peternygard

The Free National Movement has clarified that comments made by its former chairman in the sentencing of notorious convicted felon and disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard do not reflect the views of their party.

Why it matters

The trial against Nygard, a permanent resident of the Bahamas, accused of 4 counts of sexual assault in a Canadian court, is wrapping up and the FNM’s former chairman Sidney Collie is one of twenty people who wrote character letters to the judge pleading for leniency.

Canadian prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence while Nygard’s defense attorneys are asking for two years and time served.

The big picture

Nygard, a Canadian citizen who once lived in the Bahamas and owned a multimillion-dollar clothing empire, had close ties to the Perry Christie Administration in 2012 and was a major donor to the Progressive Liberal Party.

Women in the Bahamas, Canada and the US, accused him of sexual assault. He was convicted of sexual assault against 4 women in Toronto who said he lured them to his headquarters and attacked them, dating from the 1980s until the mid-2000s. It involved three women who were in their 20s at the time and another who was 16 years old.

No charges have been filed in the Bahamas though allegations have been levied against him.

What the FNM said

Dr. Duane Sands, the National Chairman of the party emphasized the party’s dissociation from Nygard’s deeds, marking a firm stance against the actions of Nygard.

He emphasized that Collie acted in his capacity as a former attorney for Nygard, and Collie’s character reference was made in a professional context and should not be interpreted as reflecting the party’s stance.

State of Play

Nygard was charged with nine counts in New York, including sex trafficking and racketeering charges, and still faces sexual assault charges in Manitoba and Quebec, Canada.

Billionaire fashion mogul and long-time resident of Lyford Cay, Peter Nygard was found guilty of sexual assault in Canada on Sunday and is awaiting sentencing following six weeks of trials.

The frail 82-year-old Nygard, who was reportedly rolled into court in a wheelchair with his hair tied back with a long jacket over a hoodie and tinted glasses — stood indifferent with his lawyers as the jury read the guilty verdict.

The big picture

Nygard’s name has become synonymous with sex crimes and has been categorized with the likes of Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein, prompting a docuseries Evil by Design: Surviving Nygard.

His luxurious Lyford Cay home was known for cocktail parties where thousands of Bahamians, particularly young women were invited and engaged in topless shows.

The case in which he was found guilty on Sunday, spanned from 1988 to 2005 and involved five women who accused him of sexual assault at his Toronto headquarters where he invited them for job interviews and a tour.

Nygard denied all of the allegations in this case after taking the stand in his defense.

He is still facing criminal charges in three other jurisdictions in Canada and awaits other trials in Quebec and Manitoba for sexual assault as well.

The US awaits his extradition after the Canadian cases are completed.

Why it matters

Nygard’s popularity grew in the Bahamas due to his philanthropy and close ties to the Progressive Liberal Party, donating millions of dollars to the party during its time in office in 2012.

A video once circulated, showing former PLP Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson receiving payments from Nygard which totaled $94,131.10 over an 18-month period.

Nygard’s former videographer Stephen Feralio captured Peter Nygard talking about Perry Christie winning the 2012 Bahamian election on a cellphone. Visit this link to hear Nygard’s reaction to the 2012 election:  https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1850003523643/

When the Nygard was arrested on Canada in 2021, then FNM Chairman Carl Culmer called on the PLP who was in opposition at the time, to publicly address its party’s connection to Nygard and join in asking for justice for Bahamian victims affected by the alleged actions of Nygard.  But PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell pointed a finger at the FNM, stating that Nygard contributed financially to the political campaign too, which the FNM denied.

What Prime Minister Philip Davis said in 2020

In December 2020 Davis, the then-opposition leader was asked to comment on Nygard’s behavior while in the country, Davis said, “Peter, what’s his name?

“My position in respect to what I heard or [have] not heard about him is that I’m more concerned about what this election is going to be about (the general election of September 2021)

“I’m not concerned about a foreign action that has been brought against a foreign person who may have had an incident in the Bahamas.”

Featured Photo credit: Peter Nygard is seen in a car after leaving Toronto court on Sept. 27. The one-time Canadian fashion mogul is expected to testify at his sexual assault trial Wednesday. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

The Free National Movement, like many people, is awaiting the opposition’s acknowledgment of its connection to Canadian Fashion Mogul Peter Nygard, who is awaiting trial for alleged sexual assaults against women and underage girls at his Bahamas estate, Nygard Cay.

In a press statement following the PLP’s accusations that the FNM is using Facebook advertisements to attack its credibility, the FNM said, “Davis has a moral obligation to come clean and acknowledge the pain and suffering these women say his top donor caused to so many. Until Davis does, he leaves many Bahamians to wonder who he looks out for, other than himself.”

Why it matters

A four-part docuseries, Unseamly: The Investigation of Peter Nygard, on Discovery+ recently aired internationally, examining Nygard’s rise to power while highlighting interviews with Peter Nygard’s alleged victims and former employees who reveal dreadful stories about him. One person testified that Nygard collected passports, locked them in rooms with codes, to prevent them from leaving the estate. Watch this link to hear Jane Doe No. 3 describe what happens when she met Peter Nygard when she was 15 years old: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1850004547561

The big picture

Nygard is known as a close friend of the PLP, donating millions of dollars to the party during its time in office in 2012. In fact, a video circulated showing former Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson receiving payments from Nygard which totaled $94,131.10 over an 18-month period.

Nygard’s former videographer Stephen Feralio captures Peter Nygard talking about Perry Christie winning the 2012 Bahamian election on a cellphone. Visit this link to hear Nygard’s reaction to the 2012 election:  https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1850003523643/

What the FNM says

“The alleged victims of Nygard’s abuse deserve justice. All Bahamians deserve to know the true details of how the PLP elite turned a blind eye to the conduct of a man U.S. prosecutors described as a callous, sex trafficking billionaire.

“Clearly Davis’ dismissive attitude towards these serious allegations proves he has a lot to learn about true leadership if he ever hopes to earn the trust of the people to lead our country.”

“Sadly, for Davis, it is relevant to Nygard’s alleged victims – some who claim they were basically locked in cages as their predator, lurked around waiting to abuse them. The Bahamian people deserve answers now. And when members of Davis’ own party admit they benefited indirectly from Nygard’s financial largesse to the PLP for their campaigns, even more questions are raised.

What Davis said in the past

At the release of the docuseries, Davis told the Nassau Guardian that the PLP’s relationship with Nygard in the past.

And back in December when  Davis was asked to offer his commentary on Nygard’s behavior while in the country, Davis said, “Peter, what’s his name?” Davis asked.

“My position in respect to what I heard or [have] not heard about him is that I’m more concerned about what this election is going to be about.

“I’m not concerned about a foreign action that has been brought against a foreign person who may have had an incident in the Bahamas.”

Featured Image: (Submitted to CBC by Stephen Feralio, Nygard’s former videographer)

Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said on Thursday that Peter Nygard left the Bahamas before the police were able to investigate the complaints made against him.

Why it matters

Peter Nygard faces extradition to the United States where 57 women accuse him of sex crimes. The women are from the  Bahamas, the U.S., and Canada. On Tuesday, he was remanded to jail in Canada, facing nine counts of racketeering, sex trafficking, and other related crimes.

What Commissioner Paul Rolle says

• There were 4 complaints reported to the Bahamas police, by victims, accusing Nygard of sexual assault.
• Police officers were dispatched to Nygard’s residence in Lyford Cay, but upon arrival, officers were informed that Nygard left the Bahamas.
• Police witnessed people loading Nygard’s belongings in a shipping container.
• Police made contact with Nygard and he refused to return and surrender.
• Nygard was never interviewed by local police.

Rolle told reporters, “The matter is before a judge. Please don’t draw this commissioner into that.”

Featured image: The Tribune

Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party Philip Davis says the allegations against Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard “should be pursued to the full extent of the law.’

Though not in an official statement, Davis used Twitter to express the seriousness of the charges against Nygard.

Davis said he, “hope[s] the women involved receive justice.”

Why it matters

The Free National Movement has called on the PLP to publicly condemn the actions of billionaire Nygard who is known to be a major financier to the party and caused quite a stir in the 2017 elections when documents circulated showing that Nygard sent 94,131.10 to the account of the former Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson.

The big picture

Peter Nygard was arrested in Winnipeg, Canada, and is expected to be extradited to the US for sex crimes against fifty-seven women from the  Bahamas, the U.S., and Canada. On Tuesday, he faced nine counts of racketeering, sex trafficking, and other related crimes.

What the women say in a lawsuit filed in the U.S Court

According to the Guardian in the UK:

• Nygard drugged the women to ensure they met his sexual demands.
• Nygard targetted women from disadvantaged backgrounds or who had suffered abuse.
• Nygard referred to his victims as “girlfriends” and took them to swingers clubs where they had sex with other men.
• The victims were alleged to be 14 or 15 years old when Nygård gave them alcohol or drugs and then raped them.
• He bribed Bahamian officials to recruit victims in the Bahamas, US and Canada.
• Victims’ passports were taken from them when they arrived in the Bahamas and “expected a sex act before he was willing to consider releasing any person” from his estate.

FNM Chairman Carl Culmer called on the opposition to publicly address its party’s connection to Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard and join in asking for justice for Bahamian victims affected by the alleged actions of Nygard.  But PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell points a finger at the FNM, alleging Nygard played a role in that party too.

Why it matters

• Peter Nygard was arrested in Winnipeg, Canada, and is expected to be extradited to the US for sex crimes against Bahamian, American and Canadian women.  On Tuesday, he faced nine counts of racketeering, sex trafficking, and other related crimes.
• Nygard, who owns a luxury home in Lyford Cay is a known financier of the PLP and alleged to have paid then Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson payments totaling $94,131.10 over an 18-month period. The scandal rocked the party at the 2017 general election.

Pointing Fingers

However, Opposition Chairman Fred Mitchell responded to FNM Chairman Culmer saying Nygard contributed financially to the FNM as well.

Mitchell said, “It is widely known that Peter Nygard, a foreign billionaire, contributed money to the FNM’s political campaign. This means that since the FNM is the Government, they are the ones who have an obligation to address their connections to Mr. Nygard and disassociate themselves from these criminal allegations.

“But the Bahamian people know the FNM very well. In their quagmire of deceit, there is no form of nastiness, filth and degradation to which the FNM will not go; anything to try to win the general election and discredit the PLP,” Mitchell said.

Seventy-nine-year-old Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard was arrested in Winnipeg, Canada on Monday, facing nine counts of rackerteering, sex trafficking and other related crimes.

The United States asked Canada to issue a warrant under the two countries’ extradition treaty.

Why it matters

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York says at dozens of alleged victims in the U.S., the Bahamas and Canada, and other locations have accused Peter Nygard of sex crimes.

What happened in court on Tuesday

• Nygard appeared in court looking dishevelled, with his hair in a bun style. His feet and hands were shackled, wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey track pants.
• Nygard’s lawyer, Jay Prober, asked for a publication ban.
• Canada’s Attorney General representative Scott Farlinger, opposed it, saying publication bans are issued in Canada to protect the accused’s right to a fair trial, which doesn’t apply in this case as the trial will be held in the U.S.
• Justice Sheldon Lanchbery denied the request for the publication ban, saying an open court is important and that there is no evidence that additional publicity, in this case, would affect Nygard’s right to a fair trial in the U.S.
• Nygard is being held at the Winnipeg Remand Centre until January 13th, his next court appearance.
• His lawyer said he would apply for bail before that date.

What the victims’ lawyers are saying

• One of the lawyers Lisa Haba told CBC News, “The survivors of our lawsuit have been waiting for this day for a very long time.”
• “Peter Nygard’s arrest marks the next chapter in holding him and his accomplices accountable for the unspeakable crimes against women and children they have perpetuated for decades. We will continue to seek justice.”
• Another lawyer Greg Gutzler added, “We are relieved that some measure of accountability is hopefully forthcoming, but we would be remiss if we did not state that this is something that should have been done decades ago.”