The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

USUALLY it’s pointless to drag up old stories of political chicanery and corruption. The issues have faded, and the evidence is muddy and ambiguous.

This time it’s different. The disgrace of Peter Nygard’s libellous and malicious campaign to smear Louis Bacon has been made crystal-clear by the courtroom confession and apology of former ZNS reporter Sherman Brown about his many false and defamatory allegations against Mr Bacon, fully reported in this journal.

The story goes far deeper than the conflict between these two men and Mr Nygard’s lap-dog attorney Keod Smith. It revives vivid memories of the PLP’s support of this mendacious character.

We cannot forget that only a few years ago the PLP leaders were snapped enjoying hospitality on his terrace, and reported as praising him for benefactions to Bahamian youth, accepting his political contributions, and overlooking the continuing environmental offences around his Lyford Cay property.

It was only two or three years ago that Cabinet Minister Jerome Fitzgerald led a movement to destroy Mr Bacon and his Save the Bays charity by claiming they were importing millions to “destabilise” the Government, enthusiastically supported by other Ministers. Prime Minister Christie did nothing to suppress these inflammatory charges of virtual treason, later shown to be completely unfounded.

Current attempts to resurrect the PLP by citing its past virtues, conducted by Mr Bradley Roberts and others, should be regarded with severe scepticism raised by Sherman Brown’s uncontested revelations of Nygard’s mendacity, long tolerated by the PLP.

My views are non-partisan. I do not hesitate to criticise present Prime Minister Dr Minnis for his rash and unsubstantiated claims about the $500m financial costs of PLP corruption.

While acts of corruption undoubtedly occurred, any assessment of dollar figures is meaningless propaganda, and only demonstrates his own habit of thoughtless publicity- seeking, similar to his hasty, garbled presentation of the Oban project.

RICHARD COULSON

Nassau,

May 2, 2018.