Thompson denies home visit preferential treatment

Barbados’ Ambassador to the United Nations Elizabeth Thompson is adamant that she owes no one an apology or explanation for the conditions under which she arrived in Barbados on May 18.

While recounting her 22-day battle with COVID-19, the veteran, outspoken public figure also dismissed “rubbish” allegations that her arrival from New York was met with preferential treatment from local authorities when she was allowed to spend her first night beside her “dying” mother, instead of at a quarantine facility.

Breaking her silence for the first time since release from isolation earlier this month, Thompson also responded to some of the swirling rumors surrounding her entrance into the country by private jet at the height of the pandemic.

“This notion that special things were created for me . . . is just rubbish,” the Ambassador told reporters, moments after presenting 21 laptops on behalf of a group of Barbadians working at the United Nations at the Ministry of Education today.

I did not compromise Barbados in any way. I have heard allegations that some Barbadian or a businessperson paid for my travel. That is absolutely false. It is also untrue that taxpayers paid and I don’t think beyond that, I owe anyone else an explanation.

“Let us face it – I cannot be responsible for what people say. I am now 58 years old. I first ran for elections in my 20s. I have been serving this country at various levels at various places for longer than you have been born. Yes, I was allowed to see my mother, but I was not allowed into society,” she added.

Thompson explained that she was tested upon entering the country and instead of spending the night at a quarantine facility while awaiting the test results, she was allowed to visit her gravely ill mother who was at home on oxygen. Early the following morning, Thompson was diagnosed with the dreaded virus.

“I do not regret having come to my mother’s bedside and I owe no one an apology for that.

“I didn’t even go to my own house. I went only to my mother’s bedside and that is no different. I could have gone to the Crane, Sugar Cane Club or any of the other places. I simply self-isolated at the bedside of a dying woman. No special protocols were created and I had to follow the rules,” Thompson argued.

The Ambassador, whose political career dates back more than three decades, was the only public figure whose COVID-19 case was reported, and according to her, the diagnosis was a major shock, and the experience, an emotional rollercoaster.

After her office in New York City closed on March 30, Thompson said she went to the supermarket just three times and was given a standard of protection higher than that of an ordinary citizen.

But she was also in the New York Borough of Queens, which at the time, was considered the epicenter of the deadly virus in a country with the highest rate of infections.

“My car was sanitized before and after, my handbag was sanitized, my purse was sanitized, my credit cards were sanitized, my shoes were sanitized and my groceries were sanitized. At the official residence, we stopped all service providers from coming. I had no visitors, and after the third week in April, I [hadn’t] left my house except to go for a walk alone and nobody came to the house,” she recalled.

“I felt perfectly well and I had absolutely no symptoms of anything. I was in great shape – or so I thought. I was shocked . . . I said it wasn’t possible!” she added.

Ambassador Thompson indicated that throughout her COVID-19 experience, she never experienced symptoms of the virus, although medical examinations revealed that she was experiencing external problems.

Nevertheless, she described the experience of being “deprived” of her freedom at the St Lucy isolation facility as a “character-building experience”.

“The entire thing was an emotional upheaval. I had to deal with my mind, because being locked into a facility that you can’t leave with no contact with the outside . . . is difficult.

Thompson nevertheless showered head of infection control Dr Corey Forde, his team of doctors, the Cuban nurses and all staff at the isolation facilities for the high quality of services rendered.   

“I bow at the professional level to Dr Corey Forde and his team,” she declared.

Throughout the experience, Ambassador Thompson continued working remotely with the United Nations, representing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at meetings with the UN, International Monetary Fund and in efforts to secure critical supplies like ventilators to aid the fight against COVID-19.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb