Prime Minister Bruce Golding will leave the island today for Castries, St. Lucia, to attend the funeral service for the late former Prime Minister, Sir John Compton. Sir John died on September 7.

Sir John Compton became Prime Minister of St. Lucia in December of last year, after coming out of retirement to lead his United Workers Party to victory in that country's general elections. He led St. Lucia to Independence from Britain in 1979 and previously governed that country from 1964 to 1979 and again between 1982 and 1996.

To return later today

Prime Minister Golding will return to the island later today. During his absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh, will be in charge of the Government.