The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ELIZABETH MP Ryan Pinder yesterday called the FNM “desperate” after the party’s leaders accused him of resigning as minister of financial services because of lost confidence in the government.

Mr Pinder said he could not be more confident in the direction this country is heading in, adding that he fully supports the Christie administration.

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis has said that Mr Pinder is “jumping ship” in part because he is displeased with the government’s management of the Bank of the Bahamas (BOB).

FNM Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Finance and Financial Services Peter Turnquest added that with Mr Pinder’s imminent departure from Cabinet, “visible cracks” are beginning to appear in the government.

“I don’t know what I would be jumping ship for and I don’t know how BOB has any factor in this frankly,” Mr Pinder said yesterday, a day after news broke that he will leave his ministry to take up a senior position at Deltec bank.

“I made a decision that I deemed to be in my professional well being. I am completely committed to the government of the Bahamas and completely committed to the prime minister and I think that is evident by him inviting me to Cuba with him for the Heads of States meeting even after I gave notice of my pending resignation from the Cabinet.”

Mr Pinder’s resignation will take effect at the end of this month.

“I have pledged my full faith and commitment to the government and its policy initiatives,” he said yesterday. “This has nothing to do with the government of the Bahamas, politics or any kind of lack of confidence. I couldn’t have any more confidence in the direction of this country right now and for any member of the opposition who is looking to make this decision a political one, I think it just demonstrates desperation from the opposition party.”

Mr Pinder said serving in the Cabinet has been a “ride of a lifetime,” adding that he is especially proud of his achievements with regard to “negotiations, policy initiatives, new products, new markets and getting matters related to automatic exchange on the way forward.”

“I will maintain my position as a representative of the Elizabeth constituency in the House of Assembly from the back bench and in doing so support the government of the Bahamas.”

Mr Pinder declined to speculate on who is likely to replace him, adding that Prime Minister Perry Christie has a deep bench from which to choose a successor.

“We have very capable people in the government, both currently sitting in the Cabinet, sitting in the Senate or otherwise that I think would have the confidence of the industry, the confidence of the prime minister and would administer the responsibilities of the portfolio in an effective way,” he said.

“I think an important element of being a financial services minister is having an open dialogue and having a commitment and really the faith and trust of the industry while being able to maintain a strong position in an international environment and I think we have a number of qualified people for that position but that’s ultimately the decision of the PM.”

Mr Pinder said he is committed to serving the government in any capacity free of charge if requested by Mr Christie.

“I’ve given him my word and commitment that I would work as necessary and as asked by him as prime minister going forward in any capacity he deems fit,” he said.

According to sources close to the Christie administration, Mr Pinder was made an offer he could not refuse from the private bank.