David Thompson, Barbados Prime Minister, Dies at 48

The Prime minister of Barbados, David Thompson, died of pancreatic cancer in his private residence. Mr. Thompson was the youngest ever elected prime minister of the Caribbean nation, had been ill since March and traveled to New York several times for treatment. Thompson did not like to discuss his illness until last month when his doctor announced of his pancreatic cancer and that he was undergoing treatment. Mr. Thompson's attorney general and deputy, Freundal Stuart, was sworn in on Saturday as the new prime minister by the governor of Barbados. Denzil Douglas, the prime minister of St. Kits and Nevis, said " a loss to not only the people of Barbados, but also the people of the Caribbean". The next elections are scheduled for 2012 on the island.

-Courtney Ecton