STORM2K

The Honorable David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados, died this morning at around 2:10 a.m.
Understandably, although he was ailing for some months with pancreatic cancer (apparently one of the most difficult cancers to treat successfully) and had become very thin, the news still came as a shock to most.

He will be sorely missed, both in Barbados and the region.
May he rest in peace

The parliamentary group is currently meeting to choose a new prime minister.

- PM Thompson was just 48 years old. He was born Dec 25, 1961

- He took the oath of office in January 2008

- He was the 3rd Prime Minister in Barbados to die in office. The other 2 were Tom Adams on March 11 1985 at age 53 and Errol Barrow on June 1 1987 at age 67.

- He began suffering from stomach pains in March 2010, and doctors sent him for additional tests in May in New York. He took an extended leave of absence from his duties at that time.

-His last address to the nation was on Sept 30 2010 where he relieved himself from most of his duties, indicating his health would not allow him to continue doing all his elected duties. He thanked the nation of Barbados for their prayers

-Freundal Stuart, Barbados' 7th Prime Minister, was sworn in to office this afternoon. He recently assumed the role and was acting as Prime Minister during Thompson's extended leave of absence.

-The next elections are officially scheduled for 2012 on the island, which won independence in 1966 and has overcome the decline of its once-powerful sugar industry to grow relatively wealthy through high-end tourism, light industry and offshore financial services.

-When he took office in 2008 at the age of 46, Thompson was Barbados' youngest ever elected prime minister.

- Pancreatic cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. By the end of 2010 in the United States, it is estimated about 43,140 individuals will be diagnosed with this condition, and 36,800 will die from the disease. The prognosis is poor, with fewer than 5% of those diagnosed still alive five years after diagnosis. Complete remission is still rare

-justin-

Pancreatic cancer has to be the worst cancer one can get. By the time you have symptoms it's too late. It's a fast cancer too. My grandfather died of pancreatic cancer back in the late 50's. I don't know how long he lived after his diagnosis.

The trouble with pancreatic cancer is that there are usually little or no symptoms until it becomes more advanced.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Prime Minister Thompson’s funeral was held today. It was particularly hard to watch his wife (Mara) and three daughters, the youngest of which was only 9, grieving for their loved one.