Ryan Pinder resigns Perry Christie's Cabinet for Deltec Bank and Trust Limited Big Payday

Pinder Abandons Public Service for Private Sector Payday

Christopher Mortimer

Like Bahamians around the country, I too was taken aback by the sudden resignation of the Minister responsible for Financial Services Ryan Pinder. According to a statement from Government officials Pinder will relinquish his position as a cabinet minister to take a prominent position at Deltec Bank and Trust Limited.

Many Bahamians will remember the somewhat dubious circumstances under which Pinder first entered front line politics in this country. A former US tax attorney, Pinder renounced his US citizenship and in doing so pledged his commitment to public service in this country and specifically to the residents of the Elizabeth constituency who supported him wholeheartedly and elected him to office twice, first as an opposition MP and then again into government.

After pledging his commitment in the service of the country, and ascending to the post of cabinet minister, Mr. Pinder has chosen to turn his back on that commitment in favor of what he is calling the opportunity of a lifetime. Clearly for Pinder, Deltec’s offer trumped the opportunity to serve his country, shape policy and influence the economic and financial future of the nation.

The sudden resignation of Financial Services Minister Ryan Pinder to rejoin the private sector raises a number of serious concerns and is once again a reflection of the self-serving interests of members of this PLP administration.

Firstly, there are serious ethical implications which result from his resignation. Whose interest does it serve for a former cabinet minister, formerly responsible for regulating the financial services sector, to then join one of the very companies he had been mandated to regulate? Further, did Deltec court the minister for this position while he was still serving in cabinet? While he still had access to sensitive government plans for the sector, and if so were they given a preview of those plans? If so, this would not only be unethical but would also seemingly give Deltec and illegal advantage over its competitors.

Secondly, what will become of the many important initiatives which Pinder was overseeing? Among them, the country’s accession to the WTO? For Months, Pinder has spearheaded the talks with international officials and has been responsible for the – albeit – limited public proclamations on the issue.

Pinder’s resignation also highlights the need for discretion when choosing individuals to serve in public office. Such a decision should never be taken lightly. Taking on the responsibilities of public service often requires great personal sacrifice including giving up more lucrative positions in order to affect change. It is a commitment that is also taken on by that individual’s family as well. While the final decision is indeed Mr. Pinder’s to make, it certainly seems to send the message that he was no longer prepared to make the personal sacrifices necessary to fulfill his original commitment. I encourage any and all individuals considering public life to fully weigh the decision beforehand.

And what of Mr. Pinder’s decision to remain in parliament? How will his new duties affect his ability to serve his constituents? These answers are owed to his constituents and to the wider Bahamian public.

What this country needs are leaders who understand the idea of sacrifice. Leaders who are prepared to go without so that the entire country can benefit, leaders who are in it for the long haul, and not easily swayed by the offer of a big pay day.

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We are Bahamians first whether we're black or white

Mrs. Nicki Kelly on the "dilemma for PLP's racist faction
Rick Lowe



Mrs. Kelly had a very thought provoking piece in her column for The Punch, Between The Lines, yesterday as usual.

She raised the valid point that the PLP now have two "white" candidates in Ryan Pinder and Clay Sweeting as well as Dr. Andre Rollins who has a white mother and a black father and this might be upsetting for the PLP's racist faction.

I wonder if the political class believe the Bahamian people think no further than race when they are voting?

Surely the population thinks about public policy, and whether it is good or bad for the country, more now than ever before?

If the "PLP's racist faction" can upset their parties apple cart because they have two white candidates and one half white standard bearer, the party does not deserve to win the government until its leadership casts them out or at least has the guts to face them down and explain they now live in 2011 and there is no room for that in their organisation.

We are Bahamians first whether we're black or white.

February 22, 2011

weblogbahamas

Bahamas Blog International

Ryan Pinder Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Elizabeth by-election candidate renounces his United States citizenship

By Krystel Rolle ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:

Progressive Liberal Party by-election candidate for Elizabeth Ryan Pinder yesterday announced that he surrendered his United States citizenship.  The decision comes after weeks of criticism in the political arena.  However, yesterday he denied that his decision had anything to do with politics.

Pinder, who is the son of former politician Marvin Pinder, had dual citizenship in The Bahamas and the United States - his mother is an American.

"It happened a while back," he told The Nassau Guardian, referring to his decision to renounce his U.S. citizenship.

"It's not a political decision for me.  I'm a man that discusses the issues.  The issues are important to the constituents of Elizabeth and it's a shame that this insignificant issue has caused a state of confusion."

"I love the country that I'm a part of.  I love The Bahamas.  I'm a Bahamian and that's where I stand," he stated.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham recently took an indirect swipe at Pinder.

"In Duane Sands you have a patriotic Bahamian," Ingraham said speaking about the Free National Movement's candidate in the by-election.

"He is a full-blooded Bahamian, loyal to The Bahamas, he is only a Bahamian - not dual, single," Ingraham said.

While some political observers believe that Pinder was pressured in making the decision, Pinder said that the choice to give up his U.S. citizen was his alone.

Asked whether the PLP asked him to renounce his citizenship, he said, "no, absolutely not."

Pinder, who has worked in the United States for several years as a tax attorney and returned to The Bahamas about three years ago, said he has no regrets about his decision.

"I work in Nassau, The Bahamas.  This is my permanent place of work and permanent place of living.  So I work in Nassau and this has no bearing on that."

In July 2008, Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., the U.S. company that employed Pinder, named him to head the firm's new office in New Providence.

According to its website, Becker and Poliakoff is a diversified commercial law firm whose core areas of practice include real estate, condominium and homeowners association law, construction, international business and trade, government law and lobbying, civil and commercial litigation, and corporate securities and tax law.  The Elizabeth seat became available last month when former Progressive Liberal Party MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from the House of Assembly. He also resigned from the party.

His resignation came at the halfway mark of the Ingraham administration's third, non-consecutive term in office.

In addition to Sands and Pinder, other candidates in the election are Bahamas Democratic Movement leader Cassius Stuart, Workers Party leader Rodney Moncur and National Development Party chairman Dr. Andre Rollins.

February 12, 2010

thenassauguardian