PHOTO CREDIT: Wayne Mariette
Government Officials and members of the business community gathered at the Sir. V. C. Bird Sr. bust on lower Market Street on Monday, to pay homage to the late Father of the Nation, Sir. Vere Cornwall Bird Sr.
Sir V. C. Bird day, a public holiday in Antigua and Barbuda was designed to honour and celebrate the work of the nation’s most famous National Hero – politician and trade unionist.
The feature address at event was delivered by Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne who based his remarks on Sir V.C. Bird’s life of service for the people of Antigua and Barbuda and implored the audience, in the words of John F. Kennedy for them to ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. He spoke of the progress of Antigua and Barbuda from the days of Sir V.C Bird to today under the leadership of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. The Prime Minister also spoke of efforts by his government to make Antigua and Barbuda an economic powerhouse.
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The ceremony concluded with a march-past by military and police officers.
We present a brief biography of Sir. Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. and photographs by Wayne Marriott from the ceremony.
- Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, KNH, OCC (1910-1999)
- In Antigua and Barbuda, Sir VC Bird is revered as the Father of the Nation. He holds the distinction of being the first premier and the first prime minister of the twin-island nation.
- Sir Vere’s astuteness as a leader belied the fact that his formal education ended at the primary school level at what was then St. John’s Boys School now known as TN Kirnon.
- Sir Vere’s work experience in both the Salvation Army and the Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) laid the foundation for his interests in unionism and politics.
Incensed by the treatment meted out to black Antiguans and Barbudans by landowners, Sir Vere became a founding member of the AT&LU. He rose to the presidency of the now venerable organization in 1943 and, by 1945, he was elected to the Colonial Legislature.
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Sir Vere formed the Antigua Labour Party, which would become indivisible from the union. He became the first and only chief minister of the country, was the first and last premier, and led the country to independence in 1981. Sir Vere served as prime minister until 1994.
His fierce patriotism and commitment to the working class are legendary, as was his dedication to regionalism.
Sir Vere ardently supported the West Indies Federation, and when that collapsed in 1962, was at the forefront in negotiations for the “Little Eight” countries. In 1965, along with premiers Errol Barrow of Barbados and Forbes Burnham of Guyana, Sir Vere led the introduction of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA). CARIFTA eventually led to the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM).
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Sir Vere received the country’s highest honour, Knight of the Order of National Hero, in 1994. In 1998 he received the Order of the Caribbean Community, the region’s highest honour.
December 9, the day he was born, is set aside on the national calendar as a public holiday called Sir V.C. Bird Day.
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