By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
FREEPORT – Peter Nygard insists that his $5 million donation was spent on stem cell research. He denied that it was given to finance the PLP’s 2012 election campaign.
Nygard flew to Grand Bahama on his private jet on Thursday to look for a possible location for a stem cell research centre in the Bahamas.
Although he has lived in the Bahamas for more than three decades, it was his first trip to Grand Bahama.
On his arrival in Freeport, he stopped and spoke with the media at the FOB centre at the Grand Bahama International Airport.
He wanted to clear up the controversy concerning a $5 million contribution that he had made last year.
“I want to make something clear about what I read in the Punch… When they were interviewing me, they got it wrong about where I spent the $5 million.
“I did not spend $5 million financing the government at all – I did not do that.
They made a mistake. I spent $5 million searching for the stem cell medicine – that is about how much I invested into the doctors who actually discovered this work at SCAT. That is where the $5 million went,” Nygard said.
He praised Prime Minister Perry Christie for putting through such an “historic” piece of legislation, which he believed would revolutionize the medical industry.
“I think it is an historic law, and I think the discovery of SCAT is historic – and according to everybody’s account, it is the best thing that could happen in the medical community,” he said.
The wealthy fashion designer said the stem cell issue has been politicized by the opposition party.
“It is a tragedy that it’s been politicized,” he said.
“I think the FNM government do such a disfavour for this country by taking this stem cell war and making it a political issue.
“I think every single person in the world should be behind it,” said Mr Nygard.
He believes that a stem cell centre in the Bahamas would be like the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He said the Mayo Clinic is a facility that caters to thousands of people around the world and employs some 50,000 people.
“Every single human being in the Bahamas should be about promoting and celebrating this whole issue,” he said. “It is terrible a thing to have politics go into like that.
“And then to spin the word around that the money I spent on stem cell research, to bring it forward like the $5 million is made as if that the money I gave to the Prime Minister. It is dead wrong.
“In fact, I did not do that. I did not give money to the government to get them elected. I spent $5 million on bringing the stem cell message home and that is the reason why I am here (in GB) now,” he said.
Comments
ohdrap4 10 years, 9 months ago
the king of the Bahamas is touring the country
Tarzan 10 years, 9 months ago
The P.M. well knows that the entire Lyford Cay community stands totally opposed to the serial environmental depredations conducted over many years at Simms Point. The POA of Lyford Cay, the organization that represents all of the Lyford home owners, has gone to court to stop those illegal activities and its officers among others have been sued by Mr. Nygard for daring to expose what he is doing there.
This is emphatically not a fight between two neighbors. It is a fight for the heart and soul of the Bahamas. Is this beautiful country to be ruled by law or by a super wealthy foreigner spreading around favors and entertainments?
It is easy to try to pass this matter off as something that does not impact the average Bahamian, but that is wrong. It goes to he heart of the future of this country. All this stem cell puff up is a smoke screen for Mr. Nygard to continue his lawless ways.
paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years, 9 months ago
You've nailed it. Spot on, Sir.
Plaintruth 10 years, 9 months ago
Nygard has an aversion for ethics. How Freeport could lower itself to the level of welcoming this egomaniac like royalty is a sad reflection on this country.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Conflicting media stories have me confused over Nygard's stem cell thing. Is his whatever the amount, really intended as a "no-strings-gift" to Bahamaland to help her natives with their health issues, or is it planned around a pure foreigners as clients "capitalist" venture? PM Christie you and your cabinet colleagues must know, scantily clad woman's beach party or not, there is a damn big difference behind the motive One is from the heart. The other can be perceived as pure greed. Sorry, but I just don't know the correct answer, or I wouldn't be asking The Honorable PM or his cabinet for an clarification? Is Freeport now at the center of Nygard's stem cell thing?
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
you know the answer , its one man quest for the fountain of youth w/ out having to address a non" payed for" ethics committee,,,,The prime benefactor injected himself w/ some anti aging concoction on video and said "yummy" for all the world to see ,,hmmmmmmmmmmm could that be your first clue ??
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago
Where are the research findings?
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
how can a so called fashion designer dress so badly , its like miami vice ,crossed w/ David Hassellhoff , and a creepy drunken uncle from that "side of the family " thats stuck between 1979 and 1984 club med swingers ville
jackflash 10 years, 9 months ago
Good one, I was thinking the same thing? Does this man dress himself?
Next he will be over here in Abaco, perhaps buying up Treasure Cay Resort...
Bahamianpride 10 years, 9 months ago
The man is just a rich aging metrosexual looking for the fountain of youth and a chance to be king.. That outfit was meant for a younger man with actual chest muscles..
marrcus 10 years, 9 months ago
Maybe Peter will move his entire compound to Freeport and donate Simms Point (Nygard Cay) to the "people," making it a park. Not sure what all those Mayan temples and Lions Heads have to do with Bahamian culture anyway. ON a side note, the "high water mark" for his property should be at the original property line, which means 3 acres of beach is actually the "peoples beach." All you bahamians with boats can pull right up and camp on the beach, bring a video camera, should be fun.
paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years, 9 months ago
marrcus -
Thanks for the enlightening info, was wondering just when did Simms Point become 'Nygard Cay'? Nautical and aeronautical charts of all vintage refer to it as Simms Pt., or 'Simms Point or Lyford Cay'. Noticed recent tourist maps call it 'Nygard Cay' though reports about filled land might more aptly designate it as All Bahamians' Cay.
Ironic.
USAhelp 10 years, 9 months ago
If stem cell process is proven to work then the poor become the test subjects that only the very rich can afford. Maybe or PM has been given a gift certificate for the treatment.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Comrade Tal reveals he own "proven and tested for thousands of years on humans" stem cell treatment secrets, and it won't require no expensive needles to your belly, and in full view of Bahamaland's "male' cabinet ministers, including the minister responsible for the peoples health care.Tal also, for the very first time is generously making his own personal two top notch doctors, available to all poor Bahamians. Yes, medical tourists can also be invited to Bahamaland to be treated for free. And, here's the catch. You won't even have to fly off to our second city of Freeport, for injecting painful needles to your belly. Top that Nygard?
by TalRussell
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
Tals i,ll help build the clinic and man the phones ,we could do ,aging ,balding , erectile dysfunction all w/ Tals secret serum ,,lets do natives free and hope none show up ,but charge Mp,s and aging hipsters double ,,
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Comrades my natural stem cell treatment is of no joke. Arthritis best cure is healthy eating and walking. Move your left leg and your right foot and I guarantee you that you can begin to experience an consistent decrease in joints stiffness and inflammation. You begin your new daily routine of healthy eating, walking, and drinking lots of water and feel that chronic pain decrease. Water is like oily fish, providing structural support to them hurt'in joints. I know cause I have lived that pain. They also act to carry nutriments to them hurt'in places. PM, take me seriously and you have a "natural health tourism" gold mine for our broke public treasury. But remember, healthy eat'in habits is not a replaced for good medical care, it is meant to compliment. PM why not fund Bahamians who know of what I am talk'in and who also believe in it, cause the "positive" research results have been in for thousands of years. And, guess what, it requires no injecting of needles into your belly or your backside. Nygard I just removed the ouch factor.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Tal's note. Comrades when I say eat "oily fish" (twice a week) I don't mean deep frying your fish in Crisco shortening. You must "boil or bake your fish" OK. Most definitely no deep frying your fish in lard.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
healthy eating and exercise is the best medicine ,and some fish from cold waters w/ more 0mega 3 ,,or kelp
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Yes omega 3, not omega 6. Not healthy.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
that botox makes people look like alvin from the chipmonks ,,,,,,,,,,can,t believe they had a rush out for nygard,, hes like uncle eddie from national lampoons family vacation, but w/ money ,,,lmafao
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago
It's still really shocking that the Minister of Health had no concerns about someone self medicating, and self medicating in such a shocking manner!...a needle to the stomach??? They spent 5mil on research and no minister could ask him why he didnt set up an appointment at one of the research facilities for a proper procedure? This is weird, these ministers are weird and if it disgusted them and they still stood there smiling just to get money they are weirder and slimier than I thought (and I admit, I thought some of them were pretttty slimy already). Is it possible that the same thing happened with Anna Nicole, did people watch while she shot herself up with cocaine satisfied that at least she was still breathing and capable of forking over money? Be careful Mr Nygard!!! Imagine, a Lifetime special with the real Bahamian govt ministers in starring roles! and broadcasted to the entire world.
De higher up de tree de squirrel climb, de more he show his behind
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
have no worries Dr Porter is the head of our stem cell panel ,,,i think he is phoning in advice on the bill from his jail cell ,,,,lmfao
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago
But I have to worry. I think we had the wrong bad guys. Mr Nygard is in danger, he could be Michael Jackson in the wings. Run Mr Nygard, run. Run as far away as you can, for your own safety, don't stop until you reach British Colombia!!
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
jackson got the dope man ,,sorry Doctor ,he wanted ,,now Nygard gettings the dope man and the goverment to bless the dope man he wants ,,they both running to the needle not away from it ,,
John 10 years, 9 months ago
Is Peter Nygard` a clone based on stem cell technology? Why can't this man just disappear off the front page of Bahamian news for at least a few weeks? Can he grab headlines around the world like he does in Nassau? Maybe he need to start his own newspaper and post up on the front page on every day..
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago
No, but that is precisely why he is in Nassau...he can be King. It's good to be the King.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
Mel Brooks ,,history of the world part 1
paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years, 9 months ago
Ian Fleming's villains were always megalomaniacs with a checkbook who wanted to rule the world. Wasn't he prophetic to locate some of his stories in the Bahamas, where Emilio Largo plotted the takeover of the planet from his two-piece yacht?
Fleming knew his subjects. He came from a prominent banking family and got to know many of the world's high and mighty and just exactly how they made their dough. Then he was second in command of Naval Intelligence in WWII, again, rubbing up against many men who wanted power in addition to pile of cash.
Collin 10 years, 9 months ago
So he admits he donated $5M to the PLP. However, it was for stem cell research. Well, the money was already donated and spent to the PLP. Yet he is travelling to Freeport for the first time when the facility will be built. This means then nothing has been done, since you are now going to here the funds were being invested, Freeport, for the first time.
What is wrong with the story? How can you have already donated to something that has not even started yet?
paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years, 9 months ago
When the election outcome a year ago caught many by surprise, reports surfaced that large amounts of money had been spread around to buy votes. It seemed a mystery, as none of the obvious prominent citizens fit the bill. This story seems to shed new insight into that, however, doesn't it?
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
No need for owning his own newspaper. The talk show hosts and ministers of the Queen's crown are already doing a fine job at making him out be some kind "cash cow saint" to Bahamaland and her natives.
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