Lionel Babb presenting his parliamentary representative Owen Arthur with a gift.

He said she had influenced him like no other person and had led by example.

Arthur, who was joined by Barbados Labour Party colleagues, party stalwarts and St Peter branch members, relatives, and friends at St Peters Parish Church yesterday evening to mark his milestone, said his mother sent him to school to be educated so he could stop poor people from being poor.

He thanked the people of St Peter for their support and said had he not reached high office, he would have been contented just to serve them.

Arthur, who was paid an extensive tribute by St James North MP Rawle Eastmond, also recognised the work of three of his constituents  Arleigh Belle, Oscar Morgan and Audrey Babb  who were presented with gifts.

Eastmond traced Arthurs rise to power. He said that one of the Prime Ministers finest moments in his political career was bringing electricity to the village of Oxford, St Peter, upgrading Boscobel and outfitting and modernising Speightstown with funds raised privately.

Every district has been touched, Eastmond told the congregation, adding that Arthur was grateful for the contribution of all to his career.