A 'national tragedy' for Bajans

Barbados, (CMC):

Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart has described as a "national tragedy" the death of his predecessor David Thompson over the weekend after a prolonged battle with cancer.

But in an address to the nation on Sunday night, Stuart, who was sworn into office as the island's seventh head of government hours after Thompson's death, said Barbados has known this experience before, having lost two other Prime Ministers while they were serving in office.

"We brought then, all the resources of a resilient national character to bear on our circumstances of national travail. These resources remained undiminished and are still available for the nation's reinforcement.

"It is human to regard the late Prime Minister's passing in the flower of political youth, as a national tragedy. As the nation's leader, after all, he was, until a treacherous illness systematically disabled him, in full and manysided bloom."

Stuart said that the real tragedies consist not so much in the misfortunes, which a country suffers, but in the opportunities which that country misses.

Stuart traced Thompson's entry into public life "when still a school boy" and said until his death "he did not disappoint".

"Understandably, we all looked forward with excitement and anticipation to the kind of leadership he would bring to Barbados, since the office of Prime Minister seemed so perfectly to fit him; and in his first two years he did give some indication of what lay in store. Alas, the brief light of his Prime Ministership was to go out before noon," Stuart told the nation.

"The contribution of David John Howard Thompson to public life in Barbados was extended, substantial and wise. His sparkling parliamentary and platform performances, though now ended, will live in our memories with an imperishable afterglow."

Stuart thanked the entire Thompson family, including his wife and three children as well as his parents for their selflessness in allowing him to serve the country.