David Thompson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Thompson in April 2010 | |
| 6thPrime Minister of Barbados | |
| In office 16 January 2008 – 23 October 2010 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor-General | Clifford Husbands |
| Deputy | Freundel Stuart |
| Preceded by | Owen Arthur |
| Succeeded by | Freundel Stuart |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office September 1994 – September 2000 | |
| Prime Minister | Owen Arthur |
| Preceded by | Owen Arthur |
| Succeeded by | Clyde Mascoll |
| In office January 2006 – January 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Owen Arthur |
| Preceded by | Clyde Mascoll |
| Succeeded by | Mia Mottley |
| Member of Parliament forSaint John | |
| In office 16 July 1987 – 23 October 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Errol Barrow |
| Succeeded by | Mara Thompson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1961-12-25)25 December 1961 London, United Kingdom |
| Died | 23 October 2010(2010-10-23) (aged 48) Mapps, Barbados |
| Political party | Democratic Labour Party (1978-2010) |
| Spouse | Mara Thompson |
| Children | Misha Oya Osa-Marie |
| Residence | Ilaro Court (2008–2010) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
David John Howard Thompson (25 December 1961[1] – 23 October 2010) was the sixthprime minister of Barbados from 15 January 2008[2] until his death frompancreatic cancer on 23 October 2010.[3]
Thompson was born inLondon[4] to Charles Thompson, an Afro-Barbadian porter and painter,[5][6] and Margaret Knight,[7][8] a White Barbadian author, secretary and nurse.[6] Both parents remained strong influences in Thompson's life.[9] Thompson was brought up with his three siblings atFitts Village,Saint James.[6]
Thompson attendedprimary school at St Gabriel's Junior School and secondary school atCombermere School.[10] He earned aLegal Education Certificate fromHugh Wooding Law School.[10] Thompson graduated with honors from theUniversity of the West Indies at Cave Hilllaw school in 1984.[10] He was admitted to the Barbadosbar in 1984 and taught as a part-time tutor in law at the University of the West Indies from 1986 to 1988.[10] Hislaw firm was Thompson & Associates.[11]
Thompson was married toMara Thompson (née Giraudy),[10] who was born inSaint Lucia.[2][12] The couple had three daughters - Misha, Oya and Osa-Marie.[10] The family resided inMapps, St. Philip, though Thompson resided at the official Prime Minister's residenceIlaro Court from 2008 until 2010.[10]
Thompson first entered theDemocratic Labour Party (Barbados) in 1978 and served in theSenate of Barbados until 1987.A by-election after the death of the Prime MinisterErrol Barrow, gaining his parliamentary seat forSaint John in 1987.[1][4] DuringErskine Sandiford's term as prime minister, Thompson served as Minister of Community Development and Culture from 1991 to 1993. He was subsequently appointedMinister of Finance from 1993 to 1994.[13] Thompson was elected and became leader of the DLP when Sandiford resigned after losing a parliamentary no confidence motion. Thompson was unopposed in that Leadership Election. Thompson unsuccessfully led theDemocratic Labour Party in elections in 1994 and 1999. Shortly after the1994 Barbadian general election, Thompson made his shadow cabinet including him as Shadow Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment He resigned as party leader in September 2000 following his third electoral defeat as party leader in the St. Thomas by-election. A leadership election was held to determine the future of theDemocratic Labour Party (Barbados), whereClyde Mascoll defeatedFreundel Stuart. However, when party leaderClyde Mascoll was forced to resign (as party leader) since his popularity had been eroded by internal party skirmishes it cleared the way for Thompson to once again became opposition leader but he became Chairman of theDemocratic Labour Party (Barbados) instead of President in January 2006.Clyde Mascoll after seemingly being mistreated by the party he was born into and grew up in then decided to switch allegiance to the Barbados Labour Party,[1][4]
The DLP won thegeneral election held on 15 January 2008 with 20 seats against 10 for theBarbados Labour Party, which was led by former prime ministerOwen Arthur. Thompson was sworn in as prime minister on 16 January,[14] becoming Barbados' sixth prime minister and the third to serve under the DLP. Thompson was also re-elected to his own seat from St. John constituency with 84% of the vote.[15] He announced his Cabinet on 19 January, including himself asMinister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Development, Labour, Civil Service and Energy; it was sworn in on 20 January.
He never resided at the Prime Minister's Official Residence atIlaro Court, and stated that he never wanted to move there, and so lived atMapps,Barbados during his tenure as prime minister.
The Governor-General scheduled a by-election for 20 January 2011[16] to fill the vacant seat in theHouse of Assembly formerly held by Thompson. Thompson's wife Mara was theDLP-candidate in the by-election for her late husband's former seat.[17] She won the seat by an overwhelming margin, defeating BLP opponent Hudson Griffith 4 613 votes to 553.
At a media briefing at his official Ilaro Court residence on 14 May 2010, Thompson, accompanied by his personal physician, Richard Ishmael, said that he had been suffering with stomach pains since early March. He also revealed he had undergone tests in Barbados, which were inconclusive, and had also travelled with Ishmael to New York where additional tests were carried out. The process of testing would be ongoing and, because of this, Attorney General and Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stuart would assume the Prime Minister's office in Thompson's absence.[1][18][19]
On 30 August, Thompson re-assumed his post of prime minister, having returned to Barbados the day before. On 7 September, he left Barbados for New York on a trip of unknown nature.[20][21] A short time later Thompson's personal physician, Richard Ishmael, informed the general public that the Prime Minister was suffering frompancreatic cancer. However, when the news came of the fact that it waspancreatic cancer, many realised that such a diagnoses would have been known in the very early stages of the tests (even the local ones) and that it was kept secret more so for political reasons than for personal reasons.[22][23]
Prior to Thompson's death a prepared letter was read-out on behalf of Thompson outlining his desires for political party and country.[24] Hours later, Thompson died at his home in Mapps, St. Philip, at approximately 2:10 am on 23 October 2010.[25] His mother, wife Mara and daughters Misha, Oya and Osa-Marie were by his side, as well as his sister, Liz.[25]
Thompson was the third sitting prime minister of Barbados to die in office following the deaths ofTom Adams in 1985 andErrol Barrow in 1987.[26] He was also the 7thhead of government of aCARICOM country to die in office since CARICOM was founded in 1973.[26][12]
As news of Thompson's death spread, regional and international dignitaries expressed their condolences.[27][28] to the Thompson family and the nation.[29]Pope Benedict XVI was among those offering condolences for the Prime Minister and stated that he "invokes God's blessings upon the late Prime Minister's family and the people of Barbados."[30] Barbadian pop starRihanna, who was appointed by Thompson as an 'Honorary Ambassador of Culture' of Barbados, also expressed her sadness at the passing of the Prime Minister.[31] Condolences have also been extended to Barbados by theUnited Nations General Assembly,[32][33] and the then Secretary General of the United Nations,Ban Ki-moon.[34][2] As well as former prime minister Lloyd Erskine Sandiford,[35] and U.S. President Obama.[3]
Barbados entered an official period ofmourning for the former prime minister on 23 October. On that date, the government-ownednational broadcaster began airing tributes of the Prime Minister. Such tributes included some of Thompson's speeches and debates, as well as some local and international statements of condolence to his family, extended family, and the nation. The mourning period was also stated to be in effect for Barbados until the officialstate funeral. On Monday 25 October Senator Maxine McClean announced[36] in a televised broadcast the full arrangements for the funeral of PM Thompson;[37][38] Senator McClean stated that on 28 October 2010 (from 9am–11am) Thompson would first have a closed viewing in the east-wing of theParliament of Barbados.[4] That viewing will be upstairs in the chamber of theHouse of Assembly and would follow Barbados'Table of Precedence for members ofGovernment from theGovernor General down to MPs. On that same date members of the general public could later view Thompson at the House of Assembly from 11am-5pm. On 29 October, from 2pm-5pm a public viewing would take place at Thompson'salma mater, TheCombermere School. On 30 October, a viewing for the general public took place at the George Street Auditorium from 9am-5pm. On Monday, 1 November from 10am-5pm a general public viewing took place in Thompson's home constituency ofSaint John at the Parish Church. On 2 November, Thompson will again have a general public viewing at the House of Assembly from 9am-5pm. The official state funeral for the Prime Minister took place on 3 November at theKensington Oval stadium and was strictly a ticket only event. Over ten thousand persons, including foreign dignitaries and diplomatic representatives, attended the state funeral.[5] Thousands more lined the streets of Bridgetown that morning to pay their respects as the official funeral procession made its way through the city en route to the Oval.[6][7] Both the state funeral at the Kensington Oval and the interment at theSt. John's (Anglican) Parish Church were broadcast live by CBC TV 8.[8] Mr. Thompson's final resting place is in the church's cemetery and overlooks the east coast of the island.[39][9]
MARA THOMPSON, widow of late Prime Minister David Thompson, has confirmed that she is ready to contest the St John by-election on a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) ticket.
PRIME MINISTER DAVID THOMPSON will be taking two months leave from his national responsibilities and could be heading for major surgery.
During a national broadcast from Government Headquarters, Thompson said that during the past few weeks he had undergone "observation, tests and medication".
11:56 a.m. – The newly sworn in Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, has announced that in accordance with protocol, Cabinet members will be reconfirmed in their positions during a swearing in ceremony this afternoon at 3 p.m.
PRIME Minister David Thompson has assured the nation yesterday, that during his time away he continues to keep abreast of what is happening in the country.
Dr. Richard Ishmael recorded statement
Joseph Goddard, Barbados' Representative to the United Nations, yesterday responded to the many tributes paid to the Prime Minister at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday extended condolences to the government and people of Barbados over the death of the Caribbean nation's prime minister David Thompson.
It was almost three decades in the making, but the residents of St. John can now boast of having a polyclinic in that parish. However, the 27 000 square foot facility will be much more than a clinic, as it will serve as home to several other entities as well. In fact, addressing the large crowd gathered for the opening, Member of Parliament for St. John, Mara Thompson, described the complex (which now bears the name of her late husband and Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson), as a "trans-generational multipurpose facility."
As Barbadians celebrated 40 years of political Independence yesterday, Opposition Leader David Thompson outlined a number of areas he wanted to see this country move toward during the next 40 years.
| Parliament of Barbados | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forSaint John 1987–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of Finance of Barbados 1993–1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Barbados 2008–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Finance of Barbados 2008–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Colonial Barbados (1953-1966) | |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Realm (1966-2021) | |
| Republic (From 2021) | |
| Related | |
* Served aspremier of Barbados. | |
| Commonwealth Realm (1966-2021) | |
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| Republic (Since 2021) | |
| International | |
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| National | |
