{{Short description|Dominican politician (1971/1972–2026)}} '''Ian Pinard''' (1971 or 1972 – 17 April 2026) was a Dominican politician. He was elected in 2005 to parliament and did not run again in 2009. In 2014, he was again elected to parliament and was appointed a government minister. In 2016, he resigned first as minister then as MP in response to allegations of inappropriate relations with a minor.
==Life and career== Ian Pinard was born in either 1971 or 1972.<ref name = obit/>
Pinard was first elected to the House of Assembly in the 2005 election. He was elected to represent the Soufrière constituency on the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) ticket. In 2009, Pinard declined to seek re-election due to health-related reasons.<ref name = "as">{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/update-ian-pinard-resigns-as-soufriere-mp/|title=UPDATE: Ian Pinard resigns as Soufriere MP|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=26 April 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> Sam Martin succeeded him in parliament.<ref name = "Martin">{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/sam-martin-endorses-ian-pinard/|title=Sam Martin endorses Ian Pinard|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=1 July 2014|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref>
He was elected to parliament again in the 2014 election.<ref name = "as"/> His candidacy was endorsed by Martin.<ref name = "Martin"/> On 12 December 2014, Pinard was sworn in as minister for public works and ports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/breaking-news-seventeen-member-cabinet-of-ministers-sworn-in/|title=Seventeen-member cabinet of ministers sworn in|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=13 December 2014|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> On 2 March 2016, Pinard resigned as government minister due to, as ''Caribbean360'' explained, "allegations that he had inappropriate conduct with an under-aged girl."<ref name = "MP">{{cite web|url=https://www.caribbean360.com/news/mp-steps-aside-amid-ongoing-allegations-inappropriate-conduct-minor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507185948/https://www.caribbean360.com/news/mp-steps-aside-amid-ongoing-allegations-inappropriate-conduct-minor|title=MP steps aside amid allegations of inappropriate conduct with minor |publisher=Caribbean360|date=27 April 2016|archive-date=7 May 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> ''The Sun Dominica'' described the incident as a "sex scandal" and as "an alleged relationship with a schoolgirl."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sundominica.com/articles/ian-goes-as-parl-rep-too-3302/|title=Ian goes as Parl Rep too|publisher=The Sun Dominica|date=26 April 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sundominica.com/articles/hes-back-5304/|title=He's back|publisher=The Sun Dominica|date=8 May 2019|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> On 26 April, Pinard also resigned as MP due to the same allegations.<ref name = "MP"/> Pinard had been arrested in relation to the allegations and subsequently went on bail.<ref name = "eve">{{cite web|url=https://sundominica.com/articles/eve-of-sacrificing-adams-3432/|title=Eve of sacrificing Adams|publisher=The Sun Dominica|date=3 June 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> Following his resignation, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit publicly announced he "vowed to stand by" Pinard despite the allegations, as reported by ''Dominica News Online''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/skerrit-vows-to-stand-by-pinard-calls-supporters-to-arms/|title=Skerrit vows to stand by Pinard; calls supporters to arms|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=27 April 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref>
In the by-election which resulted from Pinard's resignation, Denise Charles was chosen as the DLP candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/dlp-confirms-denise-charles-as-its-candidate-in-soufriere-by-election/|title=DLP confirms Denise Charles as its candidate in Soufriere by-election|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=10 May 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> She had previously worked on Pinard's campaign.<ref name = "tipped">{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/denise-charles-tipped-to-replace-pinard-in-soufriere-constituency/|title=Denise Charles tipped to replace Pinard in Soufriere constituency|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=28 April 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> On 15 May, Pinard endorsed Charles's candidacy. He also worked on her campaign.<ref name = "calls">{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/uwp-leader-calls-for-dlp-to-forego-soufriere-by-election/|title=UWP leader calls for DLP to forego Soufriere by-election|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=22 May 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> The opposition United Workers' Party focused their campaign on the issue of child abuse due to the allegations surrounding Pinard.<ref name = "eve"/> Charles was ultimately elected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/denise-charles-sworn-in/|title=Denise Charles sworn in|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=30 June 2016|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref>
After resigning, he served as acting general manager at Petro Caribe Dominica.<ref name = "DAPSA"/> In November 2024, Pinard was elected as vice president of the DLP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/roosevelt-skerrit-re-elected-as-dlp-leader-unopposed/|title=Roosevelt Skerrit re-elected as DLP leader, unopposed|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=11 November 2024|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref> In December 2024, Pinard was appointed CEO of the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority.<ref name = "DAPSA">{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/homepage-carousel/ian-pinard-appointed-new-daspa-ceo/|title=Ian Pinard appointed new DASPA CEO|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=2 December 2024|accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref>
Pinard died on 17 April 2026, at the age of 54.<ref name = obit>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-17 |title=Former government minister, Ian pinard, passes at 54 |url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/death/former-government-minister-ian-pinard-passes-at-54/ |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=Dominica News Online}}</ref> His funeral was held in Pointe Michel on 8 May, which was declared a national day of mourning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/death/former-government-minister-ian-pinard-to-receive-official-funeral/|title=Former Government minister Ian Pinard to receive official funeral|publisher=Dominica News Online|date=1 May 2026|accessdate=1 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|6175602}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinard, Ian}} Category:1970s births Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:2026 deaths Category:Dominica Labour Party politicians Category:Public works ministers of Dominica Category:Members of the House of Assembly of Dominica Category:21st-century Dominica politicians