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Commonwealth of Nations.
Pindling served as prime minister of the Bahamas until 1992. During his
long career in public service, he was credited with helping to improve edu-
cational and economic opportunities for Bahamians. But he was also dogged
by allegations of bribery and charges that his government turned a blind eye
toward—and perhaps was even bankrolled by—Colombian drug lords. Drug
trafficking, drug use, and crime in general began to increase in the Bahamas
in the 1980s.
In 1992, with his popularity undermined by the assorted allegations,
Pindling and his Progressive Liberal Party were defeated at the polls by the
conservative Free National Movement (FNM). FNM leader Hubert A.
Ingraham became prime minister; Ingraham was elected to another five-year
term in 1997.
Bahamas
26
Damaged houses on
Eleuthera Island the
day after Hurricane
Floyd pounded the
Bahamas in
September 1999.
Abaco Island was also
hit hard by the storm.