Anna Nicole Smith is accused of destroying a government, writes charles laurence in Nassau |
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Anna Nicole Smith, the Playboy model barely laid to rest after the ultimate schlock battle over her dead body, is now being blamed for the downfall of the government in the Bahamas.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) was booted out in last week's general election after a local scandal over Anna taking up residence on Nassau in the final chapter of her tragicomic life.
The over-stacked quintessence of America's shameless 'white trash' culture and widow of an octogenarian oil tycoon, she had moved to a quayside condo with lawyer-boyfriend Howard Stern.
Bahamians enjoyed this stage in the Nicole Smith sexploitation story, while their stumbling tourist industry appreciated the extra US television airtime. Her eye-popping Hollywood-blonde sexuality appealed to the local sense of humour, and the truth |
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| The truth is that Anna did represent the sort of Americans attracted to Bahamas casinos |
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is that Anna did represent the sort of Americans attracted to Bahamas casinos.
But then Anna's 20-year-old son Daniel died of a drug overdose, and it all went horribly wrong. Soon Anna herself was dead from drugs, at 39. The basically conservative islands found themselves the setting for the grubbiest of tabloid tales.
The backlash focused on her permit for permanent residency. It turns out she had been welcomed with a bit too much enthusiasm, her application 'fast-tracked' by Immigration Minister Shane Gibson.
"He brought international shame on this country," thundered Oswald Brown, editor of the Freeport News in his election commentary. Prime Minister Perry Christie deserved to fall after his single term because he had shown "delusional" judgment in allowing Gibson to stand for re-election. "This was the ultimate insult to the Bahamian electorate," wrote Brown.
Ultimate insult? International shame? Poor Anna. Now the Bahamas have her for eternity, in her grave, unwanted. Will she ever rest in peace? 
FIRST POSTED MAY 7, 2007
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