Fashion mogul Peter Nygard hits back over Bahamas lawsuit

Canadian fashion clothier PeterNygardis fighting back over claims that he is altering the ecosystem on a bay around his lavish Bahamas estate.

A group of celebrity landowners that includes actor Sean Connery andpolitician Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,and a local environment group thatshare the Canadian fashion mogul's exclusiveneighbourhoodin the Bahamas, have filed two lawsuits against the Bahamian government, decryingNygardsdevelopment activities.

WhileNygardis not named as a party in the lawsuit, he has denied the allegations in a statement sent to CBC News by his Winnipeg-based lawyer on Thursday evening.

• Read Peter Nygard's full statement

"Peter Nygard has been a champion of the Bahamas and specifically the preservation of Simms Point and Jaws Beach for more than 30 years," the statement reads in part.

"Mr. Nygard fully supports protecting the environment of the Bahamas. It is the natural beauty of the island which led himtochoose this country for his home. "

His lawyer added that the current judicial review applications are"an attempt to change thegovernment process. They present no new environmental assessments."

Estate development at issue

Save the Bays, whichsaysit is devoted to Bahamas ecology preservation, claims in court documents thatNygardhas gradually increased the size of the estate he bought in 1984 by 2.85 acres through his unauthorized development activities.

This, the group says, has effectively doubled the size ofNygard'sproperty.

The statement fromNygardsaid he has been "more than patient" during the review and assessment process.

"In 2010, Mr. Nygard made an application to the government for permits regarding the reconstruction of his private residence. Since filing for the permits, Mr. Nygard has fully co-operated during a long wait period of fouryears," his statement reads.

"The requiredenvironmental assessments have been completed and are in the hands of the government, including the most recent assessment completed in February 2014. These assessments confirm that there has never been any adverse environmental impact caused by Nygard activities."

Save the Bays saysNygardbuilt non-permitted structures onto natural coral, constructed breakwaters that deplete sand from nearby beaches,and used sand dredged from the ocean floor forthe "substantial expansion of land mass."

Nygardaccuses neighbour of 'continual attacks'

Nygardclaims that the his application has been "used inappropriately" by Save the Bays, which he described as "an organization that is the front for the very secretive Louis Bacon, who is the owner of Moore CapitalManagement."

"As Mr. Nygard's immediate neighbour in Lyford Cay, Mr. Bacon has orchestratedcontinual attacks onMr. Nygardfor many years," Nygard's statement reads in part.

"Louis Bacon has always wanted Nygard Cay for himself and Mr. Nygard has never been interested in selling his home. Over 10 years ago, Louis Bacon told Mr. Nygard that he would 'get it one way or another.'Now Save The Baysis focusing on the re-building of a private home while publicly stating their issue is thegovernment process.This tacticled by Louis Baconis a complete farce and an improper manipulation of the public processto acquire Nygard Cay."

Save the Bays acknowledgesthat Bacon is a largefunderof the organization,but the group says it is involved in a number of ecological issues throughout the Caribbean and isnot targetingNygardspecifically.

The Bahamian Ministry of the Environment had no comment on the case.

In mid-June, the Bahamiangovernmentannounced plans for public consultations aboutNygardsrestoration and expansion plans for his property, known asNygardCay.

According to Save the Bays' claim,Nygardis tryingto retroactively get approval for buildings he builton Crown land.

The government invited public consultation for 21 days,and that process has ended.

Legal challenges filed on Monday

On Monday,Save the Bays and the star-studded group of landowners filed two legal challenges and are calling for a judicial review ofNygardscontinued development, claiming the process is "fundamentally flawed."

They are seeking an order halting the development processuntil other litigation againstNygardis determined.

None of the allegations brought by the two groups have been proven in court.

In his statement,Nygardsaid he has shared his property with numerous celebrities and dignitaries, includingConnery, who is named in the landowners' lawsuit.

Nygard even releaseda photograph of him and Connery together.

"Peter Nygard became a Bahamian in the early 80s. He is an environmentalist, a humanitarian and has been described as the most philanthropic champion for the Bahamian people," the statement reads in part.

"Currently, in addition to substantial donations, Peter Nygard has also given the full use of his home to the Bahamian National Defence Force, who is working in partnership with the Clifton Heritage Foundation in the running of a six-week summer camp for 700 inner city kids, which is being hostedpresently at Nygard Cay."

Read the statement and lawsuit documents

Read Peter Nygard'sfull statement below, as well as the lawsuit documents filed against the Bahamian government bySave the Bays and the group of landowners.

• ON MOBILE?Read the applications for leave from Save the Bays andthe group of landowners.
• ON MOBILE? Read PeterNygard'sfull statement