The University of the West Indies mourns along with the people of Barbados and the Caribbean the loss of Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. David Thompson.  In his short term in office as Prime Minister of Barbados, he was impressive in the demonstration of his deep commitment to the development of his country and the region. His thoughtful and impactful interventions in various fora were insightful and fully appreciated. He was unswerving in his service to Barbados to the very end.   

The region has lost an outstanding son whose promise as a great leader has only sharpened the sense of loss, not only in his country but throughout the West Indies.   As an outstanding alumnus of the University of the West Indies who served in various capacities, as President of the Guild of Students, as a member of academic staff and more recently as Chair of our University Grants Committee, David Thompson was unstinting in his support of our own efforts to advance the region’s development interests at home and in the wider global community. He demonstrated a singular readiness to go that extra mile for the University, travelling to London in September 2009 to play a lead role in launching the British Foundation for the University of the West Indies and lending his presence to the Annual UWI Gala in New York organised by the American Foundation for the UWI.  His leadership skills, commitment, caring, sense of fairness and good sense are attributes we wish our students to emulate.  We shall miss him deeply. 

To his wife Mara and their daughters, we offer our prayers and hope that the collective love of Barbadians throughout the region and across the world will embrace and sustain them at this time of loss.