Bird, Vere Cornwall (1910-1999)

Antiguan politician, chief minister 1960-67, and prime minister 1967-71 and 1976-94. He formed the centre-left Antigua Labour Party (ALP) in 1968, but lost power to George Walter, leader of the Progressive Labour Movement (PLM), in 1971. Having regained control in 1976, he earned the title ‘father of the nation’ by negotiating Antigua's independence from British colonial rule in 1981. A political conservative, Bird pursued a policy of political non-alignment, although in 1983 Antigua assisted the USA in its invasion of Grenada.

In September 1993 he announced his retirement as ALP leader and prime minister, and was succeeded in both positions by his second son, Lester Bird.

Initially Vere Bird trained with the Salvation Army, before moving into trade unionism, and founding the Antigua Trade and Labour Union (ATLU) in 1939. The political committee of the ATLU later became the nucleus of the ALP. Before independence in 1981, Bird served in the Legislative Council.