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The Tribune

Nygard commission of Inquiry

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Requested title: We need a Nygard commission of Inquiry

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 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

John 4 years, 1 month ago

Is The Tribune a part of the conspiracy against Nygard? Firstly how can you block comments on ALL stories you ran on the Nygard allegations when this matter is not before and court in The Bahamas? Secondly how can you this person) call for a commission of enquirer against allegations , none of which have been substantiated. No victims identified and none apparently made any complaints over two different governments and three different Commissioners of Police. What there needs to be a commission of enquirer about is who is really behind this smear campaign that is tarnishing the name of The Bahamas, it’s government, it’s judiciary, the Bahamian police and it’s people. How did nine Bahamian girls find their way to New York and familiarize themselves with the US legal system and claiming our system and our country is too corrupt for them? Who is supporting their stay in New York and their campaign that is tarnishing The Bahamas? Do these alleged victims really exist or is it just another level of the Nygard feud?

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