978-1-4222-3316-0

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Bahamas

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.

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.