The hearse bearing the body of former Prime Minister David Thompson had hardly appeared on the St John horizon when it set off a wave of tears that descended into heartbreaking sobs.
And as it neared its final destination, a freshly dug grave in the historic and picturesque St John’s Parish Church, the wails grew louder.
It was unified grief earlier today in the parish of St John which Thompson represented for 23 years in the House of Assembly after an almost walkover victory in the 1987 by-election.
For that day there were no distinguishing lines in the rural parish that has had the honour of two prime ministers as MPs. They were all from St John.
“We from St John, all of St John,” chorused a group of young people, claiming the entire parish as their own even though they all had different addresses from Coach Hill, Haynes Hill, Small Town, Pothouse to Bath.
“I loved Mr Thompson,” howled one woman as the hearse passed, summing up the feeling of the entire community.
Many had spent hours before securing the best vantage point under the eye of the Royal Barbados Police Force, assisted by prison warders and volunteers pulled from across the island. At 1:15 the drums in the distance started the solemn slow march by the Barbados Defence Force before M 27 appeared triggering a more outpouring of grief.
Under watchful eyes the late Prime Minister was laid to rest at 1:48 p.m.
More details in Thursday’s DAILY NATION
