Vere Bird

Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, 1909 to 1999, was an Antiguan politician and trade unionist who became the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, serving from 1981 to 1994. He founded the Antigua Labour Party and led it to victory in the territory's first elections in 1954, and before independence he held the offices of Chief Minister from 1960 to 1967 and Premier from 1967 to 1971 and again from 1976 to 1981. He led the push toward Antigua and Barbuda's 1981 independence and was declared a National Hero in 1994. His son, Lester Bird, succeeded him as prime minister.