The Tribune

By NOELLE NICOLLS

Tribune Features Editor

nnicolls@tribunemedia.net

WHEN it comes to the national affairs of the Bahamas, there are many things to be sick and tired about. Of all the things to vex the spirit, who could argue with someone for being sick and tired of hearing about Peter Nygard?

There are so many issues important and interesting that could steal the attention of a nation, and it just blows my mind that a flamboyant and wealthy fashion designer named Peter Nygard would become such a ubiquitous

name in Bahamian public life that Bahamians would actually start believing him to be an important figure in the development of the nation.

Mr Nygard would be an insignificant passing thought in my consciousness if it were not for the fact that in the minds of some, he has in fact become a nationally important personality. For those who feel so, I ask them to

think again.

Mr Nygard, a Canadian business man who some refer to as a “narcissist”, is a permanent resident of the Bahamas. He acquired his infamous fantasy land known as Nygard Cay in 1984; and in some 30 plus years of residency, he has

managed to achieve a major shining accomplishment that is cause for scrutiny by all Bahamians.

The accomplishment of which I speak is not the declared love of country he has for the Bahamas. It is not “the millions of dollars” he has donated to Bahamian individuals and charitable organisations or his widely reported

generous support of amateur sports, Junkanoo and other initiatives over the years.

The shining accomplishment that should be a cause for concern is the way in which Peter Nygard has come to represent a spirit of division among the Bahamian people. When it comes to national unity, Mr Nygard has managed to

become a toxic figure, whose presence stirs up deeply polarizing feelings.

And all of this for a man, whose primary claim to fame, one could say, is his wealth. I ask, what is the intangible cost of our obsession with Peter Nygard?

At the heart of the toxic relationship are two issues: the private war between Mr Nygard and his Lyford Cay neighbour Louis Bacon and unresolved land issues between the Bahamian government and Mr Nygard.

Over the past few weeks, feelings on these and related issues have been widely documented in public and private forums. They have been debated in the House of Assembly, broadcast over the public airwaves, discussed in

social media circles, on public display.

Sociologist Joseph Gaskins summed up some of the sentiments in a Facebook post: “Who, in the name of all things holy is Peter Nygard and why has the

country’s business been put on hold to squabble about him? …Nygard creeps me out and that so much of our political and media resources are being pulled into his orbit is even more frightening.”

And yet, on a recent visit to Grand Bahama, Mr Nygard received a king’s welcome when the official businesses he was conducting, according to reports in the media, was representing his own private interests as a potential investor in Grand Bahama. He was met at the private section of the Freeport International Airport by the Grand Bahama Minister Michael Darville, members of Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism, Grand Bahama Port Authority VIPs, other local dignitaries, a large crowd and a welcoming Junkanoo group.

History shows us that a relationship exists between wealth, power and influence. A Google search for the phrase “relationship between power and wealth” returns 31 million results. It is an historical debate for which new experiences add perspective.

People acquire influence through various means, and those who do so through acts of charity are no less worthy of scrutiny than those who do so through acts of democracy or illusion. In fact, wealth, often cloaked in benevolence, sometimes buys individuals impunity from scrutiny, and makes slaves out of men.

Less we not learn the lessons of history, it is important for the country to look with cautious eyes at the way in which wealthy individuals, such as Peter Nygard or Louis Bacon, for example; institutions, such as the International Development Bank (IDB) or the Grand Bahama Port Authority; even countries, such as the United States of America or China, gain power and influence.

Recent events surrounding Mr Nygard, such as the release of two controversial Youtube videos, provide direct insight into the mind of the man and the pulse of the people. One of the must-see videos, “Nygard CB Moss on Vimeo”, documents Mr Nygard’s visit to Bain Town, where

he met respected community leader and social activist Rev CB Moss, a vocal advocate for the complete establishment of the Clifton Heritage Land and Sea Park.

The video depicts the image of a white man gliding into Bain Town, one of the most ancestrally significant communities in the entire Bahamas, with a wooden lion head “staff of Moses”, a metaphor of stature and kingliness, to

“make peace with the natives,” #KingNygard of the Jungle People is what the white man was dubbed by one online observer.

In the video, Mr Nygard states: “I just come over here to offer my hand in friendship to CB Moss. For some reason he has found a cause to be angry at me and to bad mouth me and I want to shake his hand and offer my blessing to him, and see if there is something we can do to resolve our issues. I

have no idea why the man is on my case. I was hoping to meet him here and make peace.”

The imagery was offensive to some people on many symbolic levels. And for it to be recorded, as if for a publicity stunt, only added to the perceived offence.

During the encounter, Mr Nygard said: “I have been dedicated to this country more than any single person in this whole country. There’s testimonial after testimonial (attesting to that).”

If Mr Nygard truly believes these words, I dare ask, does this reflect a delusional mindset that has clouded his judgment, explaining any possible feelings of self-importance? For a perceived narcissist this behaviour is not so surprising. In fact, the whole episode, one might say, reflects an

individual whose narcissism is spiraling out of control.

The incident invoked strong feelings in some Bahamians, not only because of Mr Nygard’s words and actions, but also because of the presence and actions of Bishop Simeon Hall, former Bahamas Christian Council president, and Rev

Dr Philip McPhee, pastor of 23 years at Mt. Calvary Baptist Cathedral. They both appeared as lead brokers of the meeting between CB Moss and Mr Nygard.

Rev McPhee recently appeared at a press conference with Mr Nygard, thanking him for a visit to his church and for marking the reverend’s pastoral anniversary with a personal “blessing” of $10,000.

In the video Mr Hall refers to the meeting on several occasions as “the beginning of a dialogue.” He quoted scripture, referring to the word becoming flesh; indicating that all men are called to be “sons of reconciliation.” After being invited to take a picture with Mr Nygard by

the “Welcome to Bain Town” sign, Mr Hall says, “yes, that’s a good one”. He referred to the encounter as an introduction that made him “glad”, and offered to set up a follow up meeting.

He also praised Mr Nygard’s invitation to CB Moss to see Nygard Cay first hand, saying: “That is big of you brother Nygard.” At the end of the encounter, Mr McPhee said to Mr Nygard, sounding as though he was filled with pride: “You came to him right on his door step. You can’t beat that.”

The whole encounter felt like a pathetic and misguided attempt on the behalf of the clergymen to show leadership on the issue. In my opinion it evoked images of the first meetings between indigenous people and their enslavers, and how these meetings may have been brokered by other indigenous people; it brought up feelings of enslaved men being excessively appeasing and subservient in the face of their enslavers. Beyond the issues being discussed, the optics of the entire encounter felt contrived and in bad

taste. These emotions added to the strong feelings brought out by the video.

The video was very instructive nonetheless on a key issue: the conflict between Peter Nygard and his Lyford Cay neighbour Louis Bacon. Rev CB Moss articulated in no uncertain terms a simple message. The private war between

Mr Nygard and Mr Bacon is not a national issue, and it does not serve the interests of the Bahamian people to be joined in arms on opposite sides as they both fight a private war.

For many years, Mr Nygard has felt oppressed by his Lyford Cay neighbour.

In 2010, I wrote a series of articles for The Tribune about the various conflicts surrounding Mr Nygard. Around that time, Mr Nygard filed a criminal complaint against Mr Bacon, claiming certain actions had caused him “headaches and irregular heart-beats”, requiring him to have to “lie

down to recuperate”. In the video, Mr Nygard claims he has been “crucified” by his neighbour, who he accused of trying to drive him out of his “beloved place” for 10 years.

The list of complaints between Mr Nygard and Mr Bacon are numerous. When Mr Nygard makes public appearances, he is not shy about dredging up the issue.

At a recent press conference to announce a $10,000 donation to the Acklins regatta, Mr Nygard showed a video belittling his Lyford Cay neighbour. He

also injected new fuel to the fire by alluding to Mr Bacon’s possible KKK connections, stemming from an alleged connection between the racist

organization and Mr Bacon’s great grandfather Roger Moore.

Some saw the move as a way to stoke racial tension; to paint Mr Nygard as a man who champions the cause of black people and their struggles (after all, he regularly invites black people behind the gates of Lyford Cay), while Mr

Bacon allegedly does not. In American parlance, the KKK comments were race baiting (albeit with an exposed hook).

A recent Tribune editorial, aptly headlined “Where he goes his neighbour is there”, cleverly described the trend, referring to Nygard having “Bacon on the brain.” The impact of the constant pitting of Nygard against Bacon in the public arena is stirring up partisan tensions in the Bahamas, stoking

the flames of division and undermining our own national interests, when in fact this issue is a private spat, not nationally relevant or worth the harm it causes.

Crocodile tears notwithstanding, the private affair between Nygard and Bacon is not the business of the Bahamas. CB Moss made the point most eloquently.

“In my neck of the woods (Bain Town), what goes on behind the gates of Lyford Cay does not occupy any major concern to me. It really doesn’t. I have heard the stories over the years about the conflict between yourself and your neighbour. I really don’t care. I will be honest with you, I really don’t care. What is a concern to me is what will affect the small people of this country,” said CB Moss during his recent encounter with Mr Nygard.

“I believe you and your neighbour have the resources to fight whatever battles you have to fight through the courts or wherever; and you know what my position is, if the courts cannot satisfy you both, then perhaps you both should get on a park and duke it out amongst yourselves,” said CB Moss.