FNM CHAIRMAN MICHAEL PINTARD.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday called on the Free National Movement to fire Senator Michael Pintard and force his resignation as the party’s chairman over his involvement in the contentious lawsuit against Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard.
The FNM Chairman was named in the 400-page affidavit by Florida investigator John Joseph DiPaolo, who was hired by Lyford Cay billionaire Louis Bacon and Fred Smith to investigate Mr Nygard’s connection to self-proclaimed criminals Livingston “Toggie” Bullard and Wisler “Bobo” Davilma.
Bullard and Davilma claim that Mr Nygard paid them 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 Brave Davis, and are featured in purported secret videos discussing their familiarity with Mr Nygard.
The criminals were tracked down with the help of FNM senator Michael Pintard, according to Mr DiPaolo’s affidavit, which noted it was Mr Pintard who alerted Fred Smith that the men were behind the protests against Save The Bays.
Yesterday, Mr Roberts questioned why Mr Pintard did not turn the men over to police himself and questioned whether the FNM Chairman received any compensation for the information.
He also asked whether Mr Pintard was aware of any work permits or official notifications necessary for the foreign investigators to have conducted their investigation in the Bahamas.
“In light of the most serious admissions to fundamental and egregious wrongs,” Mr Roberts said, “I join with the patriotic and concerned people of the Bahamas in calling on FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to fire Michael Pintard as an FNM Senator and to cause his resignation as national chairman of the FNM.”
“I wish to assure Bahamians and PLPs everywhere that our organisation is stronger than ever and we are prepared to rebuff and defend our leaders against the vicious and fraudulent allegations contained in these documents,” he added.
The affidavit was included in a lawsuit against Mr Nygard and his lawyer Keod Smith by Save The Bays directors Joseph Darville, Romauld Ferreira, Reverend CB Moss, Fred Smith and Mr Bacon.
The plaintiffs compensated Bullard and Davilma for being whistleblowers in exposing Mr Nygard’s alleged criminal activities, according to the court documents.
In his affidavit, Mr DiPaolo noted that Mr Pintard is a friend and colleague of plaintiff Fred Smith, having worked together over the years in civic, professional and political capacity. Mr Pintard was said to be a longtime supporter of Save The Bays and that he had been “outraged” by the attacks on Reverend CB Moss at the hate rallies due to his close relationship with the pastor.
After watching an online video of the 2013 Jaws Beach altercation between Fred Smith and Keod Smith, Mr DiPaolo said Mr Pintard warned Fred Smith that he was in potential danger if the matter was not resolved.
Fred Smith later asked Mr Pintard to assist him in his efforts to find out who had organised the hate rallies.
In the course of his enquiries, Mr Pintard was given information that led to an introduction to Bullard and Davilma.
Bullard and Davilma told Mr Pintard that they were hired by Mr Nygard to organise the hate rallies, and also kill or cause harm to certain persons.
Mr Pintard then reported the information to Mr Smith, who along with Mr Bacon, decided not to go to the police but to launch a private investigation.
Yesterday, Mr Roberts questioned whether Mr Pintard gave Bullard and Davilma any advice or directives, and whether his party was aware of his involvement.
He also asked whether Mr Pintard was on the payroll of Save The Bays as a writer, publicist or organiser.
Mr Roberts said: “Dr Minnis must answer to the Bahamian people for the apparent complicity within the highest echelon of the FNM in connection with the ‘Save the Bays‘ organisation as the allegations and admissions of dishonourable, offensive and damning behaviour will not go away.
“In light of the above information already placed in the public domain, the police should have picked up Michael Pintard by now and questioned him on what he knows and ascertain the extent of his and the FNM’s involvement. Mr Pintard must necessarily be named as a person of interest by the police,” Mr Roberts claimed.
He said the indications were that FNM Shadow Attorney General MP Richard Lightbourn agreed. Mr Roberts was referring to a statement by Mr Lightbourn, who yesterday called for an immediate investigation into the claims made in the secret videos.
Comments
Sickened 8 years, 1 month ago
Bradley who?? What a joker.
realfreethinker 8 years, 1 month ago
Here we go again " DISTRACTION". He wants Pintard to resign,but refuses to respond to the lawsuit? What a big joke. Let me see how sweet mouth willie,and Bwave get out of this one
TalRussell 8 years, 1 month ago
Calling for a party chairman's resignation is not demonstrating to the pubic that anyone in the PLP government is really interested in the truth and to whom and where it might lead?
Comrades there’s a real sense of shock ... People don’t know what in the hell is going on anymore in our nation’s capital.
Why is it the police who had the same opportunity to view and listen to the videos audio, yet from all media accounts it appears the police have expressed no interested?
Somebody better step forward to explain, why the quickness to arrest the Cabbage Beach protesters but not to get to the bottom of what brought about these disturbing videos?
Comrades I personally have little doubt from listening to the thus far released audio, that the individual in the video, was 'overcompensating' with their line of questioning to earn their allegedly paid Criminals for hire fees.
This is most obvious in how they were repeatedly asking suggestively posing questions to a voice alleged to be that of Nygard's.
The bigger question is, how much is there scattered around, the yet to be uncovered truth? Who is it connected to?
You just watch. The threatening lawyers letters will fly and this blog will shut down any and all posts.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 1 month ago
Bradley Roberts should demand that his party leader and DPM and the Cabinet should resign immediately
SP 8 years, 1 month ago
....................... National response consensus to Mr. Bradley Roberts ...........................
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, oh lord thats a good one! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Please stop, you killing us this time. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Oh GOD ,where you find him from? ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
by SP
realfreethinker 8 years, 1 month ago
Typical plp bullshit response. don,t look at message just get rid of the messenger
TalRussell 8 years, 1 month ago
Comrades isn't it the red shirts party who are always criticizing the PLP party, for being involved with thugs? And, to whom do they turn to to do they politic? You knows answer that one. Right? This only cements what most of us done decided. Time rid nation both them two political parties who flocks together.
Only thing tells them apart is the colours they feathers.
newcitizen 8 years, 1 month ago
Here here Tal! This place will never get better until we rid ourselves of the corrupt leaders from all shirt colours.
TalRussell 8 years, 1 month ago
Comrade Newcitzen I shall recommend to the honourable prime minster that the proposed Constitutional ad bill Number 5. It shall become constitutionality prohibited from this day forward for any political party to wear any colour of t-shir.
But, Berets are constitutionally permitted.to be worn by all Comrades.
John 8 years, 1 month ago
This whole fiasco stinks to God's high heavens! and until the facts are revealed (no you don't pay people to tell the truth, especially known criminals). And If I was PM the persons filing the lawsuits would have left they country by now, and not to return until the lawsuit was settled. Can you imagine inviting or allowing a guest in to your home and he files a lawsuit against you and your family while he is in your home.
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 1 month ago
But Fred Smith Romy Ferreira and Rev Moss filed the law suit.. and since these particular "guests" are all Bahamian, they have just as much right to the house as you, unless you meant "visitor Nygad" who was self admittedly trying to take over The House.
The bombing of Rev Moss' car was a public event, the African-Bahamian KKK representatives had their hate march on Bay St in front of everyone and video of Fred Smith's car window being smashed in living colour was circulated for all to see. The police did not have to be invited to investigate a possible link between any of these matters. And since they obviously couldn't uncover an "llegal gambling operation" with the "presence of a spinning wheel", I can understand why private investigators were hired.
John 8 years, 1 month ago
I will answer you as soon as I finish shoveling this snow off my front lawn.
realfreethinker 8 years, 1 month ago
And shovel that crap out of your mouth
newcitizen 8 years, 1 month ago
You are so damn ignorant. Permanent residents have rights in this country. You don't just get to accept them bringing money and buying homes and then tell them to get lost because they want to exercise their rights. This country is quickly going to hell, and people like you are in the driver's seat.
Sickened 8 years, 1 month ago
John, where's your mind at these days? I used to like your posts, albeit a little to godly for me, but they were sensible. You got some stress huh?
John 8 years, 1 month ago
There is always three sides to a story: your side, my side and the truth. That is why we have courts. That is why we have trials. I am sure that every person who donated large sums of money to political parties in this country, or anywhere in the world, for that matter had ulterior motives. The fact that Nygard did not get what he expected from this government, with only one year left in their term confirms that his money did not buy the government. Nygard does not have the power y'all proporting him to have in this country. Then one was also ask if Bacon, Fred Smith et. al., ever made campaign contributions, without certain expectations.
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 1 month ago
"Nygard does not have the power y'all purporting him to have..."
When was the last time you got one of your bills passed in the House, as the first order of business? And had the brand new government all drive down to your house? Do you think you could sit in front of the minister of health, push a hypodermic needle in your vein, shoot up with some unknown substance and not have him or one of the 10 or so cabinet ministers in attendance call the police to investigate?
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 1 month ago
Sickened: I think that John and Tal see the writing on the wall now and each is probably gettin' juiced by PGC and the hierarchy. It is appropriate that Nygard would be the one to blow the house down, as he clearly assisted in building it. You have to wonder what bank allowed that level of money to leave one account and end up in another. Code name or no code name. And Nygard would not have many Bahamian dollars, so one of the Canadian banks might want to have a little looksee to account for large exchanges taking place in the early part of 2012. No suspicious activity reports presumably ?
John 8 years, 1 month ago
My answer to you is I have been Bahamian all my life. I pledge allegiance to no other country. I live here under which ever government the people of the Bahamas choose to elect. I will not buy into any dirty, nasty slimy plot to destroy the government of this country regardless of who perpetrates it. We have a serious problem with murder and serious crime in this country. What message you are sending to young people when you tell them through screaming headlines that the DPM of the country is involved in a conspiracy to commit multiple murders??
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 1 month ago
Yes, what kind of message is this that the screaming headlines implicate the DPM in a murder plot? When was the last time you were implicated in one? In fact, how many times in the past year have you had to come out publicly and deny that you were involved in some sort of serious malfeasance? You are correct, this is a horrible message to the world.
John 8 years, 1 month ago
“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”“Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know.” ― Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl . Underhanded work is the work of the devil. . " “There are people who are generic. They make generic responses and they expect generic answers. They live inside a box and they think people who don't fit into their box are weird. But I'll tell you what, generic people are the weird people. They are like genetically-manipulated plants growing inside a laboratory, like indistinguishable faces, like droids. Like ignorance.” ― C. JoyBell C.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 1 month ago
HAS THE PLP CABINET RESIGN YET???????????????? ........... IF NOT, WHY NOT???
John 8 years, 1 month ago
@sheeprunner...did you ever resolve that matter you was talking about?
birdiestrachan 8 years, 1 month ago
There is the saying that when one digs a ditch one should dig two apparently Pintard seems not to know this...
.
Pintard had a convicted criminal investigating with him. Pintard seems to have no limits as to what he will do to the Bahamas in order to gain power. This whole affair may just blow up in his face. Has Pintard ever had a real job. ? has the FNM party received Donations from Bacon?
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 1 month ago
"To turn state's evidence is for an accused or convicted criminal to testify as a witness for the state against his associates or accomplices...In particularly high-profile or dangerous cases such as organized crime trials including other federal crimes trials, the witness may be offered immunity from prosecution even if he has committed serious crimes himself, up to and including murder" - Wikipedia
birdiestrachan 8 years, 1 month ago
Has any one taken note that comments are closed on the article with Keod smith and the other , who promised that he personally will expunge records.. what is going on the devil is in the details, for sure.
birdiestrachan 8 years, 1 month ago
The FNM;s all have the same theme "Nation for sale" They have taken for gospel what , was said on the tape , it is interesting that the papers has put out so much information on a case before the courts and after all that was said they now have closed comments, They knew exactly what they were doing and so do some of us. Pintard did not respect the law enforcers of the Bahamas,
bluesky 8 years, 1 month ago
When the smoke clears, I will bet anyone that the two alleged hit men and Pintard will be thrown under the bus. If Bruno Rufa can fight and survive deportation thru the court system,Imagine Nygard with his million$.
Voltaire 8 years, 1 month ago
John, remember back at the beginning of this you sought to draw an equivalence between the two billionaires, and someone asked you to show a single instance where Louis Bacon was accused of breaking laws etc? Just wanted to draw your attention to this: http://nypost.com/2016/03/14/peter-ny...">http://nypost.com/2016/03/14/peter-ny...
baclarke 8 years, 1 month ago
Seeing as the two accused are the highest of ranking officials in the Bahamas, I think it was best to involve a third party to do the investigations as apposed to trusting the police which is controlled by the government. While i would trust the police with average matters, anything involving politicians or any kind of high ranking officials, the corruption runs too deep to possibly trust our own. Hopefully the truth comes to light, and the right people are charged if indeed any of these allegations are true.
licks2 8 years, 1 month ago
This will test the integrity of Mr Greenslade. . .he knows that the police cannot investigate this matter. . .this calls for a Commission of Inquiry!
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