SWEETING SLAMS VICTIMISATION
The Tribune, largest newspaper in The Bahamas, carried the headline “Sweeting
Slams Victimisation” in its 2nd May issue. In parliament, South Abaco MP Robert
Sweeting accused local government minister V Alfred Gray of ending South
Abaco administrator Benjamin Pinder’s contract without giving him sufficient
notice.
Benjamin Pinder had been appointed by previous prime minister Hubert Ingraham
to perform a special task: administer a small district that did not justify
a full time professional administrator. Benjamin Pinder was chosen because
of his integrity. Everyone in his district knew him to be incorruptible.
Minister Gray had approached Benjamin Pinder at the end of his contract
and asked him whether he wanted his contract renewed. According to Minister
Gray, Mr Pinder demurred. Asked if he would stay on until a replacement was
found, Mr Pinder agreed. “I said that before his contract formally expired
and he left office in April 2003, I wanted him to assist me. I felt he was
my friend and I wanted to assist him if he could assist me. I asked him is
he would hold on. I don’t do foolish things knowingly. I want the member for
South Abaco to know that I have good reason to do the things I do,” said Minister
Gray.
MP Robert Sweeting replied that everybody knew that Benjamin Pinder was
a man who would not want to be a “kiss up to anybody”, but that Mr Pinder’s
life had been considerably disrupted. A crawfisherman and boat builder, Mr
Pinder had to completely change his way of life and even his residence to
fulfil government duties. He would certainly have earned more money in the
fishing and boat buiding industry that in government during the time he served.
The Tribune followed up with an editorial on 5th May titled “No Way to
do Business”. In the editorial it was pointed out that Mr Pinder was chosen
by Hubert Ingraham because “he was honest, he was fair, and he was respected
by his community”. Mr Pinder reluctantly signed a three year contract.
On 1st October 2002 Mr Pinder received a call from the Local Government
permanent secretary informing him his contract would expire on 11th October.
Benjamin Pinder and his wife Virginia vacated the government residence and
were in their own home by 10th October.
A call from the permanent secretary asked Benjamin Pinder to stay on until
31st March, to which Mr Pinder agreed. On 25th March Mr Pinder received a
call from Mr Jolton Johnson on Eleuthera that he would be arriving on Abaco
to replace Mr Pinder. He asked that Mr Pinder pick him up from the airport
and arrange accommodations for him.
A fax came in later on to say that Mr Johnson was to take over Mr Pinder’s
post by 31st March.
The Tribune editorial ended with: “To this date Benny Pinder, South Abaco
administrator until 31st March, is yet to receive any direct communication
from Mr Gray or his ministry. In his opinion, this is not the civil way to
do business.”