St. George's, Grenada, January 28th, 2010: Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has expressed sadness at the passing of Dr. David Lambert who died on Wednesday 27^th January 2010, in New York.

Speaking shortly after he arrived in New York to attend a special fund raising dinner in his honor, hosted by the University of the West Indies Alumni, the Prime Minister said Dr. Lambert’s passing comes with great sadness.

“I am deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Dr. Lambert. The last time we met in December, it did not appear that he was ill, so the news of his illness and his passing came as a shock. I wish to express my condolences, and that of my family, Cabinet and the Government, to his family, especially his children, who travelled to New York on Wednesday to see him.

Dr. Lambert was a colleague and friend, who I had planned to visit on my arrival in New York. In fact, we had arranged to visit him at 6.00 o’clock on Wednesday evening.

We pray for comfort for his family at this time of grief,” The Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister will be one of four leaders from the Caribbean who will be honoured at the gala dinner on Thursday evening. The other Prime Ministers are Dean Barrow of Belize, David Thompson of Barbados and Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago. 

The ceremony will also pay tribute to American film Director, Spike Lee.

The Minister for Finance, Hon. Nazim Burke has been appointed to act as Prime Minister.