President Bharrat Jagdeo, will represent Guyana at the state funeral on Wednesday of his late CARICOM colleague, David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados.
This was announced yesterday by Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
The President will be accompanied by another Minister.
President Jagdeo who will be among several Heads of State attending the funeral, in a message to Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart, following the death of Thompson, said, “On behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, and on my own personal behalf, I extend deepest sympathies to the Government and people of Barbados on the passing of the Honourable David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados.
“Prime Minister Thompson earned the respect of the people of Guyana, and I am sure that of the entire Region, through the tremendous courage and dignity which he displayed to the end. In this we saw his true quality as a leader – one who placed his country and people above himself.
“As I reflect upon my close, though short, association with him as we worked to further the cause of the integration of our peoples and Region, I know that he was driven by an intense passion to serve his nation, to ensure that the people of Barbados could enjoy a high quality of life and to position his country on a path of even greater economic stability and social development.
“Please convey to his dear wife and children our heartfelt condolences on their tragic loss. As they and the nation of Barbados mourn his passing, I trust that they will be comforted in the knowledge that our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time.”
The late Prime Minister David Thompson, 48, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at approximately 02:10h on October23, at his home. His wife Mara and three children at his bedside.
He recently made several visits to the United States for medical treatment after being diagnosed with cancer.
The late Barbados PM and leader of the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) took office in 2008 at the age of 46, as Barbados’ youngest-ever elected Prime Minister.
His last address to the people of Barbados was on September 30 last.
He will be laid to rest in St John’s Parish churchyard, following a funeral service at the popular Kensington Oval.