Editor, The Tribune
I would fully support a Commission of Inquiry into the allegations of political corruption against Peter Nygard in The Bahamas. In the past, commissions were launched in response to negative international publicity and allegations that ran the risk of affecting the reputation of The Bahamas, and the same thing is happening again now.
Of course, Mr Nygard is innocent until proven guilty of the other terrible crimes he is being accused of, but The Bahamas must look out for itself and either clear its name of the corruption charges that have been broadcast for all the world to see, or root out and denounce any local politicians that were involved. We cannot afford be made out to be ground zero for corruption and a nation for sale once again.
Sadly, the opposition PLP is against such a Commission of Inquiry. On one level this is not surprising, as the politicians who were allegedly corrupted all hail from their party. Still, I believe this is a big mistake. They must remember that the public is watching, and right now Nygard’s name is tied to the PLP, for better or worse. He is their number one supporter and campaign donor and they cannot run away from it.
I saw a statement in which PLP National Chairman Fred Mitchell blamed the whole thing on a foreign conspiracy against the PLP. Not even pausing to have a word of sympathy for the Bahamian victims of the horrendous abuse that has been alleged, all Mr. Mitchell seems to care about is saving the political skin of the PLP.
As for the governing FNM, all this is happening on their watch. It would look very bad for them to stand idly by and let the good name of The Bahamas be dragged through the mud once again. During the election campaign, they claimed to be the anti-corruption party and now is their chance to prove it.
I believe the FNM should immediately launch a Commission of Inquiry into the doings of Peter Nygard in the Bahamas. And the PLP should fully support it. If anything that Fred Mitchell says is true, then the PLP should have absolutely nothing to hide.
Ricardo Johnson
Nassau
February 25, 2020
Comments
birdiestrachan 4 years, 2 months ago
Six of the allegations occurred while the FNM was the Government and three under the PLP. There was nothing to stop the FNM Government from doing an investigation. perhaps if they had investigated the Six under their leadership. the other three would not have occurred.
joeblow 4 years, 2 months ago
This country is corrupt to its core, on both sides of the political aisle. A CoI would accomplish nothing more than temporarily increase newspaper sales!
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