Former Antiguan Prime Minister Lester Bird died early on Monday after a prolonged battle with illness, Acting Prime Minister Steadroy Benjamin has confirmed.
Bird, 83, who began his political career in 1971 when he was nominated to the Senate served as the island’s second prime minister from 1994 to 2004.
He was chairman of the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) from 1971 to 1983.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who is out of the country, is due to return later on Monday.
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