Cabinet to decide how public holidays are observed at embassies overseas

All Antigua and Barbuda’s overseas embassies should be closed to the public on V.C. Bird Day, celebrated annually on December 9, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said.
His response, followed a complaint last week, by Sir Vere’s son, Ivor Bird, who accused Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the USA and Canada Sir Ron Sanders of disrespecting V.C. Bird Day by not closing the office on that day.
Bird had asked the prime minister to intervene so that proper recognition could be given to the day which is used to celebrate the birthday and the life and contributions of the late Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Snr, a national hero and the country’s first prime minister.
In a recent interview, Browne said while he understands that the overseas office cannot recognise every holiday observed locally, V.C. Bird Day should be respected.
“There has to be some rationalisation of those holidays. I would accept that V.C. Bird Day should be one of the holidays that should be observed by these embassies. Next week when we meet in Cabinet, I will certainly get the Cabinet to pass a decision just to bring clarity to this issue,” the prime minister said.
(More in today’s Daily Observer)