Ivor Bird tears into family, ALP
Managing Director of Grenville Radio Ltd, (ZDK) Ivor Bird while issuing thanks for those responsible for organising the programme marking the centenary of Father of the Nation, Vere Cornwall Bird, has lashed out at a number of individuals who he said have shown nothing but disrespect for the country’s first National Hero.
“I would like to congratulate the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Dr. the Honourable Baldwin Spencer for the wonderful and sincere job he has done, personally, to celebrate and show respect for the founding father of our nation, The Right Honourable Sir Vere Cornwall Bird senior in celebration of his 100th birthday, Bird said.
He also extended congratulations to Chairman of the centennial celebrations committee Allister “for the wonderful work he has done in co-ordinating activities for the VC Bird 100th birthday celebrations. I would also like to say thank you and respect to my eldest brother, Vere Bird Junior for representing the Bird family in the way he has throughout all these activities.”
Bird, speaking in his capacity of Managing Director of Grenville Radio Ltd ZDK (Liberty Radio) and SUN FM (Power 100.1) said, “I would like to remind my brother the Honourable Lester Bird, the opposition leader of Antigua and Barbuda, the executive committee of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) and all those of you who use ZDK for 104 hours every month without paying one cent to the upkeep of ZDK and SUN FM to you I address these remarks.
“I want to remind you that without V.C. Bird there would have been no ZDK and no SUN FM. And I have only one question to ask today – where would the Antigua Labour Party be without ZDK?”
Bird said when he looked around the church at the memorial service in honour of his father, he felt badly as there were only a few members of the Antigua Labour Party in attendance.
“As the head of this organisation I am asking my brother Lester Bird, the Bird family and supporters of the Antigua Labour Party ‘where is the respect for your founding father?’
“Without him, would Lester Bird have ever been the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, without VC, would you have had ZDK to keep you as strong as you are today?
Bird demanded that radio talk show hosts Paul “Chet” Greene, Lennox Weston and Percival Simon stand up and be counted at events in honour of Sir Vere.
He also called on Lester Bird, Cutie Benjamin, Hugh Marshall, Asot Michael and Guy Yearwood, who have access to ZDK and SUN FM, to explain their absence in relation to the memorial service.
Bird also took umbrage with the absence of the members of the Lebanese, Syrian and Caribbean nationals at the service declaring that it was his father who embraced them so that they could do well in Antigua and Barbuda. Bird also took a turn at members of the family of the country’s most recently declared national hero, George H. Walter, saying that before they die they will have to apologise for adverse comments they have made against V.C.s Bird. (Antigua Sun)