Vere Bird

Sir Vere Cornwall Bird
Bird in 1986
1st Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
In office
1 November 1981 – 9 March 1994
MonarchElizabeth II
Governors‑GeneralSir Wilfred Jacobs
Sir James Carlisle
Preceded byHimself (as Premier)
Succeeded byLester Bird
1st Premier of Antigua
In office
29 February 1976 – 1 November 1981
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorSir Wilfred Jacobs
Preceded byGeorge Walter
Succeeded byGeorge Walter
In office
27 February 1967 – 14 February 1971
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorSir Wilfred Jacobs
Preceded byHimself (as Chief minister)
Succeeded byGeorge Walter
1st Chief minister of Antigua
In office
1 January 1960 – 27 February 1967
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorIan Turbott
Sir David Rose
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byHimself (as Premier)
Personal details
Born9 December 1909[1]
St. John's, Presidency of Antigua
Died28 June 1999(1999-06-28) (aged 89)[2]
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
Political partyLabour

Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, KNH (9 December 1909[1] – 28 June 1999) was the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. His son, Lester Bryant Bird, succeeded him as prime minister. In 1994, he was declared a "National Hero".

He was an officer in the Salvation Army for 2 years. In 1943, he became the president of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union. He achieved national acclaim politically for the first time when he was elected to the colonial legislature in 1945. He formed the Antigua Labour Party and became the first and only chief minister, first and last premier, and first prime minister from 1981 to 1994. His resignation was due to failing health and internal issues within the government.

In 1985 Antigua's international airport, which was first named Coolidge International Airport, was renamed V.C. Bird International Airport in his honour.

  1. ^ a b Who's who in the World. Marquis Who's Who. 1990. ISBN 9780837911106.
  2. ^ "Caribbean Elections Biography | Vere Cornwall Bird Sr". Archived from the original on 7 December 2011.