THE NEW Member of Parliament for St John, Mara Thompson, takes her seat in the House of Assembly today, promising to be a voice for the elderly.
The widow of late Prime Minister David Thompson was sworn in during a three-minute ceremony conducted by Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands at Government House yesterday morning.
“I want to get started with my programmes for the elderly,” Thompson told reporters, in response to a question as to what would be her first order of business.
Speaking after a reception Sir Clifford hosted for her, she said she planned to meet with a group and put together some plans to help the elderly in her parish.
The plan is to include activities to entertain or occupy the minds of the elderly during the day “as opposed to (having them) sitting down at home” doing nothing, she explained.
Thompson scored a landslide win in the January 20 by-election to fill the seat in Parliament held by her husband, until his death last October 23.
Thompson’s daughters Oya, Misha and Osa-Marie, as well as her sister Jeannine Giraudy-McIntyre and mother Monica Giraudy, were among those attending the swearing-in ceremony.
The former Prime Minister’s mother, Margaret Knight, and his father, Charles Thompson, were also there.
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, Clerk of Parliament Pedro Eastmond and Senator Dr David Durant also witnessed the ceremony.
Stuart told reporters:
“Again, she was a picture of impressive dignity as she took her oath, and I am looking forwards to working with her in the House of Assembly.
“She is now no longer an unfeathered politician. She is now in the thick of it and she realizes that. She should be attending the parliamentary group meeting (last night) as we prepare for Parliament [today]. . . ” (TY)
