Dr Hubert Minnis
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune News Editor
tmthompson@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday admitted that he met with Livingston “Toggie” Bullard, one of two men named in an affidavit filed in court by Save the Bays (STB) as being allegedly hired by Peter Nygard to commit criminal acts.
Dr Minnis told The Tribune that Mr Bullard, his constituent in Killarney whom he said he met three times, contacted him to pass on a warning to then-FNM Chairman Michael Pintard that he was about to be allegedly “set up” by a high ranking member of government and others.
Dr Minnis was adamant that the two men never discussed Mr Nygard, adding that he did not hear of the alleged murder-for-hire plot until The Tribune published claims in an affidavit filed on March 9 by directors of Save the Bays.
“One of the chaps, ‘Toggie’, called me, a constituent, and said to me that Michael Pintard is going to a meeting and (a member of government) going to set him up,” Dr Minnis said. “He stopped by me and said the same thing. I called Pintard and told him.”
“His exact words were ‘Pintard is going to a meeting, warn Pintard not to go because (name omitted) and them trying to set him up’. That would have been the end of it.”
Dr Minnis said he did not know what Mr Pintard’s meeting was about, but he did warn the former senator not to go to any sit down.
When asked why he did not reveal this when he spoke about the Nygard controversy in the House of Assembly last Monday, Dr Minnis responded that he told his parliamentary members about it. “I didn’t know the details (of the alleged murder plot) until I saw it in the paper, then I told my parliamentary group about it.”
He said he told FNM parliamentarians that he was more than willing to share this information with the police.
Three weeks after Dr Minnis’ initial meeting with Mr Bullard, the man called him after a fishing trip and dropped off some of his catch. Dr Minnis said during that encounter the two men talked about fish and had a casual conversation. Dr Minnis said his wife, Patricia, was also present and asked Mr Bullard about his family. He said he met Mr Bullard a third time when the self-proclaimed gang member again brought him fish.
He said he could not say the exact dates of these meetings.
In the STB affidavit by US investigator John Joseph DiPaolo, Mr Bullard and Wilser “Bobo” Davilma claim they were allegedly hired by Mr Nygard to commit murder and other criminal acts against the STB environmental group. Mr Nygard has filed a counter affidavit denying the claims, alleging that the men were paid for “false testimony.”
Mr Pintard, who resigned as FNM senator and chairman yesterday, was also named in the STB affidavit as being instrumental in uncovering the alleged plot.
Since The Tribune broke the story, recordings have surfaced on social media purportedly of Mr Pintard meeting to discuss payment for the two gang members in exchange for testimony.
The affidavit was included in a lawsuit filed against Mr Nygard and lawyer Keod Smith by four STB directors - Joseph Darville, Romauld Ferreira, Fred Smith and Louis Bacon - and Reverend CB Moss, who is not a STB member.
The organisation claimed in its Supreme Court filing that the two criminals had been paid to turn against Mr Nygard. The criminals were tracked down with the help of Mr Pintard, according to Mr DiPaolo’s affidavit, which noted it was the senator who alerted Fred Smith that the men were behind protests against STB.
Comments
Publius 8 years ago
Good God
So, one the "criminals" he assailed in the House of Assembly before claiming to want a police investigation, is one of his associates, as revealed later in this story. He never revealed that he knew one of the alleged assailants personally - we all know why. He didn't think the information would ever come out that would force him to reveal this information.
When did Bain Town become part of Killarney?
Must think we are a$$es, and this shameless lie actually further hurts Pintard, because if he really did call Pintard to warn him and Pintard, as we know, still met with these guys more than once, then it suggests that Pintard had a motive in this far and above what he is publicly claiming. So this guy calls you and then shows up to your house because this warning is supposedly so important, yet he never tells you what the matter is actually about. Minnis must think everyone is as moronic as he is.
Sure, because that's what people you are not connected to or personally associated with do, come by your house repeatedly, bring you their personal catches and chat with your wife about the family.
And this is the man who has the nerve to be calling for anyone to step down, when he and his chairman are the only politicians on proven record and by their own admission as having met with these criminals on more than one occasion? This is simply beyond. I'm guessing that "fish" is a euphemism for something else!
Honestman 8 years ago
This was a different kind of "fishing trip"
Publius 8 years ago
Indeed
proudloudandfnm 8 years ago
No way he met with them and did not discuss Nygard and the murder plot.
Minnis must resign....
Honestman 8 years ago
Minnis is no better than the PLP. Just like Perry Christie he thirsts for power. Unlike Christie he has no clue how to obtain it (and hold onto it). Just like the PLP, he treats the public like fools. His explanation is completely unbelievable. The Bahamas needs new and genuine leadership and this man is incapable of providing it.
Publius 8 years ago
Truth
GrassRoot 8 years ago
well I think it is super smart to drag your wife into something like that. just shows how impaired Dr. Minnis' common sense is these days. If you want ONE place where you can retire to after a day of craziness in Bahamian politics, it is your home. but beyond that, now that Dr. Minnis will have to resign as well, I hope LBT can finally become Leader of the Opposition and take the whip out and the broom to clean out this mess. That is if she is still qualified to become the leader of the Opposition after she parked her car in the disabled spot....
Publius 8 years ago
Indeed. Only a total lowlife would do something like that to a spouse.
Zakary 8 years ago
Well this didn’t take long either, but it will be interesting to see all of the figures who leave this mess squeaky clean. We are really lacking leaders in this country, no doubt about that.
GrassRoot 8 years ago
See Leadership is one of the most abused terms these days. I don't think Minnis is a leader, I don't think any of our loud mouth politicians are leaders as - unless they have the parliamentary majority - cant get anything done. A leader is someone that can convince and inspire people across party lines to bring the Bahamas further. We will see the true leaders emerge once the current people in charge have murdered, stabbed, backstabbed, kicked each other out of the political arena. We are in the middle of Katharsis.
TalRussell 8 years ago
Comrade this too, is not a jokey matter. Her Excellency, the Governor-general is to appoint red shirts Chippie, as leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition Party.
by TalRussell
proudloudandfnm 8 years ago
Tal Is that true? Or did you make that up?
SP 8 years ago
................. This ensuing war is one hell of a start to 2017 election campaign! ...................
Two questions immediately come to mind:
1) Who was the instigating set up man having these two criminals doing his bidding?
2) What other "jobs" were carried out by these criminals on his behalf?
tonymontana 8 years ago
A THIEF BRAKES INTO A HOUSE , AND UPON LEAVING WITH HIS STOLEN GOODS , HE FALLS THROUGH THE WINDOW AND BREAKS HIS LEG , THE THIEF TAKES THE HOME OWNER TO COURT SUING FOR DAMAGES, CLAIMING HE COULD NO LONGER PLY HIS TRADE , THE JUDGE RULES IN HIS FAVOR AND SENTENCE THE HOME OWNER TO DEATH , THE OWNER OF THE BROKEN IN HOME APPEALED AND SAID IT WAS NOT HIS FAULT THE THIEF WAS UNABLE TO WORK , BUT THAT THE FAULT SHOULD LAY ON THE CARPENTER WHO INSTALLED THE WINDOW , THE JUDGE AGREED , CALLED THE CARPENTER AND SENTENCED HIM TO DEATH , THE CARPENTER IN HIS DEFENSE SAID HE COULD NOT BE BLAMED . BECAUSE AS HE WAS ABOUT TO PUT IN THE FINAL NAIL TO SECURE THE WINDOW , A PRETTY LADY PAST BY WEARING A PURPLE DRESS , THUS HE WAS DISTRACTED , THE JUDGE CALLED IN THE LADY WITH THE PRETTY PURPLE DRESS . THE LADY WITH THE PRETTY PURPLE DRESS CLAIMED SHE SHOULD JOT BE BLAMED BECAUSE HAD SHE NOT BOUGHT THE PRETTY PURPLE DRESS FROM THE DRESS MAKER THE CARPENTER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED , THE SELLER OF THE PURPLE DRESS WAS CALLED IN AND TO HIS DEFENSE HE SAID THE DYER OF PURPLE WAS TO BE BLAMED , THUS THE DYER WAS HANGED.
A RICH FOREIGNER INSULTS THE PRIME MINISTER OF OR COUNTRY CALLS THE HIGHERS COURT IN THE LAND INTO DISPUTE . AND WE HANG THE MESSENGER , WOW WHAT A COUNTRY WE LIVE IN . END OF STORY
SP 8 years ago
Where can we find this "lady" in the pretty purple dress?
Publius 8 years ago
She is one the corner of Bain Town and Killarney selling the bags of fish Toggie brought Minnis at his home...
Publius 8 years ago
Brother, if there was an actual murder plot that would not make Pintard a messenger, it would make him an accessory, a criminal offense that carries prison time upon conviction. If he had gone straight to the police without any attempt to give aid or succor to the men, then he would have been simply a messenger. He didn't go to the police or to the nation with this. He went to his "friends" where monetary deals subsequently became the order of the day.
birdiestrachan 8 years ago
Minnis is one of the Prince of lies, the other is Pintard. Why in the world would they come to Dr: Minnis to pass information to Pintard they were in contact with Pintard all the time, they were Pintard"s boys he was only a phone call away. They could also contact John Bostwick. Dr: Minnis could have saved that lie, It makes him look worse. He is in a ditch and he keeps on digging. .
proudloudandfnm 8 years ago
Birdie dear you need to be asking Perry how much of Nygard's 5 million he got...
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
These politicians interact with all types of people on a daily basis ........... HAM is no different from the others (Brave & Perry) ................ HAM is a man from Bain Town (he doesn't have to act ghetto ................ he is ghetto at heart)
Publius 8 years ago
Pintard, in a cowardly move, tried to suggest that he only met with these guys because his colleague Bostwick arranged it and he 'trusted and still trusts' his colleague. Well, if Bostwick was the go between according to Pintard, then who is Minnis claiming was the person who was setting Pintard up? Remember, these sworn affidavits are of both men, Davilma and Bullard. So how is Bullard warning Pintard about a situation that he claims he was personally involved in, i.e. working with Nygard and working with Bacon's team? To be trying to warn Pintard would be to be outing himself if Minnis' sudden story is to be believed. Remember, this case is over a year old. I think people are forgetting that and thinking that these things just happened this month. So if Minnis' is claiming that Bullard was warning about those meetings, those meetings happened at least a year ago. And Minnis is claiming that in all that time up to now, he had no idea what this fish man was seeking to use him as a messenger boy for. Pintard is his party's national chairman and senator. Anything involving a set up would absolutely have to be of concern to Minnis. But he is trying to make us believe that he acted as if Pintard is just the guy who washes his car and hence, he didnt need to know what the fish man was talking about in reference to him. What is the point in speaking to the media if you are going to make statements that on the face of it, look like a lie? He might as well had maintained his no comment position. But he is obviously so scared for his own post now after being outed by the Guardian as having met with these people, that he is trying to say whatever he thinks will save him. As always though, he failed miserably with this latest attempt.
Honestman 8 years ago
Minnis is fooling no-one. He is just digging himself into a bigger and bigger hole. Totally agree with you.
SayWa 8 years ago
After reading what Dr Minnis had to say, I think it would have been better had he not said anything.
It's clear that Dr Minnis had a relationship with "Toogie" even before the murder plot was conceived. Like a previous poster said, Minnis didnt think it would come out.
If what was leaked lead to Pintard's resignation, then Minnis must follow suit as well.
realfreethinker 8 years ago
When the F..k will You all ask for perry and bwave to resign? Doesn't the relationship between the DPM and the crooks make one ask some serious questions? This can't all be about Minnis and Pintard. The whole lot of them ought to be resigning
SayWa 8 years ago
The reason why most people are focusing on Minnis and Pintard is because its shocking to see how an obvious attempt by them to embarrass the PLP was so terribly thought out.
Like the saying says, the cover up is often worse than the crime.
TalRussell 8 years ago
Comrade Minnis fish story reminds me of a story the late gifted lawyer and longest serving attorney-general Paul Adderley, once told me about the time his father Alfred Francis Adderley, also a noted lawyer before the bar, defended a client charged with stealing from a catch of fishes.
I will not even attempt to retell the story with anywhere near the hilarious elegance of Paul but here goes.
Daddy Addereley was at home when a young man he didn't know came a calling with an offer he couldn't refuse. A free freshly caught grouper fish. His daddy was accustomed to strangers occasionally dropping by out the blue bearing with all kinds gifts.
That same evening the Adderley family, including son Paul, cooked big pot boiled grouper and served it as their supper.
Low and behold the next day his father gets a visitor to his law office, and its the distressed mother of the fish Samaritan. Her son was arrested and charged with stealing fishes from a fisherman's catch.
Please Mr.. Adderely would you defend my son?
In court daddy Addereley was having great difficulty in successfully challenging all the iron-clad police and eye witnesses evidence being offered against his client.
Rising to address the judge to begin his closing arguments, daddy Adderley, drawing upon all of his trial lawyer skills, he began:
Your Worship, I have so much confidence in my client's innocence that I am willing to risk my own freedom.
If the defendant McPhee, stole that grouper fish, I admit to having eaten, not just a small piece but the entire grouper fish?
The judge dismissed the case on the grounds of, insufficient evidence to convict.
Daddy Addereley was to later handsomely compensate the fisherman, whose fish catch had been stolen.
by TalRussell
Emac 8 years ago
OK DNA, now it's your time to shine! Get it together now or simply dismantle your team and just onboard the sinking red ship. Bring your buckets though. Cause you gat plenty bailing to do!
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years ago
The Minnis I know is only now being tripped up into exposing exactly who he is.......but what most of you have recently learned about him in this whole affair is only the very tip of the iceberg. This man has an even more darker side that makes the devil himself seem like a choir boy by comparison!
Honestman 8 years ago
Well this darker side needs to be exposed soon - for all our sakes!
licks2 8 years ago
And what. . .yall want us to trust slim balls like the bunch of yinna? LBT will rue the day she got this crew to support her in public. . .yinna are no better than those PLPs on this site!! DON'T FORGET NAH. . . .WE THE PEOPLE WILL DECIDE WHO RUN THIS HERE WE NATION. . .NOT YINNA CLASE MINDED MINIONS!
THINK NOW. . .YALL THINK THAT THE PLP WILL BE TRYING SO HARD TO GET RID OF THE DOC IF THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD WIN EASY WITH HIM AS FNM LEADER? THEY WANT LBT. . .THEY WILL SLAUGHTER HER AND HER CREW. . .BUT THE DOC IS PROVING TO BE HARD TO HANDLE!!!
LBT parking across the front of two handicapped parking space in broad day light and gone by her business is not too pretty for her words of loving to help the masses!!
Economist 8 years ago
Minnis must resign. It is as simple as that.
asiseeit 8 years ago
Minnis makes me wonder, is he for real? He just seems seedy. the guy is overreaching and it does not sit well. I am very reserved in my thoughts of this man.
EasternGate 8 years ago
Dr. Minnis Please.......resign for the country's sake
Publius 8 years ago
Were these fish blue marlins?
SP 8 years ago
Who the hell got blue marlin fish, and where are mine?
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
Amen ....... true dat ............ and the sad reality is that there is NO Delivery Boy to ride in at the 2017 general election to clean up this mess like Hubert Ingraham did in 1992 ............ if there is one, please identify yourself immediately ...... right now, it looks like Andre Rollins is the main FNM MP speaking out against the PLP .......... but he has no safe FNM seat (as yet)............... and he is a loose cannon at best
licks2 8 years ago
Doc Rollins is right on target!! Time for someone who will not kiss hind ends of nobody! Butler-Turner attack person Ms Dames asked him some pointed questions and then did not print her questions! Now we hear the whole interview. . .Rollins spoke truth. . .THATS A REAL REVOLUTION!!
Sickened 8 years ago
I am sooo friggin embarrassed! I surely won't be wearing my Bahamian colours when I travel.
Our leaders are f'in clowns. The lot of them.
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