( L - R ) Skerritt Gonsalves Mitchell

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has congratulated David Thompson and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) of Barbados on the convincing victory in that nation's general elections on Tuesday.

A release from the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday said Mr. Golding had expressed his congratulations in a telephone conversation with the DLP leader. In his telephone call, Mr. Golding expressed confidence that, under Mr. Thompson's leadership, Barbados would continue to play a significant role in advancing the welfare of the Caribbean peoples.

Mr. Golding assured the Prime Minister-designate that the government and people of Barbados would continue to enjoy the support and goodwill of the Jamaican people.

Arthur's contribution

Three other Caribbean Prime Ministers yesterday congratulated Mr. Thompson on his party's victory while praising outgoing Prime Minister Owen Arthur for his contribution to the Caribbean region.

Thompson's DLP won 20 seats in the 30-seat House of Assembly to end nearly 14 years in the political wilderness and crush the Barbados Labour Party's (BLP) hope of winning an unprecedented fourth successive term in office.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, told the Caribbean Media Corporation that he considers Thompson "a very able man" and looks forward to working with him in the councils of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

He said the election results show that the DLP's call for change proved invincible, resonating more with the people than the BLP's platform of leadership and the country's macro economic performance.

Continued partnership

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt said he was looking forward to working with Thompson, who was sworn in as Barbados' sixth Prime Minister during a brief ceremony at Government House yesterday afternoon.

"I wish to congratulate David Thompson for having been victorious at the general election. I know him very well and I have no doubt that he will do his best for the people of Barbados," Skerrit told state radio yesterday.

"I look forward to working with him at the Caribbean Community and wider levels in terms of the various programmes that we have started," he said.

Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell said the DLP's win must first be seen as a triumph of the democratic process at work in that country.

He said the victory demonstrates the sanctity of the "democratic space" in the Caribbean.

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