Watson exasperated by FNM leader’s admission

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson yesterday said he does not “know if the FNM can take any more of this” in response to Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ controversial admission that he met three times with Livingston “Toggie” Bullard, a “gang member” accused in affidavits of being hired to commit criminal acts on behalf of Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard.

At a time when the FNM wants to make forceful arguments for why it should replace the governing party, Mr Watson found himself exasperated yesterday over the fact that his party’s leader is once again at the centre of controversy.

He told The Tribune he would “not settle for” Dr Minnis’ explanation about his meetings with the criminal. “I would have to get more explanation,” he said.

He suggested that the FNM would deal with the matter internally, saying: “I may have to get involved later on this matter. It’s extraordinary for a leader or any member of Parliament to meet with criminals. That’s the police’s job.”

He added: “And if he did meet with them, he should’ve gotten all the facts. If someone say your party chairman in trouble, you have to get all the facts.”

Dr Minnis has had a tumultuous stint as leader of the FNM. His leadership of the party has been questioned and some have lobbied behind the scenes to have him replaced by Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, the party’s former deputy leader.

Asked how the FNM will deal with this latest controversy, Mr Watson said: “I don’t know if the FNM can take any more of this. His first statement in the House of Assembly indicated that he was protecting Pintard and that Pintard did something courageous. Now all of a sudden he kicked Pintard to the kerb, saying he warned Pintard not to get involved in the matter. So which is it?”

“In a few days I think we’ll speak more clearly on this subject,” he said.

On Monday, Dr Minnis admitted to The Tribune that he met with Mr Bullard. Dr Minnis said Mr Bullard wanted him to pass on a warning to Mr Pintard that he was about to be allegedly “set up” by a high-ranking member of the government and others. Last night in the House of Assembly, Dr Minnis named Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis as the person behind the alleged “set up”.

Dr Minnis said he never discussed Mr Nygard with Mr Bullard, adding that he did not hear of the alleged murder-for-hire plot until The Tribune published the claims in an affidavit filed on March 9 in the Supreme Court by directors of Save the Bays (STB).

He added that Mr Bullard visited him twice more to give him fish caught on a trip, and on one of these occasions spoke to his wife. The visits occurred at Dr Minnis’ home.

His revelation came hours after Michael Pintard resigned as FNM chairman and senator because of concerns over his involvement in in the court action against Mr Nygard.

His admission prompted critical reactions from some observers wondering why Dr Minnis met with Mr Bullard and why he did not make this information public sooner.

In the STB affidavit, Mr Bullard and Mr Davilma claim that Mr Nygard paid them to stage several hate rallies and commit criminal acts such as arson and harassment against members of STB and others. They also alleged that Mr Nygard hired them to kill his opponents.

The criminals were tracked down with the help of Mr Pintard, according to the affidavit by US investigator John Joseph DiPaolo, which noted it was Mr Pintard who alerted STB Director Fred Smith that the men were behind protests against the group.

In a counter affidavit filed by Mr Nygard on Monday, it is alleged that the men were paid millions for “false testimony.” It is also alleged that Mr Pintard negotiated their payment and, along with Lyford Cay billionaire Louis Bacon, is trying to implicate Mr Nygard in a murder plot.

Comments

Economist says...

*Make LBT the leader now.* The FNM is hemorrhaging under Dr. Minnis.

Posted 23 March 2016, 1:45 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

True ........... HAM is not really helping himself right now for real

Posted 24 March 2016, 11:03 a.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

Minnis ain't ready! He's playing poker with politician's who have been crooked all of their political lives. The PLP know this game inside and out and Minnis as an amateur.

Notice how the PLP never answer a question? They just say the FNM this or that and what do the FNM's do??? They friggin answer bullshit questions. SHUT THE F' UP AND LET THE COURTS DEAL WITH THE PLP!!

Posted 23 March 2016, 2:04 p.m. Suggest removal

thephoenix562 says...

Your Chairman getting setup but you taking fish?WTF is going on?HAI help us please.

Posted 23 March 2016, 2:48 p.m. Suggest removal

Observer says...

Where is the administrator for this forum? Please, check the coarse language that is being posted. Its so unprofessional and unbecoming to be published in THE TRIBUNE. More respect, please, people. Children also read the paper.

Posted 23 March 2016, 3:10 p.m. Suggest removal

I apologize to you and other readers, but I am at my wit's end with our lousy 'leaders'.

Posted 23 March 2016, 3:37 p.m. Suggest removal

Emac says...

Posted 23 March 2016, 8:58 p.m. Suggest removal

Please stop the bullshit! These are jargons that are used everywhere: Facebook, YouTube etc. These are all social media sites just like the Tribune. . Besides which child reads the Tribune??? Let's not get extreme with this censorship thing. Give these people credit for not actually writing the actual words, even under such trying times, under this depressing government!

Posted 23 March 2016, 8:59 p.m. Suggest removal

Bain says...

It is so sad to see how some FNMs have been in the attack the "Minnis Mode" for the 2 years. This has resulted in a further division in the FNM. The FNM WILL loose the General Election in 2017 as a result of all of the infighting. As a matter of fact I do not see the FNM recovering for the next 15 years. At this point it does not matter who is leader of the party; Minnis, LBT or Sands, the FNM WILL NOT win the next election.

Posted 23 March 2016, 3:18 p.m. Suggest removal

Zakary says...

<ul style="list-style-type:none">
<li>...the FNM WILL NOT win the next election.</li>
</ul>

Perhaps you’re right. I think that they are banking too much on the governing party being so bad that they would get a free win.

After watching the parliament session of Minnis being exquisitely destroyed by the governing side, it’s crystal clear that he doesn't really have the mindset of politician. What I mean is that he’s trying to be too honest in this matter, and it’s not like that’s a bad thing. He’s being eaten alive by big and small sharks. The governing side are experts at this sort of thing.

I’ve also since noticed that whenever the deputy speaker is in the seat, the House of Assembly becomes that much more crass and unbecoming. I checked out the public affidavits, but I’m no judge. I have my suspicions, but I’d like to see how the police and courts conclude, that will be very telling. “Toggie” and “Bobo” are very interesting characters.

Posted 23 March 2016, 11:22 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

- What do you think? Was this Comrade right to have confronted woman parked in
"Reserved for Handicap Parking Spot?" -

...////https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6kDPvzkqmQ

Posted 23 March 2016, 4:01 p.m. Suggest removal

He certainly kept his cool. I don't confront people cause I would've lost my cool after the second cup was thrown at me.
He did the right thing to confront her and by not escalating the matter after being confronted.

Posted 23 March 2016, 4:18 p.m. Suggest removal

Comrade I sure do, being I have zero tolerance toward such behavior.
But always in soft-tone of voice, whilst commenting about "how nice it is to see you are once again walking - so well."
You should see the puzzled looks on their faces like - who in hell is that, do they knows me?
I personally feel that is only fair to the individual, being there are people with real disabilities which are not so visible.
Unfortunately, plain damn laziness of not willing walk few feet, and being inconsiderate others, are not any of them.

Posted 23 March 2016, 4:54 p.m. Suggest removal

MonkeeDoo says...

Comrade Observer: What you post here don't go in the paper. This website is in Hong Kong so no one could get in trouble with the law. Why you think they so rude and fresh ! I want meet some of them though. Probably meek and mild in the flesh and out in the open. I believe TalRussell is a pussy out in the open. They say John is Fred Mitchell ?.

Posted 23 March 2016, 7:13 p.m. Suggest removal

Cainn says...

Tal... you sure got your claws into Sickened, guess he/she didn't see it coming. Have fun trying to keep that handicap story alive. You must've missed the one where she came clean about what she did...everyone makes mistakes, but its not the same when it comes to accepting responsibility. To me thats where true leadership begins.

Posted 24 March 2016, 5:44 a.m. Suggest removal

licks2 says...

True leadership and care for our people will not do such crass and uncaring act in the first place. . .SORRY IS NO CURE FOR AN UNCARING MIND-SET. . .THE GIMMIC OF SAYING SORRY DOES NOT HIDE THE UNCARING MIND THAT COMMIT SUCH AN ACT IN THE FIRST PLACE. . .THERE LAYS THE TRUE STATE OF THAT PERSON. . .DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYBODY BUT ME AND MINE. . ."TA HELL WID DA RESS ER DEM". . . IS HOW SHE APPEARS TO THINK!!

Posted 29 March 2016, 11:22 a.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

The Dr: is just a old liar. and what is so bad he is beginning to believe his own lies. I figured him out a long time ago. He lies plain and simple

Posted 24 March 2016, 12:40 p.m. Suggest removal

Just call the FNM convention for June please and settle all of this ....... the FNM needs to be united and ready for the 2017 election .......... or all of the anti-Minnis faction need to pull out and form a new coalition party with Bran and Moss ............ just my opinion ......... at the end of the day, a viable opposition has to be ready to oust the PLP in 2017

Posted 29 March 2016, 11:46 a.m. Suggest removal

........... I didn't know that Frank Watson knew what the word "exasperated" meant ....................BOL .......... did he feel that way about Ingraham????

Posted 29 March 2016, 12:10 p.m. Suggest removal