BARBADOS’ NEWEST PARLIAMENTARIAN Mara Thompson made her first appearance in the House of Assembly as representative for St John to a packed public gallery about 10:30 a.m. yesterday.
Escorted into the Lower House by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce, Thompson took her seat on the back bench beside St Michael South-East MP Hamilton Lashley. She was officially welcomed into the Chamber by Deputy Speaker Kenneth Best.
Thompson, 49, thanked the people of St John, recalled the memory of her predecessor and husband late Prime Minister David Thompson, and promised she would always abide by the Standing Orders of the House. Later she described her first day on Government’s back bench to the DAILY NATION as a “learning experience” and the debate as “interesting”.
Witnessing Thompson’s first day “on the job” were her children Misha, Oya and Osa-Marie, as well as her mother Monica Giraudy and sister Jeannine Giraudy-McIntyre.
Opposition Leader Owen Arthur welcomed Thompson on behalf of his parliamentary colleagues and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), while speakers contributing
to debate on a $66.2 million supplementary resolution also gave their personal welcome, including former Opposition Leader Mia Mottley and St Thomas MP Cynthia Forde.
Thompson was elected to serve in the House of Assembly after trouncing BLP candidate Hudson Griffith in last Thursday’s St John by-election, occasioned by her husband’s death on October 23 last year.
