TRIBUTE BY CTUSAB TO
THE LATE HON. PRIME MINISTER
DAVID J. H. THOMPSON M.P., Q.C.
The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) joins the nation in mourning the passing of the late Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable David John Howard Thompson, M.P., Q.C.
Barbados and the Caribbean have lost one of its finest statesmen and politicians.
A revered and astute politician, he never lost the common touch. More importantly, he remained civil and humane, and will be remembered for the dignity he brought to public office. As a leader, he led by example. He accepted every challenge, and demonstrated the will to overcome the many hurdles he encountered in his political life.
The late Honourable Prime Minister reflected an unswerving commitment to country and to the causes he undertook. He will long be remembered for his challenge to Barbados to put ‘Barbados first’, and to place a priority on putting ‘Family First’.
As Chairman of the Full Social Partnership of Barbados, he understood and accepted the importance of embracing the tripartite mechanism as a means to good governance. This he understood well, for his experience of the 1991 economic crisis, which faced the then Democratic Labour Party Government, of which he was the Minister of Finance; would have served him in good stead.
The Labour movement will remember him for his role in piloting the First Incomes and Prices Protocol and the then fledgling the Social Partnership.
The People of Barbados owes a debt of gratitude to the late Hon. Prime Minister, for he was one who devoted his life to the service of his people. The late Hon. David Thompson was known to be a community minded and people’s person, who gave his service gratuitously.
History records that the late Hon. David Thompson spent twenty-three years as a Member of Parliament. He was rewarded for his outstanding service when in January 2008; the Democratic Labour Party, under his leadership won the National Elections, and formed the Government of the day.
The late Honourable David Thompson lived his dream of serving his country, and to do so at the highest level in the office of Prime Minister. He is to be credited for his vision of building a better Barbados, which he had set about to unveil.
The Labour movement in paying tribute to the late Prime Minister, remembers him as being a friend of labour. The movement identifies with the principles for which he stood, namely; transparency, fairness, integrity, decency, respect for law and order, and for the upholding of high morals and values.
In a lasting tribute to the memory of the late Hon. David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados, the words of the song, as recorded by the Calypso King of Barbados, Anthony ‘Gabby” Carter, are but appropriate.
“At the end of your years,
at the setting sun,
The Creator will say
“Well done, Well done”
To his wife Mara, his daughters, family members, the Government, and members of the Democratic Labour Party, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados expresses its condolences.
May he rest in eternal peace.
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