Who Has Taken The Bahamas Back?
Tribune 242 Editorial
Nassau, The Bahamas
ALTHOUGH the PLP have tried to downplay the Nygard video posted on YouTube in the past few days, judging from comments on social media and the number of tapes e-mailed to us for our information, we do not think it wise for government to continue with its dismissive claim that the matter is of “no importance”.
The
matter is of grave importance because government will have to make
certain important decisions about Mr Nygard’s development at Nygard Cay
involving the Canadian’s present and future investments there. Some of
these developments are bitterly opposed by a large segment of our
population.
Bahamians
want to know whether its government is now so indebted to Mr Nygard
that his interests will come before those of the citizens of this
country.
Mr
Christie might be out of the Bahamas this weekend, but judging by the
alarmed and angry comments sent to us, we think it would be wise for him
to make a statement as soon as possible to clarify the video’s
declaration: “Nygard takes the Bahamas back.”
During
last year’s election, we heard persistent rumours about the Nygard
involvement in the PLP campaign. This tape seems to confirm the rumours.
Mr
Nygard has always been close to the PLP government. We recall him
trying to win over the FNM when it became the government in 1992.
However, he was rebuffed and so now the video shows him with raised
champagne glass, shouting “Victory! Victory! Take our country back!”
Before
the Pindling government was defeated in 1992, we recall Opposition
Leader Hubert Ingraham questioning the duty-free concessions granted by
that government for Mr Nygard to build his pad at Lyford Cay. The late
Paul Adderley was finance minister at the time.
On
the FNM’s 1992 victory, we received a very official-looking invitation
announcing that the Ingraham election celebrations were to be hosted at
the Lyford Cay home of one Mr Peter Nygard. The way the invitation
arrived at our office gave us the impression that it was issued by
government. We don’t usually attend such functions, but on this occasion
we decided to go.
We
weren’t at Nygard Cay very long before we realised that something was
not quite right. For an official function of celebration, we saw no one
that we would have expected at such a party. Mr Ingraham was not there.
Nor did we see any member of his government. It was obvious that for
some reason the Nygard Cay party had been boycotted. We quickly left.
The
following day, we got a proper teasing from one of our nephews, who
laughingly told us that the last place he would have expected his uncle
and aunt to be seen would be Nygard Cay. At the time we knew nothing
about Mr Nygard. It was not until we went to Canada the following year
that we discovered that he was a noted fashion designer.
We
understand that Mr Nygard made another effort to extend the olive
branch when on the 500th anniversary of the landing of Columbus at San
Salvador, he sent each member of the Ingraham government a sports
jacket. In fact for his first ten years in government, Mr Ingraham did
not meet Mr Nygard.
However,
later he was casually introduced to him at an Exuma regatta when
Nygard, surrounded by his usual bevy of girls, was presented to him.
However,
Mr Nygard obviously wants the world to know how close he is to the
Christie government’s inner circle — in fact the deference shown him by
government ministers on being introduced to him, suggests that Nygard
heads that circle.
Mr
Nygard is obviously unaware of our form of government, and fails to
realise what embarrassment he has probably caused Mr Christie. It is now
for Mr Christie to inform him that we are not a banana republic and
therefore — contrary to what Bahamians are now suggesting — not for
sale, or “resale” as one Bahamian remarked in disgust.
The
video opens with Nygard on his tropical property. It then moves to the
Bahamian flag with the words Election 2012 emblazoned across it and
announcing that it is the Nygard Victory party. The video then shows the
night of Mr Christie’s acceptance speech as he thanks his PLP
supporters for making the victory possible. The camera, then breaks in
with Nygard, raised champagne glass in hand, shouting “Victory!” from
the comfort of his palatial home, surrounded by his young women.
The
camera then flashes back to the rally. Mr Christie tells the crowd that
they ought to take pride and credit for putting him in his position and
they would have to work together to “make this the best little country
in the entire world.” Flash back to Nygard: “Yeh, the best! The best!”
Back
to Mr Christie and the rally: “You have been so good for us, so good
for me, so good for my colleagues, we tell you tonight it is our solemn,
solemn duty to respond in kind by how we perform. PLP! PLP! PLP!”
“Victory!
Victory!” shouts Nygard with raised glass as one of the girls kisses
him on his cheek and he gives another a high five. “We took our country
back!” he shouts jubilantly.
The
first of four videos ends with a photo of Mr Nygard and the Bahamas
Prime Minister over the words: “Taking our country back”.
The
camera — cleverly switching from the Nygard home with his girls and
champagne glasses and then back to the Christie rally — could leave the
viewer with the impression that Mr Christie’s last words were directed –
not to the Bahamian people — but to Mr Nygard.
To
whom did he refer when he said: “You have been so good for us, so good
for me, so good for my colleagues, we tell you tonight it is our solemn,
solemn duty to respond in kind by how we perform.”
Bahamians elected Perry Gladstone Christie as its prime minister, not Mr Peter J Nygard.
Mr Christie would be well advised to explain his position and that of his government to the Bahamian people.
July 15, 2013
