Abner Pinder secures large vote, but loses Chief Councillor Position.

File Photo: Mr. Abner Pinder, Businessman and former Chief Councillor on Spanish Wells.

Only one change to the council membership following the June 23rd local elections

After 15 years as Chief Councillor of Spanish Wells, Mr. Abner Pinder, has lost the post.

Mr. Pinder (Abner), had a very strong showing at the polls held on June 23rd, where he got 414 votes, nearly one hundred more than Gilbert "Gill" Pinder (326), the new Chief Councillor on the island which is located within the North Eleuthera Constituency. The second highest among the seven elected, was Robert Roberts with 352 votes followed by William Lonnie Bethel with 329 votes.

With the former Chief Councillor being affiliated with the FNM and the latter the PLP, the switch is being touted as a sign of change in North Eleuthera by the PLP who is working hard to take that constituency from the FNM. 

This conclusion requires a bit of a stretch however when one considers, there was no real shift in the persons elected from 2008, the popularity of Abner Pinder was obvious among those who voted and the Chief councillor's position is selected by the 7 councillors not the electorate. Reportedly the council vote was 4 to 3  in favour of Mr. Gilbert Pinder.

The 2008 elected council members were:

• Abner Pinder

• George Gilbert Pinder

• Robert Roberts

• Harold Roy Pinder

• William Lonnie Bethel

• Clay Sweeting

• Teresa Pinder

The only change to the list in 2011 is that Mr. Clay Sweeting has moved on to the national stage having secured the PLP nomination in the constituency. His position was filled by Mr. Raymond Pinder, Gilbert Pinder's brother.