David John Howard Thompson, a member of the Democratic Labour Party, assumed the office of Prime Minister of Barbados on January 16, 2008 after his party won the general election in January 2008. Thompson first became involved in the government of Barbados in 1991, when he became the Minister of Community Development and Culture.

David John Howard Thompson was born on December 25, 1961 in London, United Kingdom. He attended and received his primary education at St. Gabriele's Junior School and his secondary education at Combermere School. He continued his education at the Hugh Wooding Law School of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. He married Marie Josephine Mara and had three daughters together: Misha, Oya and Osa-Marie. One of his earlier jobs was as a part time law school tutor.

He entered governmental politics with his first Cabinet appointment in 1991 as the Minister of Community Development and Culture. He changed positions and between 1992 and 1993 was the Ministry of Finance as Minister of the State. From 1987 to 2003, he was also the General Secretary of the DLP. Between 1993 and 2000 he was also a member of a law partnership. Thompson resigned his party leadership in 2003 after several unsuccessful elections for the Democratic Labour Party, and resumed the position in January of 2006. On January 16, 2008, David John Howard Thompson was sworn into office as the sixth Prime Minister of Barbados.

It was Thompson's passion for culture and youth development that lead him during his tenure as the Minister of Community Development and Culture to implement the following: Barbados Youth Services, the Youth in Business Programme and restructuring the National Youth Orchestra. During his tenure in the Ministry of Finance as Minister of State, he was responsible for restructuring of the sugar industry and the offshore sector.