Barbados - Head of Government

The Hon David John Howard Thompson became the sixth Prime Minister of Barbados when his Democratic Liberal Party (DLP) won the January 2008 general election. He concurrently holds the post of Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Development, Labour, the Civil Service and Energy.

Mr Thompson was DLP President and Opposition Leader in 2006.

From 2003 to 2006, he resumed his law practice after relinquishing his post as Leader of the DLP and Leader of the Opposition in 2003

Mr Thompson was appointed Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 2003.

He continued to hold the post of General Secretary of the DLP from 1987 to 1994 while serving as an MP and Cabinet minister.

From 1993 to 1994, Mr Thompson became Finance Minister where he was responsible for restructuring the sugar industry and the offshore sector, monitoring the government’s stabilisation programme with the International Monetary Fund and the structural adjustment programme implemented in 1993.

He served as Minister of State for Finance from 1992 to 1993.

Mr Thompson was first appointed to the Cabinet in 1991 as Minister of Community Development and Culture. He was involved in the establishment of the Barbados Youth Service and the Youth in Business Programme, and in the restructuring of the National Youth Orchestra.

Mr Thompson became a Member of Parliament in 1987. Before this, he joined private law firm, Trident Chambers in 1986 and was a part-time law tutor at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, from 1986 to 1988.

His involvement in politics began when he became president of the youth wing of the DLP from 1980 to 1982.

Mr Thompson has a law degree from the University of the West Indies and a postgraduate certificate in legal education from the same institution.

He was born in London, UK, on 25 December 1961.