One month after the untimely death of Prime Minister David Thompson, his life and times were put on display at the headquarters of the Democratic Labour Party in George Street, where the former leader would have spent many hours.
Yesterday, his widow Mara Thompson was given the honour of opening the pictoral and multi-media exhibition which will only run until tonight as the venue will have to be prepared fo the induction of hundreds of new members of the DLP tomorrow.
When Mrs Thompson cut the chord to open the exhibit, a six-by-ten-foot portrait of Prime Minister Thompson was revealed, smiling down on those gathered.
Among those present for the opening ceremony were children and teachers from St Gabriel’s, Thompson’s former primary school, Minister John Boyce, Senator Reverend Dr David Durant, Senator Andre Worrell, Thompson’s brother Stephen Graham, vice president of the Young Democrats Rhonnelle Smith, and Secretary General of the DLP George Pilgrim.
Pilgrim and Boyce spoke to the volume of pictures which had been accumulated of the late Prime Minister, noting that they reflected his passions and his love for people.
Smith also pointed out that it was impossible for the late Prime Minister to disappear from Barbadians’ daily experiences as he was a man who loved his family and life, and engaged young people wherever he went.
After receiving a bouquet of flowers from Joshua King and Anisa Bullen, Mrs Thompson then viewed the exhibition, breaking into a laugh while viewing footage of her slim and young husband engaging other members of the DLP in banter after being sworn into Parliament in 1987.
Under the theme, David Thompson: A Life To Emulate, the exhibition was segmented under such topics as: Friends Of the DLP, Faces, Youthful Minister, Parliament Yard, Prime Minister On The Job, Constituency Work, St John Family, With World Leaders, and, On The Campaign Trail.
Travelling through such a “time capsule” of the two decades in which she would have raised a family with the late Prime Minister eventually caused Mrs Thompson to pause and wipe her eyes.
Ironically, when one of her supporters, Norma Frank, went to give greetings, Frank left the auditorium in tears.
