BIS deputy director: I sent Nygard press release from personal email

As of Friday, March 18, 2016

Whatsapp messages also sent out by Elcott Coleby.

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Information Services Deputy Director Elcott Coleby yesterday clarified that he did not use his government email account to disseminate a press release concerning Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard, but used his personal account.

Mr Coleby has come under fire for forwarding a statement sent out by Mr Nygard’s Los Angeles-based public relations firm Sitrick & Company on Tuesday which said the fashion mogul’s camp had turned over evidence to police that would strike out the alleged murder-for-hire allegations against him.

In the House of Assembly yesterday, Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins criticised Mr Coleby and charged that the dissemination made it appear that the government was endorsing Mr Nygard. Dr Rollins questioned how the government’s media arm could send out a press release of a private citizen.

“I simply forwarded it on,” Mr Coleby told The Tribune when contacted yesterday.

“It was under my personal email address, the same personal information I use to send out my stuff to all my contacts.”

Mr Coleby acknowledged that he also used his personal address to send out BIS releases and press alerts, but he added that he also sends out this information from his government email account in those instances.

“Yeah, I use my personal [account] because it’s easier but the same ones go out through the official email,” he said. “That [Nygard press release] didn’t go through BIS, that came from my personal email and I just forwarded information as I usually do.”

Dr Rollins raised concerns over the email exchange during a heated debate in Parliament yesterday over the alleged murder-for-hire plot and concerns over Mr Nygard’s alleged connection to senior government members.

The murder-for-hire allegations are detailed in an affidavit filed on March 9 in the Supreme Court as part of a string of allegations against Mr Nygard and his lawyer Keod Smith by four Save The Bays directors – Joseph Darville, Romauld Ferreira, Fred Smith and billionaire Louis Bacon – and Reverend CB Moss, who is not a STB member.

In that document, two men Livingston “Toggie” Bullard and Wisler “Bobo” Davilma alleged that they were paid by Mr Nygard to commit criminal acts against some people who opposed his development at Nygard Cay.

This week, Mr Nygard’s public relations firm released documents purported to be affidavits sworn by the two criminals that claim they were paid for false testimony.

In the press release, a spokesman for Mr Nygard hit back with allegations that Save The Bays and others were part of a scheme to drive out the PLP government and destroy his reputation.

Mr Bacon is Mr Nygard’s neighbour in the affluent gated community of Nygard Cay.

GrassRoot 8 years, 1 month ago

same did Hillary. still got her into hot water.

Space 8 years, 1 month ago

Oh just his personal email!? That's ok then! What kinna delusional rock these people living under?

themessenger 8 years, 1 month ago

After Bradley Roberts, Elcott Coleby is the PLP's next biggest wind emanating orifice. These people are immune to the smell of the stuff they squirting .

TalRussell 8 years, 1 month ago

Comrades "Generally, stool that doesn't sinks or floats does mean there's a problem with ya crap discharging apparatus."
Sounds like the BIS Deputy Director Elcott has a PR 'stick favors' business on the side? The million dollar question is, why did a BIS taxpayers paid employee take it up on himself to forward a PR sent out by Mr Nygard’s Los Angeles-based public relations firm Sitrick & Company?
The PLP cabinet have just added another one to flush down the toilet.
By the time Nygard and Bacon be finished with these two political parties, they will need one big-ass septic tank take the crap they will be peddling save their asses.

“I simply forwarded it on,” Mr Coleby told The Tribune when contacted yesterday.

This is one strange circus...
Everyone looking like goons...

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