Parliament pays tribute to David Thompson

St Vincent, (CMC):

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Parliament yesterday paid tribute to the late Barbados prime minister David Thompson who died over the weekend after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves told legislators that he would miss Thompson, who died on Saturday, since the two had been working on a number of problematic issues including the Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) debacle, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the regional airline LIAT.

He described Thompson, 48, as having "an intellect, a splendid wit, (and) a man who loved to give political anecdotes.

"I will really miss him," said Gonsalves, noting that Thompson had spent all his young life trying to acquire the prize of prime minister only to have "this debilitating illness take it away from him.

"A void has been left in Barbados and the region not easily filled," Gonsalves said, noting "you can't go to the supermarket and buy a leader and we have to feel for the people of Barbados at this time."

An outstanding man

Opposition leader Arnhim Eustace, who like Gonsalves worked in Barbados during the 1970's, described Thompson as "an outstanding man" whose name had become a household one in Barbados.

"It was clear to me that he would end up in politics, and he pursued his career with that in mind. And eventually, at a relatively young age, he became Prime Minister of Barbados.

"He has passed on now, at the age at 48 and I simply want to wish, formally, on behalf of the New Democratic Party, to express our condolences to his family and to the government and people in Barbados, and to the Democratic Labour Party (DLP)," Eustace added.

The Parliament also paid its respect to Sir Vincent Flossiac, the St Lucian born internationally recognised jurist, who served as a judge with the London-based Privy Council.

Sir Vincent died in his homeland last week.