outstanding” Golden Cay “rental issue,” noting that he was quickly running out of structural work at Nygard Cay.

The Tribune obtained no evidence showing that some of Mr Nygard’s requests in the letter were granted.  Nonetheless, Mr Nygard hinted throughout his letter that he was entitled to benefits because of his contributions to the PLP.

He wrote: “Under separate cover, I have sent a pledge for the PLP party for $10,000. I understand that this brings my total pledge and contributions to the party and some of its members up to $45,000 - quite significant I think you will agree. I ask you now to help me bring to a final conclusion to a few ‘housekeeping’ issues before I come back.”

When asked if he and his party have ever accepted financial contributions from Mr Ngyard, Mr Christie in the past has not answered directly, saying that donors expect anonymity and that parties are not required by law to disclose their financial contributors.

When asked if he has ever made financial contributions to the PLP or Free National Movement (FNM), Mr Nygard in the past claimed he has backed both parties.

Last year, when pressed by reporters on the issue, he said: “I don’t know, I’ve been supporting people for the last 30 years. I don’t measure in terms of amounts of money. I’ve been a people’s person all my life and been supporting various causes. I have not been political. I’ve been a people’s person.”

The PLP’s alleged relationship with Mr Nygard has drawn strong criticism in the past.

Last year, FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis was suspended from the House of Assembly in a highly publicised incident after he refused to withdraw statements he made in the House about the Christie administration’s alleged involvement with Mr Nygard.

Although he later told the press that he would bring an affidavit to the House proving that Mr Nygard gave money to the PLP, he never brought the documents.

In a separate incident, after Mr Nygard praised Mr Christie at an event last year when he was honoured by Jones Communications Network CEO Wendal Jones for his contribution to youth development, FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner told the press: “We see now that there could very well be reason to believe that these foreigners are in fact in control, or appear to have some huge interest in what the PLP has done and is doing.”

Concerns about the relationship between the PLP and Mr Nygard were also raised after a video was posted to YouTube last year where Mr Nygard said he “initiated and helped to write the stem cell legislation” which is now law.

Noted attorney Fred Smith said yesterday that he is “shocked” by the letter Mr Nygard sent to Mr Christie. He said: “That was $45,000 in 1993 and yes, it was significant.”

“What I find embarrassing to my nation, is that Mr Nygard should have the unabashed audacity to throw this kind of political contribution into the face of a Minister of Government, now our Prime Minister, and then rub it in by asking for political favours,” he said. 

“Obviously Mr Nygard thinks that he can buy political favours from my Prime Minister. I am very proud to see that my Prime Minister is not in Mr Nygard’s political donation pocket. Despite Mr Nygard’s historical financial contributions to the PLP and to Mr Christie, the Government published a notice in the Guardian on June 18, to embark upon a public consultation exercise to consider building permit applications by Mr Nygard at Nygard Cay.

“I am happy to see that my Government has not been for sale to Mr Nygard.”

He added: “I am proud that the Government, which is the trustee of our Crown Lands, is finally opening its books and not engaging in secret deals with developers, in particular someone like Mr Nygard who obviously thinks that because he donates money to a political party, he owns it.

“I am very pleased that the PLP has promised a new Freedom of Information Act which will be better and more transparent than what was already passed. With freedom of information and public consultation in the permitting process, pirates like Mr Nygard can no longer seek to take advantage of political friendships or financial support.”