Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has died. The head of state had been battling pancreatic cancer for some time.
The Barbados Advocate reports that Thompson, 48, passed away at approximately 2:10 a.m. this morning.
Thompson had presented his final address to the nation on September 30 where he announced a Cabinet reshuffle and devolved several of his portfolios to Cabinet members.
Thompson became Prime Minister in January 2008 when the Democratic Labour Party won the government.
He is survived by his wife Mara, and three daughters, Mischa, Oya and Osa-Marie.
STATEMENT BY THE CTO ON THE PASSING
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is deeply saddened by the passing of The Right Hon. David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados. Our prayers are with his wife Mara, his daughters Misha, Oya and Osa-Marie, his parents, family, relatives and friends.
We also share the grief of his constituents whom he served from 1987 until his passing on October 23rd and the entire nation of Barbados, which he led as Prime Minister since 2008.
Despite the prior knowledge of his illness, the passing of Prime Minister Thompson at the early age of 48 must come as a shock to the People of Barbados, whose prayers and outpouring of support have been unceasing.
Prime Minister Thompson was steadfast in his commitment to the CTO. His support was evident in Barbados’ kind hosting of major CTO events during his tenure – the 11th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism and the first ever Leadership Strategy Conference – and his dedication to the cause of the Caribbean’s economic prosperity through tourism.
Prime Minister Thompson was personally involved in advocating the issues of regional tourism at the highest levels overseas as well as throughout the Caribbean. We will forever cherish his guidance and leadership.
The Chairman of the CTO Council of Ministers The Hon. Ricky Skerritt, with whom Prime Minister Thomson had a personal friendship, the Ministers, Directors, management, staff and the entire CTO family extend our sincere condolences to all who mourn the loss of Prime Minister David Thompson. May he rest in peace.
Portsmouth,
Why did you have to drag politics in my submission? I asked a question, and you decided to put on your red shoes and kick me with it. For what?
Anonymous was kind enough, and responded by refering me to an article in the Barbados nation Newspaper. Thats what we must do, when someone asked a question. Not come on here and display your badge of honor. We must share information, what good is knowledge unless it is shared?
anonymous,
Thanks for refering me to the “Barbados Nation” Article, it is a moving tribute to the man.
May his soul rest in peace…..May God comfort the family and friends and the entire nation…
The world is slowly creeping to an end…let us make things right with God and turn back to him….
R.I.P PM
@Grand Bayrian: Since you asked, I pulled this from a story in the Barbados Nation captioned “Tears for David” .
[His personal friend Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, who visited with Thompson here just recently, told the SUNDAY SUN he was “very, very saddened by David’s death”.
“I will miss him a lot,” he said.]
@Grandbayrian
Why does everything has to be about politics. Why everything has to be about Skeritt the Prime MInister of Dominica. Re: your statement that the Prime MInister did not make a statement on the death of the Barbados Prime Minister. I wish to inform you that if you were listening to DBS at 6.45pm on Saturday morning news you would have heard the statement the Prime MInister made. He further stated that they were close and attended many Caricom meetings together. If his statement was made public on DNO well too bad.
Think before all you write. Think before making such useless comment without value or subsatnce. I am in New York and I heard the statement from the Prime Minister of Dominica and his condolences to his wife Mara and the children.
Just words for thought before we write and post anything on DNO.
james 4 :12-17
R IP HON PM
Where is the Prime Minister of Dominica? I have read several statements by other regional leaders, sharing their thoughts on the Late Prime Minister of BarbadosMr. David Thomson; I have not heard anything from The Hon.Prime Minister?..
My sincere sympathy to The Late PM family and the people of Barbados.
I am deeply saddened by the passing of the P.M. Still so young. Our condolences to the family and people of Barbados.
can’t believe you are gone. just less than a year you were here in DA. may you rest in eternal peace
My deepest sympathy to the people of Barbados who held on so strong in faith for his recovery, but God knows best. Also to his beloved family the Thompsons… be strong in the Lord and he will give you all strength… RIP
RIP sir
Just this year you were in Dominica for our pm swearing in. You delivered a good speech
Sincere Sympathy from the Entire Dominican people all over the World too numerous to mention From Rosie in England.
I heard the sad news of his passing today on CNN. He died at such a young age. No doubt, the Lord has better and higher plans for him.
My sympathy goes out to his family and the people of Barbados.
I am praying for the repose of his soul.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen!
Sympathy greetings goin out to the family of the late David Thompson.May God grant u strength durin ur time of mournin.We’ll continue to pray for u.
A letter from Prime Minister and MP for St John David Thompson to his constituents which was published in the MIDWEEK NATION October 13, 2010.
“Dear Loving People of St John,
Since 1987 when you first embraced me as your friend and then your elected representative, it has been my happy privilege to be among you on a frequent basis. In recent months, however, I have not been able to visit you in your homes, have a drink with you in the shops, worship with you or even share a joke on the block. As you know, I have had some serious health challenges which have curtailed my active life, including my enjoyable sojourns to St John to see you.
You would have heard from me on every occasion that I have shared my sentiments with the entire country. But for me that’s simply not enough for the the people of St John, given the very close relationship which has always been renewed through our face-to-face contact throughout these past 23 years.
Life has been lonely without you. I have therefore decided to write you a more personalised letter.
In my quiet moments I have happily replayed in my mind the truly splendid times we have shared on the hard courts at Gall Hill; on the streets of Cherry Grove; the hills of Society; and in the hamlets of Venture and Edgehill; and the neighbourhoods of Massiah Street, Mount Tabor and Wilson Hill.
I yearn for a special opportunity in the not-too-distant future to be able to do it all over and over again. And with your prayers and God’s help I will. In the meantime, the programme to improve the quality of life for you is being given the special attention it always deserved, and which I have personally been able to direct since January 2008.
There is more work to be done that will be done. There will be personal needs to be attended to, and you are already aware of the well-known persons in your community with whom you can be in contact for assistance and direction.
They are under instruction to act on my behalf because I am yours and you are mine.
Be comforted in the knowledge that while I dearly love all of Barbados, the special bond between you the people of St John and me is unshakeable, even in difficult times of sickness and separation.
Know for sure that this experience has brought me much closer to God, whose compassionate love and grace I commend to you based particularly on my personal experience these past six months.
I invite you to continue to uphold my family and me in prayer at home and at church; in communities and in neighbourhoods wherever you meet. May God comfort everyone who may have lost relatives in recent times; may He bless all who are faced with personal and health challenges; indeed, may He bless each and every family of St John; each and every child.
I remain not just your caring Prime Minister, but your dedicated representative and your true friend and confidant.”
Our condolences go out to his family. May his soul R.I.P.
It is so hard when you lost someone so close to u, you have leave it to understand. HOLD STRONG I SAY TO THE THOMPSON’S
My condolences to the family, the people of barbados, the Caribbean and the world by extension during the lost of Mr. Thompson. May his soul rest in peace.
I am saddened by this.
My sincere sympathy to his family and the people of Barbados.
I’ve also being made to understand that the Dominica PM and the late PM Thompson of Barbados were close enough too.
When one hurts, we all hurt.
R.I.P.
may the good Lord grant u peace and welcome u to his kingdom. the family, be strong Go will strenghen u all
R I P Hon PM