By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

IN the wake of Financial Services Minister Ryan Pinder’s resignation, Prime Minister Perry Christie admitted yesterday that salaries of politicians “is a real challenge” for Bahamian professionals wishing to enter the field.

Mr Pinder’s resignation will become effective at the end of this month.

He will then become a senior executive at Deltec Bank, receiving what he called “once in a lifetime” benefits.

The move, he said, is in the best interest of his family.

Reacting to the news outside the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Christie said while several factors may have played a role in Mr Pinder’s decision to resign from Cabinet, the issue of salary in politics is pertinent.

Mr Christie also told reporters that he has not chosen Mr Pinder’s successor, adding that there is currently no front-runner for the post.

“We are involved in a process of finalising Mr Pinder’s position and I’m in the process of reviewing my team to see, so to speak, who would ascend to that position or laterally move to that position and if someone does that, who takes that position,” he said.

Cabinet ministers currently take home $66,000 annually while state ministers receive $60,000. Members of parliament make $28,000 per year.

Earlier this year, a parliamentary select committee recommended a salary and benefits review of parliamentarians, especially as it relates to constituency allowances.

“I think it is important for you to determine the extent to which (Mr Pinder) is motivated by the salary considerations because it might not be a fair conclusion to make because he does come from a family of means, not just his father, but his wider family is well off as well, so I’m sure there were other considerations,” Mr Christie said. “But with respect to the salaries, it is a real challenge in the Bahamas for many professionals. There are any number of people who agree to come into politics on the basis that they are going to give a limited time of service because if you have a young family and you are the chief breadwinner, there is an acute need to always be aware of the fact that as your family grows and becomes older there’s a greater responsibility to find the necessary money to give them a life of comfort and so there are so many considerations in politics.

“Just think about what I had to endure over these 40 years and you would know you don’t find that many people doing that, so it is what it is right now,” Mr Christie said.

Mr Christie also dismissed statements of FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis who said that Mr Pinder’s resignation is the consequence of his dissatisfaction with the government.

“Ryan Pinder resigned because of that?” Mr Christie asked. “Dr Minnis has great difficulty and I think he makes it worse for himself when he makes these injudicious statements that would easily be refuted by Ryan Pinder himself. Ryan Pinder is a believer. Ryan Pinder has made a decision not to leave the PLP, to assiduously promote the PLP, which he will, right in the House of Assembly so what does Dr Minnis look like when Ryan Pinder gets up and says you’re talking nonsense? All it does, it says again, that with Mr Minnis, there is a need for him to grow and mature as a leader, to understand the full workings of our democracy and to know that these things happen.

“When someone is giving an extraordinary, mind blowing offer in an economy like this and they’re young and they have kids, no matter how wealthy they are that offer is not just dollar and cents, it’s a prominent position in a banking order that will enable you to become one of the power brokers on a global basis. That’s what Ryan Pinder is looking forward to, being a huge player in financial services in the world. Those are opportunities where you may say ‘Well, maybe he shouldn’t have done it because of service and service commitment and what not.’ I understand and in fairness to him he came to me some time ago and we discussed this. He discussed it with the deputy prime minister as well. We discussed it together and I said to him, give me time to think about it. I will give you the benefit of my advice and I said to him, come go to Cuba with me and show me all the things you were doing in trade so I have an understanding while meeting with Caribbean leaders. We’ve had that opportunity and I’m able to come back to the Bahamas, say to my Cabinet that Mr Pinder has given me an indication that he is resigning. That’s the process that took place.”