By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FNM Chairman Darron Cash yesterday said a pledge from billionaire fashion mogul Peter Nygard of $45,000 to the PLP in the early 1990s and his subsequent requests for help on issues relating to his property and expansion plans is “embarrassing” and “disturbing”.

Mr Cash also said the revelation about Mr Nygard has vindicated FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, who was suspended from the House of Assembly last August after refusing to withdraw unsubstantiated claims about an alleged close relationship between Mr Nygard and Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Mr Cash’s comments came in a statement to The Tribune.

He was asked to comment after The Tribune revealed that in a letter obtained by this newspaper Mr Nygard highlighted what he called his “significant” financial contributions to the PLP and then requested that Mr Christie, then minister of agriculture, trade and industry, help him solve issues relating to his property and expansion plans.

Political insiders speaking to The Tribune under the condition of anonymity insisted yesterday that the leaked document barely “scratches the surface” of the involvement of Mr Nygard in Bahamian politics, suggesting that in time “all will be disclosed.” 

For his part, Mr Cash said: “The recently released Nygard letter to Perry Christie is very disturbing to many Bahamians.

“The recently released letter is a clear vindication of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis who, last year in the House of Assembly, tried to bring to the public’s attention the level of ‘closeness’ between the prime minister and the man who now has an application before the government for millions of dollars worth of Crown land. The leader of the opposition expressed concerns about whether the government’s relationship with Nygard was too cosy for comfort, suggesting that there was more to it than meets the eye. Now, with this letter, what they have done in the dark is coming out into the light.

“The letter goes back to 1992, but what is embarrassing for many Bahamians is the sense that Mr Nygard was addressing (then) minister Christie as if he was one of his servants to whom he was leaving instructions before he returned to his mansion,” Mr Cash noted.

“Clearly since 1992 the relationship appears to have changed considerably with Mr Nygard claiming the PLP as ‘our’ government and telling the world about how his PLP government followed his bidding in passing stem cell legislation.”

Mr Cash accused Mr Christie of being secretive about the extent of financial contributions and fees from a variety of sources, including “big oil,” Mr Nygard and web shop bosses.

“This extreme secrecy plays into the narrative of a prime minister who is simply governing to meet his obligations to his rich and privileged financial backers,” he said.

In the letter obtained by The Tribune, My Nygard made various requests of Mr Christie. However The Tribune obtained no evidence showing that some of his requests were granted. However, Mr Nygard suggested throughout the letter that he was entitled to certain benefits because of his financial contributions to the PLP.

At one point 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.”

The letter added: “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.”

The Tribune could not reach Mr Christie for comment yesterday.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts declined to comment on the letter when contacted, noting that it would have been sent before his time in PLP politics.