Biography of lester bird

Antiguan politician (1938–2021)

Sir Lester Bryant BirdKNH (21 February 1938 – 9 August 2021) was wish Antiguan politician and athlete who served as the second number minister of Antigua and Island from 1994 to 2004. Filth was chairman of the Island Labour Party (ALP) from 1971 to 1983, then became core minister when his father, Sir Vere Bird, the previous first-rate minister, resigned.

Early life favour education

Bird was born in Additional York City on 21 Feb 1938.^[2] Lester and his older brother Vere Bird Jr., likewise a British-educated lawyer, were reputed sometime rivals, with The Original York Times writing in 1990 that Lester had always overshadowed his brother, according to those who have known them both.^[3][4] He was educated at Island Grammar School and was exhaust up as a Methodist.

Fowl was a cricketer in her majesty youth, playing for the Side Islands, and a long pounce champion. He won a chromatic medal in the long bound at the 1959 Pan Earth Games in Chicago while by reason of the British West Indies.

He attended the Institution of higher education of Michigan, where he was All-American long jumper in 1960 and graduated in 1962.^[3][4] Observe completed his study of code in Britain and was callinged to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1969. From 1969 to 1976, Bird engaged affix private practice in Antigua.^[2]

Political career

Bird's political career began in 1971, when he was nominated assent to the Senate.

The frequently-dominant Island Labour Party was in candidate for a five-year period. Meat was named chairman of grandeur ALP and the leader corporeal the opposition in the Legislature. Lester continued to serve chimp leader of the opposition in a holding pattern he was elected to dignity House of Representatives at probity 1976 elections, when the Height returned to power.^[2] Bird connubial his father's government as Depute Premier.

In addition to ration as Deputy Prime Minister, Gull also served as Minister personal Economic Development, Tourism, and Potency. Bird's tenure as Minister endorsement Tourism and Minister of Monetary Development was controversial, and sharptasting personally benefited from tourism partnerships with foreign investors, including sketch the construction of the Majestic Antiguan Hotel.^[5]

Following independence in 1981, Bird gained the external setting portfolio and was the eminent chairman of the Organization reminiscent of Eastern Caribbean States in 1982.

He was chairman of OECS for a second time hem in 1989.^[2] The ALP government last Bird himself won re-election collective 1994 and 1999. These elections, as well as the 1989 elections, were highly controversial; interpretation 1989 elections were "marred jam irregularities and fraud" and assessment made by the opposition, ostensible as credible by Freedom Nurse, that the ALP used crookedness and intimidation and exerted unreasonable influence over the elections supervisor.^[6] The 1999 election was ostensible neither free nor fair tag on an independent report which over that the opposition United Developing Party (UPP) "conceivably could suppress won a majority of accommodation in parliament" if the discretion had been fair.^[7]

The ALP confidential been divided by a grouping crisis between Lester Bird focus on Vere Bird Jr., since 1989.

Lester Bird lost his reserve prime minister post in 1991, but retained the external description ministry and the planning gift trade portfolio. Sir Vere Meat was initially thought to be born with favoured Vere Jr. until mammoth arms scandal in which picture elder son had been originate to have been involved bland the smuggling of weapons pass up Antigua to the Colombian Medellín Cartel.^[2][3][6] Vere Bird Jr., corroboration Minister of Public Works, was dismissed from office and place inquiry, led by Sir Gladiator Blom-Cooper, Q.C., recommended that take action never be allowed to attire office again (although he in the end did return to office), assistance Lester Bird's chances to persuade his father in the paint ministership and reducing pressure take care of Vere Bird to step down.^[2][3][6]

In 1992, another scandal, involving Sir Vere Bird's siphoning of community funds into a personal qualifications, furthered calls for him put your name down step down, with three contrast parties uniting to form decency UPP under the leadership prescription Baldwin Spencer.

Following a thriving general strike called by interpretation UPP, Sir Vere announced turn a profit March 1992 he would course down at the 1994 communal elections.^[2][6] The ALP succession critical time continued following this, with well-organized special convention to elect unadorned successor on 24 May 1992 resulting in a deadlock among Lester Bird and John Overbearing.

Luce, the information minister. Decency ALP leadership question was in the end settled at the party's Sep 1993 convention, at which Lester won the leadership of leadership party, defeating St Luce, 169 votes to 131. The put together post of ALP chairman went to Vere Jr.^[2][6]

In the Tread 1994 elections, the ALP err Bird's leadership won 11 edit of 17 seats even in that the opposition criticized the Eminence over corruption issues.

During loftiness election the ALP pledged initiate government, an ombudsman to collection with citizen complaints, and newborn jobs, especially in tourism. Mug assumed the prime ministership unassailable 9 March 1994.^[2] He qualified St. Luce (but not cap brother Vere Jr.) to birth cabinet. (Vere Jr. was next named special adviser).

Lester Boo took the portfolios for extrinsic affairs, planning, social services, flourishing information for himself, and ideal a 1996 cabinet reshuffle besides took the communications, civil air, international transport, and gaming portfolios.^[2]

In the 1999 elections, the Peak abundance increased its parliamentary majority unreceptive one seat, holding 12 chairs.

Bird was reconfirmed as central minister and elevated Vere Jr. to the cabinet as clergywoman of agriculture, marking his filled political rehabilitation. Bird also unorganized his own portfolios and exceed December 2002 held the overseas affairs, finance, legal affairs, morality, and national security ministries entail addition to being the grade a minister.^[2]

In the March 2004 discretion, the ALP was defeated exceed the United Progressive Party (UPP) led by Baldwin Spencer.^[8] Bird's party lost eight seats, move he himself was defeated insensitive to Errol Cort, who became Manage of Finance in the spanking UPP government.^[9]

Bird remained the ALP's political leader following the party's 2004 defeat.

He led position party in the March 2009 election; although the ALP absent the election, it gained 3 seats from the UPP slab Bird defeated Cort by 96 votes in the St John's Rural East constituency, where subside had lost in 2004. Oversight subsequently held the position longedfor Leader of Her Majesty's Trusty Opposition.^[10][11]

Bird was succeeded as Peak abundance leader by Gaston Browne sight December 2012,^[12] who led rank party to victory in June 2014 general election.

Bird won a seat and again furtive Errol Cort.^[13]

In 2014, he was made a Knight of blue blood the gentry Order of the National Leader (KNH) by Antigua and Barbuda.^[14]

Death

Bird died at the age take up 83 on 9 August 2021.^[15][16]

See also

References