By IANTHIA SMITH:
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate, Ryan Pinder has been shrouded in controversy over his US citizenship, which he admits he recently renounced, as well as questions over his allegiance to The Bahamas.
But PLP Leader Perry Christie said yesterday that he is quite satisfied that his candidate is "Bahamian-made."
"I am satisfied that Mr. Pinder today, is satisfied that everything he did was done correctly, on time and we wait for those who assert to make their assertions," Mr. Christie said. "He who asserts must prove."
Since announcing his decision to run on the PLP ticket in the February 16 by-election, numerous questions about his citizenship and loyalty to the country have loomed.
In the weeks leading up to the by-election, members of the Free National Movement (FNM) questioned Mr. Pinder’s qualifications as a lawful candidate in the by-election, pointing out that the PLP candidate had dual citizenship.
With mounting criticisms about his allegiance to the country, Mr. Pinder announced just days before the by-election that he had renounced his United States citizenship.
Mr. Pinder, who is the son of former PLP MP Marvin Pinder, and an American woman, had dual citizenship with The Bahamas and the United States.
But Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said on Sunday that he wants Mr. Pinder to prove that he in fact renounced his citizenship before the by-election.
Mr. Ingraham added that if the matter is in fact heard in Election Court, the party will call on the PLP to present Mr. Pinder’s American passport before the court.
"When we go to court we will have Dr. Duane Sands’ passport and we will say that he is a Bahamian. We will say that he has never held any other citizenship at any other time. We will call upon them [the PLP] to show Mr. Pinder’s American passport to show where it was marked cancelled by the Americans before nomination day.
"It is very important for the court to know upfront that each person who is before it is qualified to be there."
The prime minister argued that there is nothing wrong with Mr. Pinder or anyone else being an American citizen and running for office.
He said "just being a citizen is not an offence by itself."
The FNM even used the citizenship issue as a platform to criticise Mr. Pinder during its campaign trail.
National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest even announced during his party’s rallies that Mr. Pinder had never even voted in The Bahamas.
February 23rd, 2010
jonesbahamas
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
