PM David Thompson of Barbados dies at age 48

David Thompson - (1962-2010)

Prime Minister David Thompson died early Saturday morning at his private residence in Mapps, St. Phillip. He was 48 and had been engaged in a losing battle with pancreatic cancer.

Thompson's wife, Mara and his three daughters - Mischa, Oya and Osa-Marie were at his bedside. He is also survived by parents Margaret Knight and Charles Thompson.

Thompson announced to the nation in May that was suffering stomach pains since March but did not reveal the nature of his medical problem at the time. In September, his personal physician revealed that Thompson was suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Thompson underwent months of treatment at the New York Presbyterian Hospital where doctors used chemotherapy to shrink the tumour in his pancreas so it could be safely removed.

Thompson had become a poor shadow of his former self, having lost a significant amount of weight. And last month when he addressed the nation to update citizens on his conditions he chose to do on radio to spare Barbadians of the trauma of seeing him in his debilitated state.

In that address he announced certain cabinet changes, including the appointment of his deputy, Freundel Stuart, as acting Prime Minister.

Thompson became the Barbados Prime Minister in 2008 after leading the Democratic Labour Party to victory in the January 15th elections.