Thompson, Griffith vie for St John seat

THE MOBILE PHONE’S sudden ringing out of the Hallelujah Chorus during the nomination process of Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate Mara Thompson was accidental, according to its user, Senator Reverend Dr David Durant.

But to the scores of Thompson supporters it was a sign of the times, based on the joyful laughter that emanated from them in the Sociology Unit 1 amphitheatre at The Lodge School yesterday.

Thompson, who turned up at the rural institution about 11:45 a.m., was one of two candidates to submit their papers to contest the St John by-election for the seat left vacant by her late husband former Prime Minister David Thompson.

Opposition team

The other was the Opposition Barbados Labour Party’s Hudson Griffith, who came about 1:15 p.m. accompanied by his wife Maria, Opposition Leader Owen Arthur and campaign manager Dale Marshall.

When the mobile phone went off, Thompson, along with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and her campaign manager John Boyce, was sitting at a desk signing nomination papers under the vigilant eyes of returning clerk Richard Harris and election clerk Henson “Ricky” Alleyne.

Present for Thompson’s signing were daughters Oya and Misha and mother-in-law Margaret Knight.

The atmosphere during Griffith’s nomination also had its moments. The amphitheatre, though not as packed as it was for Thompson’s signing, attracted supporters who were in a more celebratory mood.

They accompanied Griffith, holding placards high in the air; and when the process was done, the onlookers jumped to their feet, clapping spontaneously.

Members of The Lodge’s social society student council, under the guidance of faculty adviser Sonia St Hill, were at both nominations. “I believe that to start and to finish you must compete; and as a result, my chances are as good as anybody else’s,” said a confident Griffith afterwards. “St John was held . . . . It just seems that it was held for 52 years but I, Hudson Griffith, will be the one that would break that jinx. I am telling you I am going to bring home [the seat],” he said. He added that his campaign had started three weeks ago door to door, but the big campaign would start tonight in Edgecliff. Thompson, meanwhile, was quietly confident. She said her platform issues would surround the polyclinic, roads, housing and community activities to stave off any anti-social behaviour among the youths and families in general. She said, however, that she would not be taking anybody or anything for granted.

The supporting cast for Thompson were proposer Senator Andre Worrell, seconder Undine Mascoll, witnesses Kathleen Padmore and Winston Millington, and agent Cleeton Coppin.

On Griffith’s side were proposer Tracia Beckles, seconder Crystal Waldron, and witnesses Jack Belgrave and June Craigg.

(left) making her way from the nomination centre under the admiring eyes of her mother-in-law Margaret Knight (right) and Democratic Labour Cabinet ministers. (FPs)

( left), the Barbados Labour Party candidate, getting an embrace from a supporter after he submitted his nomination papers.