St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said his Parliament will pay a special tribute to the late Prime Minister David Thompson on Monday.
Gonsalves expressed sadness at Thompson’s passing and described him as having a vision for Barbados and the entire region.
Here is the full text of an interview conducted with Associate Managing Editor Tim Slinger a few minutes ago.
“The news of the death of my friend and brother David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados is really very saddening.
It has touched me very deeply. I knew him as a schoolboy when I was a lecturer at the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill) and also knew him as a student at the university.
It has been a tragic and serious loss to the region and Barbados.
He was man of great intelligence and a human being to the core.
He had a vision for Barbados and the region and was a hard and dedicated worker.
To be lost so early in life is something that shakes you the core.
I know the will of the people of Barbados to be strong and very durable and I know there will be a smooth transition.
I express my deepest condolences to his wife and family who I know very well.