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September 10, 2007
Governor offers condolences to St. Lucians on death of Prime Minister, Sir John Compton Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. joined his fellow leaders in the Caribbean Monday in expressing condolences on the death of St. Lucia Prime Minister Sir John George Melvin Compton. "The entire Caribbean has lost a giant of a man," deJongh said today as he offered his sympathies to the Prime Minister’s family and to the many St. Lucians who call the Virgin Islands home. In a letter to St. Lucia’s new Prime Minister Stephenson King, de Jongh said, "I extend heartfelt condolences to you and all of St. Lucia from the government and people of the United States Virgin Islands – in particular the many St. Lucians who are a part of our community. My wife, Cecile, joins me in sending our personal sympathies to Lady Janice Compton and the Compton’s five children." Sir John Compton was leader of St. Lucia for a total of 29 years in three different periods. He served from 1964 to 1979, going from chief minister to premier in 1967 to becoming his nation’s first prime minister after guiding St. Lucia to independence from Britain in 1979. He served again as prime minister from 1982 to 1996. Then, after retiring from active politics, he made a come back in December last year, to win the general elections as head of his United Workers Party (UWP). He became prime minister again from then until a series of strokes made him unable to function and led to his death last Friday at 81. Stephenson King, who served as acting prime minister during Compton’s disability, has since been sworn in as St. Lucia’s new prime minister. Compton’s policies were conservative, pro-Western and anti-communist. "He also worked for increased regional integration," deJongh said, "and upon leaving office in 1996, expressed his disappointment that the region’s population remained a divided people scattered over the Caribbean Sea." geJongh maintained that Compton is leaving an outstanding legacy to both St. Lucia and the Caribbean. In addition to leading St. Lucia to independence from Britain, he is recognized as a true champion of workers who brought modernization, a diverse economy and a higher standard of living to St. Lucia. "And throughout the region he is recognized for his tireless efforts to forge as stronger, more united Caribbean," deJongh said. In a personal letter to Lady Janice Compton deJongh said: "I am making every effort to attend Sir John’s funeral and hope to meet with you then. As painful as this period is, do remember there are many of us in the U.S. Virgin Islands who are keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers." |
