bird march lawyer politician served chairman government minister son bird prime minister antigua brother later held position bird entered politics years later elected house_of_representatives minister aviation public information public utilities minister bird conducted purchase deal dominican water minister public works communications january role oversaw reconstruction subject controversy discovered granted contract construction new runway company led conflict bird remained minister later fired scandal israeli weapons sold antigua found hands drug discovered weapons transferred bird instruction report sir recommended prohibited holding public office despite decision bird returned government minister transfer following general election minister agriculture lands fisheries role negotiated end boycott agricultural goods trinidad lost general election replaced government bird remained involved politics senior members arrested day rally seven politicians found guilty public order offences trial delayed following seizure suffered bird suffered completion trial died march heart failure early career bird eldest son premier bird entered politics served security official general election following election bird brother elected house_of_representatives led father took house seats bird victorious leader premier antigua gaining votes walter election father prime minister given minister visited head person delegation dispatched reach deal selling antigua country lacking natural supplies water business concluded july announced sell antigua million gallons water days cost dollars thousand gallons cabinet january saw bird replaced minister aviation public information public utilities instead minister public works communications followed controversy bird construction new airport opposition charged inflated cost retired judge sir appointed investigate project look signs wrongdoing independent investigation concluded bird incorrect funding project particularly granting contract build runway company scandal threatened government ministers including bird brother arguing prime minister fire scandal led labour_party splitting distinct factions led prime minister led despite general election widespread speculation called early despite election called march victorious prime minister work advancing age instead spending time year old companion election seen struggle power bird brother long powers delegated bird described guardian single minded figure long sibling seen close competitor control nation army election bird brothers retained respective positions cabinet prime minister health getting worse struggle continued scandal firing bird career cabinet ended scandal shipment israeli weapons antigua received diverted drug dealers scandal broke government publicly complained use antigua trans shipment point diplomatic note israeli government revealed weapons shipped apparent express instruction bird given assurances passed parties guns actually ordered conspiracy forged documents showing authorised representative government purchase weapons approved minister position exist plan set mercenary training camp antigua order train supply forces prime minister repeatedly refused open investigation despite demands community leaders members government saying conclusive evidence needed investigation finally ordered april bird asking temporarily relieved position inquiry concluded inquiry run sir bird formally fired cabinet minister day cooper arrived antigua cooper began work june bird retaining team lawyers defence inquiry concluded november recommended banning bird holding public office rest life report acted bird banned minister retained seat house report recommend bird forced resign house prosecuted felt public ridicule guilty parties subjected punishment bird later hired government minister special advisor prime minister subject prime minister finally retired antigua leader september bird chairman despite cooper recommendations bird allowed hold public office strong opposition disapproval minister cabinet soon found odds prime minister government announced plans wife lived years order build tourist resort bird began serving lawyer dispute bird led fight bird law offices shot mouth taken intensive care december followed bird speaking cause voting support motion allow police force necessary later acquitted attempted murder evicted following victory general election bird appointed cabinet time minister trade industry business development july minister agriculture lands fisheries role held talks fishermen dumping material ocean signed trade agreement trinidad end year long ban import produce time opposition government lost election taking seats house year later bird ousted chairman replaced following march day protest government bird senior figures including prime minister arrested charged public order offences pleaded guilty convicted fined followed severe delays bird suffered seizure trial occurred second march court bird defending individual accused harm march bird died heart failure days separately diagnosed liver cancer government confirmed receive state funeral personal life bird son bird prime minister antigua died june siblings include prime minister owns radio station curtis lawyer teacher later found guilty attempted drug smuggling caught pound bag cocaine antigua main airport fined dollars bird son bird iii convicted driving offences
Vere Bird, Jr.