PM back on job
FLASHBACK. Prime Minister David Thompson speaking to the nation shortly before going off on sick leave.
Tue, August 31, 2010 - 12:00 AM
DAVID THOMPSON has resumed his duties as Prime Minister of Barbados.
An upbeat Thompson arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport about 8 p.m. on Sunday with members of his family, after spending just under two months on convalescent leave overseas.
His resumption of office came two days early as he was originally scheduled to be away from his responsibilities until September 1.
In a brief statement issued from Ilaro Court yesterday, Prime Minister Thompson said he felt fine and was eager to get back to work.
“I certainly cannot say my health challenges are over, but it is nice to be home. Mara, the children and I wish first to thank the people of Barbados for their unceasing prayers and expressions of love, support and well wishes. I am here through the grace of Almighty God.
“I propose to spend the next few days in briefing sessions with members of the Cabinet, senior public officers and close advisers. I suspect that before long, I will have reason to speak to the nation on a range of pertinent issues,” he said.
Thompson expressed his gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stuart for ably running the Government in his absence and also thanked St Philip South MP Adriel Brathwaite for the service he rendered as Attorney General while Stuart functioned as head of Government.
Stuart was reappointed to his substantive position as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs yesterday.
In May, Thompson first announced to the nation that he was ailing. He said then that since early March he had been suffering with stomach pains that led to consultations with his personal physician.
He revealed he had undergone tests in Barbados and had also travelled to New York where additional tests were carried out. Thompson, who was on a dietary regime and noticeably lost weight, said at the time that he was scaling down his state duties as a result of his health issues.
Thompson’s as yet undisclosed illness led to several church denominations and organisations staging prayer sessions on his behalf.
On June 11, more than two dozen priests and about 2 000 people, including members of Thompson’s Government, gathered at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, where they prayed that his body be cleansed and he be made healthy.
Thompson, 48, Barbados’ sixth Prime Minister, took over the reins of Government on January 15, 2008. (WG)
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I am so happy to hear that the Prime Minister has returned to Barbados and getting better from his illness.
God Bless
CB
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Comment LinkWelcome back Mr. Thompson and may God in his ultimate Grace continue to heal you!
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Comment LinkMr. Thompson to God be the glory, keep trusting in him you and your familiy as i keep on praying for you and your love ones welcome back home.
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Comment LinkIt is great the Prime Minister is back and is getting well but why all the secrecacy about his illness. This is a bad habit with Bajan people. they have an illness but it is kept secret. So how they are going to help their family members who do not know about certain illnesses in their family. So therefore when asked by doctors about illnesses in the family they can only say no, because everything is so secretative. So Prime Minister be brave enough to tell your people what your illness is or was. in turn this could save another person/family.
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Comment LinkWelcome home, Mr. Thompson. So happy to hear you are feeling better. I must agree with Sylvia also. Please take it easy and try not to over work yourself. I’m sure you want to be around to see your children grow up, so please take care.
Will continue praying for you, your family, and the people of Barbados.
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Comment LinkI know Barbadians may not be as highly educated per capita as USA but this is 2010 and I expect my people to be treated with more respect. It is not Korea. I think the media needs to do some investigative journalism and get a Specialist Dr to advise public if the PM is exhibiting cancer symptoms. IF so he needs to honorably step down and call an election. I did not and would not vote for Freundel Stuart to be my country’s leader.
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Comment LinkOK RA. Show me (1() one Instance where Medical Checkups,Tests etc Of any Prime Minister or President were available to the masses.Cheney’s Heart problems were Common Knowledge Before he was Vice President.
If the PM wants to tell the Bajan Public What I see as His Private Family Business, so be it Otherwise get off the pot and Move on don’t put anymore stress on him to tell u something that is none of your business
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Comment LinkTo Bajanfishermen: did the BLP P.R.O. actually type your posting for you or did they just do a draft and look over your shoulder as you typed? lololol.
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Comment Linkif a 98% literacy rate can be extended to education i dont think that your opening statement holds much water
as far as i know the DLP has a fair Majority,and under the Westminister Style of Government we have there would not have to be any election called. a by election to fill Thompson’s St.John seat yes, they only have to call a special Party Meeting and elect a new leader who would then become the next Prime Minister
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Comment LinkThose Bajans who think that they should be ignorant of what facts the OFFICE of PM should be sharing with the public regarding the health of the PM are just that, ignorant. The fact that Barbados is small and we are intimately connected to our politicians does not mean there should be no OFFICIAL notice on the health of the PM. Think about this, the country is economically sick and there is no information forthcoming about how sick the economy is but it is sent away for treatment without the public knowing? See how ridiculous that sounds
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Comment LinkIf the Prime Minister of this nation is sick and that sickness affects his job, it is the right of the citizens and voters of this country to know and to be told the TRUTH too.
Anyone who says otherwise is being partisan and devoid of real reasoning powers.
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Comment LinkSince all you do is genflect to everything DLP, why not name your paper the Democrat.
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Comment Linkwelcome back sir please take care of yourself.
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Comment LinkGlad to see you back, we in brooklyn were praying for you healthy return.
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Comment LinkWelcome back PM.It continues to be a serious issue when we want to know everyones business.Then it is the case of trying to give advice and your house is in shambles.Let the PM get on with his life and stop the pretentious crap.
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Comment LinkIt such a pleasure to have the PM back for what ever little time he has left. The odds are enormously stacked against him but his graciousness is commendable. Pancreatic cancer is very (swift) deadly so let’s embrace him as we all contend with the reality of the situation. Best wishes to the family and associates who are enduring this tragic nightmare.
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