Above: Parliament in Antigua (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Former Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Lester Bird has resigned as the leader of the country’s Opposition Antigua Labour Party.

Bird, a native of New York City who served as Antigua’s Prime Minister from 1994 to 2004, had served as the chairman of the ALP for a 12 year stint beginning in 1971.

His father, Sir VC Bird, was the country’s first PM. (The elder Bird’s name graces the country’s International Airport).

“Much has been said over the last few days,” he said in a statement. “In time, perhaps I may say more. But, for now, I want all of us to understand that my priority, and the priority of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party must be to win the general election. None of us deserves another 5 years of the UPP.”

The leadership of the ALP will now rest in the hands of Gaston Browne, who has reportedly succeeded Bird.

“This is now no longer about me,” he said. “I have played my part. We must win the next general election and we must do so as a united Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.”

Bird asked for “unity, despite how we may feel at this time.”

“Let us put aside personal differences and views,” he said. “Let us move forward towards the next election and win! To do otherwise would undermine all that we have fought for over the last several years.”