Barbados is observing three days of national mourning for former Prime Minister Owen Arthur who passed this morning at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a short illness.

National flags will also be flown at half-mast as part of the period of mourning for the 70-year-old former BLP leader.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who led a number of local and regional tributes described him as a fierce defender of Barbados and the Caribbean.

Ms. Mottley spoke of his distinguished leadership.