Mara’s in

Mara Thompson (FP)

By CHRIS GOLLOP | Sun, January 02, 2011 - 12:12 AM

MARA THOMPSON, widow of late Prime Minister David Thompson, has confirmed that she is ready to contest the St John by-election on a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) ticket.

Having formally written to the executive of the DLP expressing her interest, Thompson told the SUNDAY SUN yesterday: “I am ready to represent the people of St John just as my late, beloved husband did. At this moment I will offer no further comment since there is a process to be followed.”

For several weeks since the death of her husband on October 23, speculation had been rife about a successor for the 48-year-old leader, who held the seat since the passing in 1987 of then Prime Minister and Father of Independence Errol Barrow.

The SUNDAY SUN has confirmed that 12 prospective candidates have expressed interest in contesting the seat, but most, if not all, are expected to withdraw from the race now that Mara has officially declared she is keen to represent the party in St John.

BLP ready

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has already nominated businessman Hudson Griffith to contest the seat, a traditional stronghold of the DLP, in the January 20 poll.

Today’s DLP nomination takes place at the Gall Hill Community Centre at 3 p.m., with the party’s executive and general councils expected to ratify the candidate by 8 p.m.

“Following the nomination process, the information will go straight to the executive council and the general council, both of which will meet at DLP headquarters at George Street for ratification,” inside sources told the SUNDAY SUN.

The ruling DLP is expected to launch its poster campaign as early as tomorrow. Its official by-election campaign starts on Thursday.