Antigua: Vere Bird Jr. dies

Vere Bird Jr, the elder brother of former prime minister Lester Bird, has died. He was 76.

According to CANA, Bird Jr., the first son of the island’s first prime minister Vere Cornwall Bird, died of cardio pulmonary failure at the Dr Joey John’s clinic earlier today.

Bird, an attorney, entered politics in 1981 and served as minister of agriculture, as well as minister of aviation, information and public service. He also served as chairman of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP).

As Public Works and Communications Minister he oversaw the reconstruction of the V.C. Bird International Airport, which was the subject of controversy after it was discovered that he had granted a contract for the construction of a new runway to a company in which he was a shareholder.