By Samantha Simon
Antigua and Barbuda’s political and diplomatic leaders gathered Monday to commemorate the 115th anniversary of the birth the country’s first Premier and Prime Minister, Sir VC Bird, highlighting his transformation of the nation from a colonial territory to a sovereign state.
Chairman of the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) EP Chet Greene emphasised Sir Vere’s journey and impact on national development.
“From a young age, he showed an unwavering commitment to justice and equality, a commitment that would define his life’s work,” Greene said.
“It was under his leadership that our nation evolved from a colonial outpost that relied on sugar to become a sovereign state with a diversified economy and a vibrant democracy.”
Sir Vere’s impact on education was particularly highlighted during the ceremony.
“He championed education, recognizing the key to unlocking the nation’s potential lay in empowering the people,” Green noted. “Today, our free primary and secondary education is a right we all enjoy because of the groundwork he laid.”
Prime Minister Gaston Browne also noted Sir Vere’s commitment to education and economic development, which continues to influence current policies.
“Sir Vere was not born in a wealthy family. He had to endure abject poverty,” Browne said.
“When I hear people today trying to compare themselves to Sir Vere — because his formal education at the time was up to the 7th standard — what they fail to understand is that Sir Vere was self-taught and at the end of the day would have been able to stand toe-to-toe with anyone with any level of contribution, higher level of education in this country.”
Meanwhile, Bernard De Nully, the President of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union, connected Sir Vere’s legacy to current labour movements.
“The legacy of the late Sir VC Bird is our foundational basis to the future prosperity and generational wealth as Antiguans and Barbudans,” he stated.
The ceremony also recognized Sir Vere’s role in regional integration, as Greene detailed how “Bird ardently supported the West Indies Federation, and was at the forefront in negotiations of the Little Eight countries in 1965,” leading to the formation of CARIFTA, which eventually became Caricom.
The annual celebration, restored in 2014, marks the contributions of the late “Father of the Nation” who also led Antigua and Barbuda to Independence in 1981.
Sir Vere, who served as Prime Minister until 1994, received the country’s highest honour when he was designated a National Hero, in the same year.
