Pindling, Sir Lynden (1930-2000), was premier, then prime minister, of the Bahamas from 1967 to 1992. He was one of the longest-serving heads of government in the Commonwealth of Nations. He led the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to successive landslide victories in 1968, 1972, 1977, 1982, and 1987. During Pindling’s time in office, the Bahamas became fully independent, on July 10, 1973.
As prime minister, Pindling encouraged the tourist industry in the Bahamas. The Bahamas increased its tourist trade from 1 million visitors a year in 1968 to 3.7 million a year by 1992.
Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, Pindling’s government repeatedly was accused of corruption, including drug smuggling and embezzlement. None of the charges ever were proven, but the scandals eroded the PLP’s popularity. In 1992, the PLP was defeated in parliamentary elections. Hubert Ingraham led the Free National Movement to a landslide victory. Pindling remained an active leader of the PLP until he retired from politics in 1997.
Pindling was born on March 22, 1930, in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. He earned a law degree from the University of London and worked as a lawyer before he was elected as the first black premier of the Bahamas. In 1969, his title changed to prime minister. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 1983. Pindling died on Aug. 26, 2000.
