Statement Issued by The Progressive Young Liberals, National Youth Arm of the Progressive Liberal Party.

14^th January 2010

The Progressive Young Liberals is proud to support Ryan Pinder as our Party’s Candidate and Standard bearer in the Elizabeth Constituency Bye- Election. Mr. Pinder at the age of 35 is a refreshing face, talent, personality and energy in national politics. Unlike the proposed Candidate of the Free National Movement Mr. Pinder hails from the bosom of our organization and demonstrates that young people are provided full opportunities to the path of political leadership in the PLP.

The FNM has reportedly chosen a Candidate with no history of association with their organization as they have decided to pass over, ignore and discredit their young ardent supporters just to satisfy the wishes of a certain class and special interest grouping in the FNM.

The Progressive Young Liberals are particularly proud that Ryan Pinder has worked at all levels of the PLP. Ryan cut his political teeth in the ranks of the Young Liberals. Indeed he was a youngster campaigning with his legendary father “Marvelous” Marvin Pinder, the former PLP Member of Parliament for Malcolm Creek and the St. John’s Constituencies from the mid 1980s.

Before he was unanimously chosen as the PLP Candidate for Elizabeth Constituency, Ryan, served on the Leadership Council and the National General Council of the Party. Ryan also serves as co-chair of the PLP’s Committee on Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade.

The FNM’s proposed Candidate can only further disappoint his organization because he is a stranger in their midst. It would appear that the FNM has decided to force feed their Candidate down the throats of the Elizabeth Consituency.

The young people of Elizabeth will see a PLP Candidate that they can talk and relate with. Someone who understands the needs of our generation which revolves around a basic question:- “How will you help me to empower myself?” Ryan is ready for the job.

The people of Elizabeth are getting from our PLP Candidate Ryan Pinder, a young go getter who knows the Party base, understands the Party’s ideology of “putting people first” and has been baptized in the PLP philosophy “of wiping every tear from every eye.”

Ryan comes to Elizabeth super charged to show by his steady and sturdy example of hard academic work that all Bahamians can achieve success. He comes to Elizabeth with the passion he brought to debate in the Council of the Young Liberals that our young people need solid role models and mentors.

Ryan also comes to Elizabeth as one of the many capable young leaders within the PLP. The Young Liberals will continue to work to support the leaders of our generation. Will continue to advocate and help to answer the questions that this generation are faced with.