Mara Thompson.
The widow of the late Barbadian Prime Minister, who is seeking to win the seat left vacant by his recent death, says she is coming under pressure from the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) because of her nationality.
St. Lucian-born Mara Thompson, is hoping to win this month's by-election in the island's St John's constituency, for the governing Democratic Labour Party.
Her main rival in the January 20 by-election to replace former Prime Minister, David Thompson, is the BLP's Hudson Griffth.
According to local media reports, Opposition Leader, Owen Arthur, is among those who are making an issue of Mrs. Thompson's nationality.
She has responded by describing herself as a proud Caribbean woman.
Mrs. Thompson also questioned whether Mr. Arthur was the same individual who, as Barbadian Prime Minister, had been championing the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
The Nation newspaper quotes her as saying that it was this type of behaviour that turns people off regional integration.
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