Another one taken too soon

I had not planned to write about the untimely death of Barbados’ Prime Minister, David Thompson, but it has been hard to focus on other topics. At the tender age of 48, he died from pancreatic cancer a few hours ago. His family, friends and the whole country will mourn his passing. A young national leader is a rarity in the Caribbean, and as one of those sometimes termed the ‘Independence generation’, he was a shining star. Whatever his political opponents may think or say, his leadership was not complete and will be now hard to judge. He took his post during one of the most difficult of economic times and his efforts to chart a way through were never going to meet universal approval. His death may provide a moment that helps turn Barbados towards finding a unity that may be more important than ever in helping solve its economic problems.

May his soul rest happily in peace.