By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

MICHAEL Pintard yesterday accused the PLP of launching a smear campaign against him over his role in uncovering assertions made by Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard about senior government ministers.

In a strong rebuke of the party, the FNM chairman said it appeared that PLP officials seem more upset that the alleged murder-for-hire plot was uncovered and did not go through.

He insisted that senior PLP members were behind a number of social media campaigns designed to “savage” his reputation rather than address the contents of the affidavit and videos filed in the Supreme Court against Mr Nygard.  

Mr Pintard said: “I’ve said it before that this is one of the few countries where persons who uncover crime or intention to commit crime are the victims rather than the perpetrators. The PLP bears this out time and time again.”

“Instead they have sought to spin the story and switch the conversation to me,” he said, “because they believe this is the most effective strategy to deflect the accusations levelled at Nygard and the thugs, that he maintained a long-term relationship with the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.

“Those are the issues the government should spend its time on, reassuring the public that Nygard’s representation of the relations is false.

“To disavow any association with him [Nygard], that what he has done rises to the level of unacceptable and that they cannot allow him to bring this kind of disrepute on the government.

“That should be the direction their venom and anger is expressed. This wasn’t the FNM orchestrating anything. This was Nygard volunteering information,” he added.

The affidavit and videos were included in a lawsuit against Mr Nygard and his lawyer Keod Smith by Save The Bays directors Joseph Darville, Romauld Ferreira, Fred Smith, billionaire hedge fund manager Louis Bacon and Reverend CB Moss.

The FNM chairman was named in the 400-page affidavit by Florida investigator John Joseph DiPaolo, who alleged Mr Nygard paid Livingston “Toggie” Bullard and Wisler “Bobo” Davilma to stage several hate rallies and commit such criminal acts as arson and harassment.

The men also claimed to have relationships with Prime Minister Perry Christie and Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, and are featured in purported secret videos discussing their familiarity with the heads of state. Mr DiPaolo said that it was Mr Pintard who introduced Bullard and Davilma to Save The Bays directors.

Responding to criticism from PLP chairman Bradley Roberts and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell that he did not take the claims of illegality to the police, Mr Pintard said it was not his responsibility to turn over the information. He pointed out that both men were quick to threaten the expulsion of expatriates in the past.

However, he said none of the prior “so-called” transgressions of those people threatened matched the level of disdain and disrespect Mr Nygard is purported to have shown to the leadership of the country.

“My responsibility is to speak to those persons who were at risk,” he said, “whose reputations had been tarnished by illegal acts that this government should have frowned on and investigated, and they make a determination at what they wish to do.

“I don’t fault the persons for not proceeding to the police. It’s not my call to go to the authorities, it’s their call. Someone may wish to do their own investigation, persons may wish to put security measures in place prior to having discussions with the police.”

Mr Pintard said he has been followed and photographed by “individuals loyal to the government” as he canvassed support for the FNM in the inner-city. He said that he was told by the Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell that he was being followed for his own protection.

“Toward what end?” he asked. “What is it that I have done in the past that warrants dispatching officers to follow me? The PLP is seeking through the organs of government to bully private citizens, to intimidate private citizens and their opponents, to savage their reputation.”

Mr Pintard said that since reports of the lawsuit were published last week, PLP operatives have contacted his former colleagues and friends.

He accused the PLP of seeking to demonise anyone that made a legitimate question about its governance.

“We have many FNMs concerned for their safety,” he said. “They’re concerned that if they stand up for their rights they will have to be afraid for their safety. Mr Pintard said: “While they seek to terrorise us, we will stand firm. There will be no retreat and no surrender.”