Stuart sworn in as new PM
Published:Monday | October 25, 2010 | 12:00 AM
BRIDGETOWN (CMC);
Former attorney general and deputy prime minister Freundel Stuart was sworn in as this country's seventh prime minister on Saturday, a few hours after David Thompson succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
The new prime minister said that the island had gone into official mourning and that Foreign Affairs Minister Maxine McClean will head the government committee working with the Thompson family to plan his state funeral.
"You will be hearing more about the arrangements over the next few days, but as things stand now the country is in a state of mourning, flags will be flown at half mast and all the other courtesies usually extended to persons in Mr Thompson's position will be extended," he said.
"You can expect that over the next week or so there will be a period of mourning in Barbados as we decide on the date for the funeral," he added.
State of grief
Stuart said the ruling Democratic Labour Party that Thompson led to victory in the 2008 general election "is in a state of grief, as indeed the nation, having regard the fact that the Honourable David Thompson has been so critical to public life in Barbados ever since his school days ... ."
He said Thompson had battled 'manfully' to deal with his illness, "but, of course, those challenges overwhelmed him this morning ... and he succumbed to death.
"I want to take this opportunity to extend heartfelt condolences to his bereaved relatives, particularly his wife and three daughters who stood by him through this long and challenging period, and who must be feeling the long effects of that long period ... as they watched his seemingly inevitable decline".
Stuart said he was certain that Thompson would not have wanted the country to spend "all of our time looking back".
He added: "He was the kind of person who felt that the future of Barbados is much more important than the life of any individual, including his life, but, of course, we who survive him think that we owe certain duties and courtesies having regard that he held the highest office in the land".