 David John Howard Thompson
David John Howard Thompson, 
QC, 
MP  was the 
sixth Prime Minister of 
Barbados from January 2008 until his death from 
pancreatic cancer on 23 October 2010.
Thompson is the third sitting Prime Minister of Barbados to die in office following the deaths of 
Tom Adams in 1985 and 
Errol Barrow in 1987.
[4] He is also the 7th 
head of government of a 
CARICOM country to die in office since CARICOM was founded in 1973.
[4][5]
 | (25 December 1961[2] – 23 October 2010[3]) | 
 Early life
Thompson was born in 
London[6] to Charles Thompson, an 
Afro-
Barbadian porter and painter,
[7][8] and Margaret Knight,
[9][10] a 
White Barbadian author,secretary and nurse.
[8] Both parents remained strong 

influences in Thompson's life.
[11] Thompson was brought up with his three siblings at 
Fitts Village, 
Saint James.
[8]
Thompson attended 
primary school at St Gabriel’s Junior School and secondary school at 
Combermere School.
[12] He earned a legal education certificate from 
Hugh Wooding Law School.
[12] Thompson graduated with honors from the 
University of the West Indies law school in 1984.
[12] He was admitted to the Barbados 
bar in 1984 and taught as a part-time tutor in law at the University of the West Indies from 1986 to 1988.
[12]
Thompson was married to Marie-Josephine Mara (
née Giraudy),
[12] who was born in 
Saint Lucia.
[5] The couple had three daughters - Misha, Oya and Osa-Marie.
[12] The family resided in 
Mapps, St. Philip, though Thompson resided at the official Prime Minister's residence 
Ilaro Court from 2008 until 2010.
[12]
 Politics
Thompson came to politics in a by-election after the death of the Prime Minister 
Errol Barrow, gaining his parliamentary seat for 
Saint John in 1987.
[2][6] During 
Erskine Sandiford's  term as Prime Minister, Thompson served as Minister of Community  Development and Culture from 1991 to 1993. He was subsequently appointed  Minister of Finance from 1993 to 1994. Thompson became leader of the  DLP when Sandiford resigned after losing a parliamentary no confidence  motion. Thompson unsuccessfully led the 
Democratic Labour Party  in elections in 1994 and 1999. He resigned as party leader in September  2000 following his third electoral defeat as party leader in the St.  Thomas by-election. However, when party leader 
Clyde Mascoll switched allegiance to the Barbados Labour Party, Thompson once again became opposition leader in January 2006.
[2][6]
The DLP won the 
general election held on 15 January 2008 with 20 seats against 10 for the 
Barbados Labour Party, which was led by former Prime Minister 
Owen Arthur. Thompson was sworn in as Prime Minister on 16 January,
[13]  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.
[14]  He announced his Cabinet on 19 January, including himself as Minister  of Finance, Economic Affairs and Development, Labour, Civil Service and  Energy; it was sworn in on 20 January.
Health issues and death
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.
[15][16]
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.
[17][18]  A short time later Thompson's personal physician, Richard Ishmael,  informed the general public that the Prime Minister was suffering from 
pancreatic cancer.
[19][20]
Thompson died at his home in Mapps, St. Philip, at approximately 2:10  am on 23 October 2010. His wife Mara and daughters Misha, Oya and  Osa-Marie were by his side.
[3]
[edit] State funeral and mourning
As news of Thompson's death spread, regional and international dignitaries expressed their condolences.
[21][22] to the Thompson family and the nation.
[23]  His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was among the international condolences  for the late Prime Minister and stated that he "invokes God’s blessings  upon the late Prime Minister’s family and the people of Barbados."
[24] Barbadian popstar 
Rihanna,  who was appointed by Thompson as an 'Honorary Ambassador of Culture' of  Barbados also expressed her sadness at the passing of the late Prime  Minister.
[25] Condolences have also been extended to Barbados by the United Nations General Assembly.
[26] [27]
Barbados entered an official period of 
mourning for the former Prime Minister on 23 October. On that date, the government-owned 
national broadcaster  began airing tributes of the late Prime Minister. Such tributes  included speeches and former debates of the late Thompson, as well as  some local and international statements of condolences to his family,  extended family, and the nation. The mourning period was also stated to  be in effect for Barbados until the official 
state funeral. On Monday 25 October Senator Maxine McClean announced
[28] in a televised broadcast the full arrangements for the funeral of PM Thompson;
[29][30]  Senator McClean stated that on 28 October 2010 (from 9am-11am) Thompson  would first have a closed viewing in the east-wing of the 
Parliament of Barbados. That viewing will be upstairs in the chamber of the 
House of Assembly and would follow Barbados' 
Table of Precedence for members of 
Government from the 
Governor 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's 
alma mater, The 
Combermere School.  On 30 October, a viewing for the general public will take place at the  George Street Auditorium from 9am-5pm. On Monday, 1 November from  10am-5pm a general public viewing will take place in Thompson's home  constituency of 
Saint 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 late  Prime Minister took place on 3 November at the 
Kensington Oval  stadium and was strictly a ticket only event. Over ten thousand  persons, including foreign dignitaries and diplomatic representatives,  attended the state funeral. 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. Both the  state funeral at the Kensington Oval and the internment at the St.  John's Parish Church were broadcast live by CBC TV 8. Mr. Thompson's  final resting place in the church's cemetery overlooks the east coast of  the island.
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