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Leader of the Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan is pictured at a brief press conference on Saturday. On the left is Kai Nygard, son of Lyford Cay resident and fashion designer Peter Nygard. Photo: Ahvia J. Campbell

By Travis Cartwright-Carroll
Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Louis Farrakhan Muhammad Sr., the leader of the Nation of Islam, has instructed his attorney, Keod Smith, to sue The Tribune newspaper in The Bahamas after he said the daily put a “vicious” and “ugly” spin on an address he gave last week.

Farrakhan said the matter erupted after he spoke at a town hall meeting at The College of The Bahamas (COB).

He said there were suggestions in the article, published last Friday, that he hit out at Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard, which he said was untrue.

“...They quoted my words perfectly, but the spin that was put on my words was vicious and ugly and very untrue,” said Farrakhan at a press conference on Saturday.

Farrakhan said he read the story while he was in Bimini and was happy he had not left the country so he could defend himself.

“The reason I take umbrage in reading such an article is because the mischief inherent in that article is first to say that I came to this island and rebuked Mr Nygard,” Farrakhan said.

“Maybe I offended somebody so my lecture at the town hall meeting was never reported in any newspaper.

“If you are so in love with going along to get along, then who are your editors that would take my words and then twist them and put your name on it?

“Tell them to come out front. I’m here now. Meet me and talk to me because I can defend anything I say to anybody from the head of government all the way down to the common man in the street.

“Nor would I come to The Bahamas and disrespect a man who hosted me in his home.

“I know nothing about Mr Nygard except the good that I saw and the good that I felt and the good that I’ve heard.”

Farrakhan, who had been in The Bahamas since March 9, held the impromptu press conference before his flight out of the country. He was surrounded by his staff, Smith and Nygard’s son, Kai.

Smith said Farrakhan’s words were taken out of context.

“It is injurious,” he said. “Minister Farrakhan is the spiritual and religious leader of an organization and of a group of people [who] frown on [certain kinds] of behaviour.”

Smith, who is also a former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) member of parliament, condemned The Tribune for the story.

Republished with permission of the Nassau Guardian

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