MARA THOMPSON intends to run a clean campaign, ensure the young and old are looked after and press for the completion of the St John Polyclinic.
The widow of late Prime Minister David Thompson made all this clear as she addressed thousands of supporters at the Gall Hill Community Centre, in St John on Thursday night.
Looking composed in her first platform address as an elective candidate, she told a vociferous and supportive audience: “Mara is running! Mara is here! And Mara is ready! Ready to serve the people of St John! I know St John is ready to support Mara!
“You asked me to serve. And so did my late husband. So I am here!
“Ushered by him, encouraged by you and supported by my daughters and my political leader, I am ready to be of service to you, the wonderful people of St John.”
At this point, she made clear that she would not be “slugging away” at anyone’s image.
“I have no interest in the personal lives of individuals. I do not have a bad word to say about my opponent, because, like most of you in this constituency, I do not know him!”
She thanked the people of St John for supporting her, her husband and family over more than two decades, during the good and tough times, and insisted that the constituency would be rewarded for the faith they had kept in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
“I have the commitment of the various ministers of this Government to service the undertakings made in this constituency over the past three years. The projects that have been started shall be completed, and those that were promised shall be delivered! I, Mara Thompson, give you that assurance!”
At this point, she reassured constituents of the timely completion of the stalled polyclinic, adding that there were other infrastructural projects to be completed.
“But my Achilles heel shall be the development of our people and the fostering of a well-woven, value-oriented society. Dave instilled in us that Barbados is and must be more than an economy.
He said it is a society . . . and its development must reflect that.
“I am concerned about our youth . . . I want for them to find their place in society.”
She added: “I am concerned about our seniors. Retirement must no longer be the stage in life where you sit out your latter days in preparation for meeting the Creator. Retirement must be dignified. It must be productive. It must be impactful, inspiring and beneficial to younger generations.
“I am not happy with the attitude to and treatment of seniors in Barbados and I intend to do something about it…starting with the introduction of various community programmes here in St John.”
To this end, she said the Gall Hill Community Centre would be put to greater use. (CG)
