Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson Dies

Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has died. The government confirmed Saturday that Thompson passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 48.

"Barbados has lost its loyal son and faithful servant before he had the time to realize his lifetime dreams. ... We enjoyed and endured his public service experiences. He was always indebted to the people and the party for affording him the opportunity to see the mountain top," Thompson's wife, Marie-Josephine Mara, said in a statement.

Thompson, who worked in the government for 19 years, was elected prime minister in 2008. Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stewart took over the position just hours after Thompson’s death. “Upon my shoulders has now devolved the responsibility of leading the struggle in pursuit of those ideals for which he (Thompson) stood. With God going before me, I accept this responsibility with humility and a keen sense of duty, ever conscious not only of the pressing needs of our nation but also of his oft expressed confidence in me,” Stewart, 61, said Monday in a televised address.

Thompson is survived by his wife and three daughters.

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