NASSAU, Bahamas, Aug 14, CMC – The chairman of the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) Charles Maynard has died of an apparent heart attack while campaigning for a candidate in the upcoming by-election.

A statement from the FNM said that Maynard, 42, died early Tuesday and that he and the party’s secretary general Michael Foulkes had been in North Abaco to help a candidate from their party in the by-election to fill the vacancy left open by the resignation of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

“The passing of the national chairman Charles Maynard is a tremendous loss of a rising political statesman and public servant, not only to the Free National Movement, but also to our beloved country,” the FNM said.

Maynard was the former minister of youth, sports and culture and in an immediate reaction, the Bahamas National Youth Council (BYNC) expressed its “deepest sympathy” recalling that as a minister Maynard “was indeed a great supporter and believer in the BNYC.

“He has sought to continuously meet with the executives to garner fresh ideas for youth development which assisted in the mobilization of his ministry. He always believed that there should be a close working relationship with BNYC and the Ministry of Youth, which fostered further positive progression of our nation’s youth.

“Furthermore, Mr. Maynard was a young leader in the former government, a man who enjoyed Bahamian Culture and believed in the development of all young Bahamians,” the BYNC said, adding “words cannot express the sadness that our organization feels at this moment, the prayers of organizations are with Mrs. Maynard, his children and family at this time”.

Maynard is survived by his wife and three children.