The recent resignation of Ryan Pinder from the Perry Christie Cabinet has raised questions about whether Pinder used his position in government to land what the prime minister himself called a "mind-blowing" job.
It seems that neither Christie nor his minister responsible for promoting financial services could identify another suitably qualified Bahamian to fill that job.
All right-thinking Bahamians should be appalled that a Cabinet minister would use his elected position to secure a more lucrative job in the private sector -- in an area for which he held Cabinet responsibility.
Christie has indicated that he sees nothing wrong with the soon-to-be former financial services minister transitioning mid-term to a private bank because the offer was just that good.
In fact, the prime minister declared it would have been hard for anyone to turn down the offer.
But he thinks money was not Pinder's sole consideration when accepting the position at Deltec bank.
Christie tells us that it also has to do with Pinder getting the opportunity to be a power broker in the private banking world.
The absence of a distinction between private interest and public duty continues to elude this government.
That is clear for all to see.
Some observers are left wondering, at what point while he was doing his job could it have been possible for Pinder to discuss a job with an institution for which he had a duty to promote?
Was the prime minister informed that his minister of financial services was in talks with a private bank on a job offer?
We understand that Pinder has been in discussions with Deltec for several months.
Some also wonder what kind of financial institution would have the temerity to suggest to a Cabinet minister that he trade his government post for employment with them.
One such observer, who spoke to National Review without expectation of attribution, declared that Christie's hypocrisy is now laid bare for all to see.
"He is the same man who expressed concern when a former minister of tourism became employed as a consultant to a developer in Mayaguana following the 2012 general election, but now finds it acceptable for his serving minister of financial services to negotiate a lucrative job in an institution for which he holds direct responsibility to promote," noted that pundit.
Christie's inappropriate comments about the financial value of Pinder's new job and how it was "an offer he could not refuse" encapsulates the cause of so much of what is wrong in our country today.
Money and more money justifies anything, including sacrificing standards, ignoring professional ethics and dismissing the value of dedicated service to country.
We do not know when Pinder will start his new job, but it seems there is a need for a cooling off period before he starts.
This would be appropriate, and it is written into certain contracts in the corporate world.
It is also in the contract of the governor of the Central Bank. He or she cannot leave that position and join a financial institution immediately after.
A transition period for Pinder would at least provide an appearance of decency in making the transition to the private sector institution, which previously fell under his portfolio responsibilities.
Pinder's resignation left us asking Christie an obvious question, and that is who he intends to appoint to fill the position left vacant.
Christie's answer was that he had not decided (although he said he had long known Pinder would be leaving).
More interestingly, Christie added that he did not know whether he in fact would appoint anyone as minister of financial services.
If he does not, it would be an acknowledgement that the post was never that substantive to begin with.
Pinder's ministry, which has no permanent secretary, has a list of responsibilities that could easily be included under the Ministry of Finance or elsewhere.
Those areas, according to the Ministry of Financial Services' website, include promotion of financial services; relations with the Bahamas Financial Services Board; trade and industry; manufacturing (except for Grand Bahama); financial services product innovation and promotion in collaboration wit the Private Sector Industries Encouragement Act; International Trade (EU/ACP, WTO, FTAA, CARIBCAN and CBI) and development and promotion of our international commercial arbitration center.
The loss of Pinder from Cabinet is unlikely to cause any disruption to any part of the government's business.
We agree with one political observer who said, "We might simply wish Pinder bon voyage; thank him for saving the Bahamian public purse the cost of his ministerial salary and trappings including office accommodation and the operation cost of the same, his official car and travel budget."
We might also counsel Christie not to hurry to name any additional member to fill the post.
Clearly, Pinder's responsibilities can be assumed by any other existing minister.

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