Mara Thompson bows out of active politics

It has been confirmed.

Mara Thompson will not be on the list of Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidates contesting this year’s upcoming general elections and has instead thrown her support behind the party’s General Secretary George Pilgrim to run for the St. John seat.

On Sunday evening, Thompson informed her constituents in the Four Roads area of her decision to bow out of active politics, before urging them to stand behind Pilgrim, who accompanied her on the walkabout.

It is still unclear however, as to whether Pilgrim has been formally nominated to carry the party’s banner for St. John.

Pilgrim is said to have been one of two members of the DLP, desiring to replace the incumbent during this year’s polls, which are constitutionally due by May. The other was former Consul General to Toronto Leroy McClean.

It would not be the first time Pilgrim’s name appears on a general election ballot sheet as he ran twice unsuccessfully in the 1994 and 1999 elections, in the constituency of St. Thomas.

Often hailed as the DLP’s most secure seat since 1958, St. John was held by late Prime Minister Errol Barrow, who died in office in 1987. Former Prime Minister David Thompson, Mara’s husband was then elected for the seat, which he held until his death in office in October 2010. Soundly winning the seat in a by-election in January 2011, the widow again ran successfully during the 2013 general election.

Thompson was the first female Deputy Speaker of the House. (JMB)