Vere Bird

Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, KNH (9 December 1910 – 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".

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The Right Honourable Sir Vere Cornwall Bird KNH
Bird in 1986

1st Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
In office 1 November 1981 – 9 March 1994
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governors-General	Sir Wilfred Jacobs Sir James Carlisle
Preceded by	Himself (as Premier)
Succeeded by	Lester Bird
1st Premier of Antigua
In office 1 February 1976 – 1 November 1981
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Sir Wilfred Jacobs
Preceded by	George Walter
Succeeded by	George Walter
In office 27 February 1967 – 14 February 1971
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Sir Wilfred Jacobs
Preceded by	Himself (as Chief minister)
Succeeded by	George Walter
1st Chief minister of Antigua
In office 1 January 1960 – 27 February 1967
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Ian Turbott Sir David Rose
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Himself (as Premier)

Personal details
Born	9 December 1910[1] St. John's, British Leeward Islands
Died	28 June 1999(1999-06-28) (aged 88)[2] St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
Political party	Labour

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, was renamed V.C. Bird International Airport in his honour.

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