Background
BIRD, Vere was born on December 9, 1909 in Saint John"son
BIRD, Vere was born on December 9, 1909 in Saint John"son
Saint John"s Boys" School.
Joined Salvation Army as teenager. Trained at Salvation Army Training School, Trinidad, then posted to Grenada. Executive Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) on its foundation, 16 January 1939.
President AT&LU 1943-1967.
Elected; Executive Council), 1951 (also a Chair, of Committees, Executive Council -1956). Minister of Trade and Production 1956-1960.
First Chief Minister of Antigua 1960-1967. Premier of Antigua 1967-1971, 1976-1981.
Lost seat in General Election 1971.
Re-elected to Parliament. 1976, 1980. Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda November since 1981. Minister of Planning, External Affairs, Defence and Energy 1981-1982, of Finance 1982-1984.
Attended Caribbean Union Conferences, Trinidad 1945, Saint Kitts 1946, Jamaica 1947.
West Indian Government Conferences, Lancaster House, London 1953, 1956. With Errol Barrow (Barbados) and Forbes Burnham (Guyana), formed Caribbean Free Trade Association 1965.
Leader delegation to United Kingdom which gained Association Statehood for Antigua 1966. Leader delegation to United Kingdom which gained full independence for Antigua from Britain December 1980.
Leader Antigua Labour Party.
Legislative. Council of Antigua 1945, re-elected 1946 (also member.