Thompson lies in state today

John Gilbert Thompson, a former parliamentary representative for North Leeward, who passed away on February 20, will be accorded an official funeral.

A release from the Prime Minister’s office said Thompson’s body will lie at the House of Assembly today, Friday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for official viewing.

The funeral service will be held at the Kingstown Methodist Church tomorrow, Saturday, March 17, with tributes beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will be at the Fitz-Hughes cemetery.

Flags in the State have been flying at half mast since yesterday and will continue until tomorrow.

Thompson won his seat under a St Vincent Labour Party (SVLP) ticket in 1974, lost it in 1979 to independent candidate Calder Williams, then won it again in 1984, when the SVLP lost office to the NDP.

He was loved by the people of North Leeward, as he had a style which was open to anyone, whether they supported him or not. His role in Government centred on industrial development and he is credited with attracting many firms to St Vincent, including the Boxing Plant, Hairoun Brewery, ECGC and others. He represented St Vincent on the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority and was the chair at the time of the critical decision to link the EC dollar with the US dollar, a decision which has greatly assisted in the stability of the EC dollar.