Walter, George Herbert (1928–2008)

Antiguan politician, prime minister 1971–76. An active trade unionist in the 1950s and 1960s, and founder of the Antigua Workers' Union (AWU), he formed the country's first political party, the left-of-centre Progressive Labour Movement (PLM), in 1968, leading it to victory in 1971. As prime minister, he established a social security system, comprehensive labour legislation, and promoted agricultural diversification after the closure of unprofitable sugar factories. In 1976 the PLM was defeated by the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), led by Vere Bird, although it won the majority of the electoral vote.

During the 1950s Walters joined Bird's Antigua Trade and Labour Union (ATLU) and became its general secretary and chief negotiator. In the 1960s he left the ATLU to form the rival Antigua Workers' Union (AWU), in 1967, after Bird and his colleagues in government refused to resign from their ATLU positions. After the 1982 general election, he gave up politics and went back to his cattle farm.