Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, E.P Chet Greene, has described the Father of the Nation, Sir V.C Bird’s tenure in office as ‘a period of foundational nation-building’.
Greene, the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, made the observance in remarks on Tuesday at the wreath laying ceremony at the VC Bird Bust on Lower All Saints Road as part of the activities marking VC Bird Day.
“He did not simply manage a colony; he envisioned and constructed a state for its people. Let us quickly look at some of the pillars he established:
“He believed a nation’s greatness is measured by the well-being of its citizens. Under his leadership, we saw the introduction of free secondary education and free medical services, opening doors of opportunity and safeguarding the health of every Antiguan and Barbudan,” he indicated.
The ABLP Chairman also credits Sir Vere Bird as the man who oversaw the economic transformation of the country from subsistence agriculture, to one based on tourism. “With foresight, he engineered the shift from a sugar-dependent plantation economy to a modern, tourism driven one. He revolutionized our telecommunications and utilities infrastructure, laying the groundwork for a connected and competitive nation,” Greene stated.
Minister Greene sees Sir Vere as the chief engineer of the country’s political destiny. Noting that he fought for and won universal adult suffrage, internal self-government and ultimately, full independence. He fashioned the new Constitution, guaranteeing the civil and human rights citizens enjoy today.
Greene added that VC Bird, who not only a staunch nationalist, but that he was also a dedicated and firm believer in regionalism.
“A true Caribbean man, he was a pillar of regional integration, from the West Indies Federation to being a signatory to the CARIFTA agreement, which paved the way for CARICOM. For this, he is rightly remembered as a “Patron of the Movement for Caribbean integration, development and progress”,” Greene observed.
Greene painted a picture of VC Bird as a man who ensured that the successes that Antigua and Barbuda attained did not end with his passing. “The genius of his legacy is that it selflessly created a blueprint and a party capable of carrying it forward across generations. The ABLP is not merely a political organization; it is the institutional embodiment of our national project, a vehicle for peace, progress, stability and security,” he remarked.
