A visionary, staunch believer in multilateralism and the United Nations, a devoted Caribbean integrationist and an international figure committed to global development and sustainability.
Those were but a few of the glowing reminisces mixed with sadness and articulated in a sombre mood by diplomats from around the world who paid tribute to the life and times of David Thompson, Barbados’ Prime Minister, who died last weekend and will be buried on Wednesday.
Before the UN General Assembly resumed its session yesterday morning, the world body observed a minute of silence and then the diplomatic community reflected on Thompson’s achievements as a “distinguished” attorney, devoted family man, leader and international spokesman for global causes, expressing their condolences to his family and to the people of Barbados while expressing the hope that the mantle he left behind would be picked up for the benefit of humanity.
“Prime Minister Thompson is an outstanding statesman,” said Li Baodong, a Chinese and chairman of the Asian states at the UN.
“He together with the people of Barbados made tremendous efforts to overcome the severe impact of the international financial crisis and achieved great progress in building their own country.
“Barbados also played a very positive role to promote political solidarity and regional cooperation in the Caribbean Community. Prime Minister Thompson has demonstrated his long-standing commitment to the advancement of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. As a member of the High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability he made a great contribution to the UN and the international community in tackling climate change and ensuring sustainable development.”
Describing his death at the age of 48 as a great loss not only to Barbados and Caricom but to the UN, the Chinese diplomat pledged “we shall never forget him”.
A somewhat similar sentiment came from Bryan Bowler, Malawi’s UN Ambassador.
He said that Thompson’s death was a “loss not only to the people of Barbados but to the people of Africa and the Caribbean”.
Referring to the fallen Prime Minister as “our dear brother and friend,” Bowler, speaking for the African Group at the UN, hailed Thompson as a passionate advocate for “Afro-Caribbean bonds” and called his passing a “tragedy” which left considerable unfinished business.
The death, he added, came at a time “when he was involved in so many world affairs, so much was his agenda between Africa and the Caribbean through his initiatives”.
The African states, he added, believed the UN and others “should fulfill his vision. Africa has lost a true friend and Africa will miss him very much”.
When the time came for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, (GRULAC), at the UN, to pay its tribute, Eden Charles, a senior Trinidad and Tobago’s diplomat, traced much of Thompson’s journey to Barbados’ leadership position, calling him a protégé of Barbados’ founding leader Errol Barrow, an outstanding attorney, eloquent speaker, skilled debater, affable personality and accessible parliamentarian, especially to his constituents in St John.
“As an integrationist, he championed the cause of regional integration and the full and effective implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy,” added Charles. “He, however, envisioned an integration movement that would eventually embrace the wider Caribbean region in partnership with Latin America.”
